Imagine what it would be like if we had to wear our imperfections like labels on our faces, every day, all the time. There is no doubt that we would struggle with self-consciousness and even shame. In this book, author Laura Greenwald introduces us to people who were born with severe facial deformities or whose faces have been changed forever by injury or disease. These stories are at once heartbreaking and hopeful. They graphically teach us the definitions of perseverance and patience. From a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at how prosthetic noses, acrylic eyes, and other replacement “parts” are made, to the headline-grabbing debates about facial transplantation, Greenwald challenges her readers to look beyond physical appearances and see the heroes within. Our faces are so tied to our identities that it’s nearly impossible to imagine how we would live if our noses, chins, cheeks, or eyes were suddenly taken away by injury or disease. But for thousands of people, this is reality. Like mythical heroes seeking to recover lost treasures, so too do these people seek to recover a life and a peace taken from them. Heroes explores the medical, social, ethical, and psychological issues that affect us all.