The novel Scars Like Wings by Erin Stewart is beautifully written and holds on to you every step of the way. The book follows the life of Ava Lee, a girl who has lost everything that she thought she had. Nothing that she knows is “normal”, yet that is all she wants back. After the loss of her mother, father and cousin/best friend Sara, Ava must trek the path of returning into a somewhat “normal” life. With her makeshift parents wanting what is best for her, she tries her best to create a makeshift life, yet Ava anticipates the reactions people have when they see her, and she is not interested in facing that. Just trying to get through the day, Ava finds herself meeting Piper, a fierce girl who just wants to move on from the past, and Asad, who isn’t repelled at the sight of her. As Ava gets mixed up in the journey that is high school, her memories do not end there. Piper wants Ava to break out of her shell, and persuades her to join drama. With that comes embarrassments, confidence boosts, and so much more. Yet, while Ava is trying to reinvent herself, Piper is struggling just as much. Scars Like Wings discusses how you are not your skin, and how important the people around you are. Stewart does such a wonderful job portraying the inner thoughts of someone who has gone through a life-changing event, and sums up how someone can grow from that, make it part of who they are.