Author: Erin Stewart
Pub. Date: October 1, 2019
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Formats: Hardcover, eBook, audiobook
Pages: 352
Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, Audible, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, TBD
Relatable, heartbreaking, and real, this is a story of resilience--the perfect novel for readers of powerful contemporary fiction like Girl in Pieces and Every Last Word.
Before, I was a million things. Now I'm only one. The Burned Girl.
Ava Lee has lost everything there is to lose: Her parents. Her best friend. Her home. Even her face. She doesn't need a mirror to know what she looks like--she can see her reflection in the eyes of everyone around her.
A year after the fire that destroyed her world, her aunt and uncle have decided she should go back to high school. Be "normal" again. Whatever that is. Ava knows better. There is no normal for someone like her. And forget making friends--no one wants to be seen with the Burned Girl, now or ever.
But when Ava meets a fellow survivor named Piper, she begins to feel like maybe she doesn't have to face the nightmare alone. Sarcastic and blunt, Piper isn't afraid to push Ava out of her comfort zone. Piper introduces Ava to Asad, a boy who loves theater just as much as she does, and slowly, Ava tries to create a life again. Yet Piper is fighting her own battle, and soon Ava must decide if she's going to fade back into her scars . . . or let the people by her side help her fly.
"A heartfelt and unflinching look at the reality of being a burn survivor and at the scars we all carry. This book is for everyone, burned or not, who has ever searched for a light in the darkness." --Stephanie Nielson, New York Times bestselling author of Heaven Is Here and a burn survivor
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I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own. Any quotes I use are from an unpublished copy and may not reflect the finished product.
Scars Like Wings was a very breathtaking and emotional read. I was hooked from the very first page! The writing is incredible, and the author really endears you to her characters. I flew through the pages, because I needed to know what happened with Ava, Piper, and Asad. They were all very compelling characters, and I really enjoyed getting to know them and their individual personalities. I would have liked to know more about Asad specifically, but Ava and Piper were clearly the focus (this wasn't a bad thing, but I felt like Asad had more story to tell).
In addition to the wonderful friendships, there's a dash of mystery peppered in throughout the story. We slowly see how Ava and Piper's accidents happened, which added wonderfully complex layers to the story. Asad was there for comedic relief, and I thought he was absolutely adorable! His Broadway references and puns were subtle but always on the nose. Piper's brand of humor was a little darker, but no less appreciated. I liked that she embraced herself in front of Ava, and hate that she was secretly struggling with her own issues.
Kenzie's mean girl persona was the only aspect of this book that I had trouble believing. She took a lot of anger and frustration out on Ava, and her actions were unbelievably cruel. I know teenagers aren't the best at communicating their feelings, but making fun of someone for their appearance, and also trying to remove them from an activity because you dislike something about them, was going too far. The author tried to shed a more forgiving light on her at the end, but I had no sympathy for the girl that repeatedly made Ava feel bad about herself and what she had to offer.
Kenzie's mean girl persona was the only aspect of this book that I had trouble believing. She took a lot of anger and frustration out on Ava, and her actions were unbelievably cruel. I know teenagers aren't the best at communicating their feelings, but making fun of someone for their appearance, and also trying to remove them from an activity because you dislike something about them, was going too far. The author tried to shed a more forgiving light on her at the end, but I had no sympathy for the girl that repeatedly made Ava feel bad about herself and what she had to offer.
I thought the journal entries were a clever addition the story, since it allowed us to see a different side of Ava, and offered a very honest perspective. She's someone you want to root for, and I really liked seeing her take steps to reclaim her life, despite how destroyed she felt inside and out.
I cannot praise Scars Like Wings enough! It was a story that grabbed my heartstrings from the very first page, and I know it's a story I'm going to think about for a long, long time.
About Erin:
Erin Stewart is the author of SCARS LIKE WINGS, her debut novel. Erin is a graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern and a BYU undergraduate who works as a freelance writer and editor, as well as a weekly columnist in Salt Lake City.
Erin lives in Utah with her husband and three children. She is represented by the amazing Brianne Johnson of Writers House.
Giveaway Details:
3 winners will receive a finished copy of SCARS LIKE WINGS, US Only.
Tour Schedule:
Week One:
10/1/2019- Feed Your Fiction Addiction- Review
10/2/2019- BookHounds YA- Review
10/3/2019- Lifestyle of Me- Review
10/4/2019- Fictitious Fox- Review
Week Two:
10/1/2019- Feed Your Fiction Addiction- Review
10/2/2019- BookHounds YA- Review
10/3/2019- Lifestyle of Me- Review
10/4/2019- Fictitious Fox- Review
Week Two:
10/7/2019- Fire and Ice - Review
10/8/2019- Moonlight Rendezvous- Review
10/9/2019- Fictitiouswonderland- Review
10/10/2019- Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers- Review
10/11/2019- Here's to Happy Endings- Review
Week Three:
10/14/2019- Treestand Book Reviews- Review
10/15/2019- Smada's Book Smack- Review
10/16/2019- Riddle’s Reviews- Review
10/17/2019- Jena Brown Writes- Review
10/18/2019- Book-Keeping- Review
Week Four:
10/21/2019- A Bookish Dream- Review
10/22/2019- Life Within The Pages- Review
10/23/2019- Portrait of a Book- Review
10/24/2019- The Pages In-Between- Review
10/25/2019- Paper Reader- Review
Week Five:
10/28/2019- Southern Girl Bookaholic- Review
10/29/2019- Do You Dog-ear?- Review
10/30/2019- Novel Novice- Excerpt
10/31/2019- Two points of interest- Review
10/8/2019- Moonlight Rendezvous- Review
10/9/2019- Fictitiouswonderland- Review
10/10/2019- Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers- Review
10/11/2019- Here's to Happy Endings- Review
Week Three:
10/14/2019- Treestand Book Reviews- Review
10/15/2019- Smada's Book Smack- Review
10/16/2019- Riddle’s Reviews- Review
10/17/2019- Jena Brown Writes- Review
10/18/2019- Book-Keeping- Review
Week Four:
10/21/2019- A Bookish Dream- Review
10/22/2019- Life Within The Pages- Review
10/23/2019- Portrait of a Book- Review
10/24/2019- The Pages In-Between- Review
10/25/2019- Paper Reader- Review
Week Five:
10/28/2019- Southern Girl Bookaholic- Review
10/29/2019- Do You Dog-ear?- Review
10/30/2019- Novel Novice- Excerpt
10/31/2019- Two points of interest- Review
It’s always great when an author is able to successfully blend different elements (emotion, humor, mystery, etc) and have it all come together so well. Sounds like Stewart did just that!
ReplyDeleteIt was very light on the mystery! The author takes her time revealing how both Ava and Piper's accidents happened, and the journal entries were a huge help with that. This book was full of emotion and humor, and it really punched me in the feels. The disappointments were believable, the challenges authentic and realistic, and the struggles were difficult to read about. I wanted to feel sorry for her and her circumstances, but I also didn't want her to be treated any differently. I thought the author nailed it!
DeleteOh wow this sounds like an intense book but one I must try!
ReplyDeleteLotte | www.lottelauv.blogspot.co.uk
Very intense, but definitely worth reading! :)
DeleteThat sounds like it would be an emotional read.
ReplyDeleteCertain parts were hard to read about, because you just feel terrible for what they've been through, but it was more emotional seeing how other people treated them for things outside of their control. Little kids screaming, "Monster," and running away. Even parents would make callous comments that were beyond cringe-worthy.
DeleteI might pick this up! It sounds so compelling!
ReplyDeleteI hope you do! It was a really wonderful story. :)
DeleteI love the kind of books that you pull you in from the start. This sounds amazing and the friendships especially appeal to me. I'll have to check this one out. Thanks for the review!
ReplyDeleteThe characters were so relatable, despite my having very little knowledge about burn survivors. I had always assumed being burned was the worst part, but the healing seems to be more painful (both emotionally and physically). Did you know they have to scrub the old skin off so the new skin can grow? Like, the burned skin that's already super painful to the touch? SCRUB? I can't even...
DeleteI've heard so many amazing things about this one. Can't wait to read it.
ReplyDeleteKaren @ For What It's worth
All of the amazing things are true! Let me know if/when you have a chance to read it. :)
DeleteSo many bloggers have been raving about this one! I'm glad you enjoyed it so much Lindsi, I like when different genres come together in a wonderful story. And thanks for the giveaway too! ❤️
ReplyDeleteThe author has created something very unique, and a story I hope other people will take a second to stop and experience. This book gives us an opportunity to see a perspective we're likely very unfamiliar with, and to hopefully shed some light on how people's actions can leave lasting impressions.
DeleteI 5-starred this book. It was so moving and touching and really highlighted the resilience of these characters.
ReplyDeleteI loved that the author kept reiterating that they were survivors and not victims. They survived something traumatic and life-altering, but they also choose to fight and keep living. I think the emotional scars they carried were equally as damaging, and it didn't help how they were treated/seen by most of the population. It was a very thought-provoking and emotional read.
DeleteThis sounds incredibly moving. I like that it has elements of mystery as well.
ReplyDeleteThe mystery isn't a huge focus, but the author does sprinkle clues about their respective accidents as the story progresses. We know they've been burned, but not the extent or the how.
Delete