Scars Like Wings, by Erin Stewart

Planet Books Review:

Ava lived through what her family didn’t. It haunts her. It hurts her. It shapes her. One year after waking from a coma to find her parents and her cousin are gone forever. Ava struggles to be part of the world again. Her Aunt, who’s own daughter died the night Ava lived, encourages and negotiates with Ava to go back to high school. Filled with dread, she drags herself through the halls, disappears into the back of the class. Then Ava finds friendship with another survivor. With encouragement, she begins to pick back up her life. Ava learns to accept and be comfortable with her scars.

Stewarts’ incredibly well-written book is filled with strength and vulnerability. The backdrop of sterile medical facilities and the hostility of high school playoff the love and support of her new family situation with perfect descriptions of the separate struggles and pain. This story has the ups and downs of a typical high school life intertwined with the grief, loss and struggle of being a survivor. The characters are rich and fully of misery and joy. Learning to live again is no smooth road for survivors, or for the loved ones of those not coming home.

Stewart sends out a very clear message about survivors and about the people with whose lives they interact. Bold personalities are not always as strong as they appear, and others can see you clearly when you let them.

Review by: Hayley Rohead

About The Author:

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.

Source: Author’s Site

Book Details:

ISBN: 9781471185991

Publication Date: 1/10/2019

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Australia

Binding: B-Format Paperback

Genre: Young Adult General Fiction