The book On The Come Up by Angie Thomas is an amazing journey through sixteen-year-old Brianna’s eyes, who aspires to make a name for herself in the hip-hop world, yet she finds obstacles every step of the way. Battling in the Ring is where the locals will first know her name, yet she can not seem to escape her father’s shadow. As a high school student, expectations are already set, though the town Bri lives in has labeled her. In fact, society has labeled her. All Bri wants to do is go against what society believes she is. She pours her heart and soul into her first song, and people think that Bri has just traveled the path that they have paved for her. The man who seems to know what to do with her talent, the manager, believes she has to be someone she is not to make it work. Besides her quickly-spiraling career, Bri’s mom Jay, and Troy, her brother are working persistently to allow Bri to live the fullest life possible. Thinking of herself as a burden, Bri feels obligated to do what she can to help her family, even if this means losing herself in the process. Bri’s mind is always running and always thinking of new words to use in her songs. You can not spell brilliant without Bri, and that is exactly what this book is. Angie Thomas develops a story that is packed with emotion and characters that are instantly lovable. On The Come Up delves into how important it is to hold on to who you are and stick to the people that are important to you.

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.