A SCAR LIKE A RIVER, by Lisa Graff, Christy Ottaviano Books, Feb. 3, 2026, Hardcover, $17.99 (young adult)
A teen with a mysterious scar on her face struggles with the secret she’s been keeping since she was a young child in A Scar Like A River, by Lisa Graff.
Fallon Little has a secret—and it’s not how she got the enormous scar that divides her face in two.
Thirteen-year-old Fallon has only ever told one person what really happened on the day she got her scar. Why would she? The truth is dark, and Fallon has much brighter things to focus on, like being cast as the lead in the school play, and hanging out with her two best friends, Trent and Kaia.
But when Fallon’s uncle Geebie dies, his funeral ignites a wildfire of events that Fallon can’t manage to tamp down. The school play is spiraling out of control, Fallon’s impossible Aunt Lune comes to live with them, and Trent and Kaia might just be so into each other that there isn’t room for Fallon in their friend group any more. And when secrets even worse than the one about Fallon’s scar threaten to come to light, Fallon might not have the strength to keep them buried for much longer. —Synopsis provided by Christy Ottaviano Books
A Scar Like a River is a coming-of-age tale of a young girl who is seemingly thriving despite harboring a big secret. But, as with so many secrets, they can’t stay buried forever.
Readers get to know Fallon through her perspective, and she’s dealing with all the typical teenage stuff. But her mom’s also sick, and Fallon can’t help but see the world through the lens of her own traumatic past.
Author Lisa Graff’s strong prose leads readers through these experiences with a gentle, but firm, hand. And though the story deals with tough subjects, it’s not a heavy read. There are moments that will hurt your heart, but others will make you smile and laugh.
Spoiler/ Trigger Warning: A Scar Like a River does feature sexual assault that is more detailed than you may expect. It is done sensitively, but the book does fit firmly in the young adult sphere.
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