If I Stay

If I Stay

by Gale Forman

2009

208 pages

“Am I dead? I actually have to ask myself this. Am I dead?”

Summary: After a horrific accident that kills her parents and her baby brother, Mia, now in a coma, is faced with two decisions: join her family, or wake up from her coma and face everything she has lost. Through memories of pivotal moments in her life, Mia reflects on everything she has lost, and everything she stands to lose if she goes. This is a story of friendship, first love, family, choices and unbelievable loss.

Review: If I Stay is a heartbreaking novel told from the point of view of someone who has lost everything. The story bounces between the present day where Mia is in the hospital but aware of her surroundings, and flashbacks to parts of her life that servs to fill out her story. The flashbacks were the hardest to read, because they painted such a beautiful picture of family, love and growing up, which just highlights all that Mia has lost. I thought it was beautifully written: a combination of the well-fitted flashbacks, rich and heart-warming characters and a story that haunts you well after you put it down. I strongly recommend this for those who want a quick but powerful read.

You might enjoy If I Stay if you like books that: have characters that resonate, are not plot driven, deal with real life issues, are emotionally provocative.

Also by Gayle Forman: Sisters in Sanity and You Can’t Get There from Here

If you liked If I Stay, you might also enjoy: Wild Roses by Deb Caletti, The Secret Year by Jennifer Hubbard, North of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headley, Before I Die by Jenny Downham.

Additional Info: YALSA Best Books for Young Adults 2010
- The author invites you to leave feedback about the book here.
- There is going to be another book called Where She Went told from Adam’s point of view
- Looks like there is going to be a movie made, directed by Catherine Hardwick (think first Twilight movie)

Non-fiction connection: Yo-Yo Ma: Internationally Acclaimed Cellist by Compass Point Books, 101 Cello Tips: Stuff all the Pros Know and Use by Angela Schmidt, Please Kill me: The Uncensored Oral History of Punk by Legs McNeil and Gillian McCain

Author website found here.

Rating: W4/4 C4/4 P4/4 O3/4 PP3.5/4 CR3/4 (I do like the new paperback cover better)
Grade Level: JS