Quote

Be omnivorous, don't just read one kind of book, read everything. - Richard Wagamese

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Review: If I Stay by Gayle Forman



Publisher: Speak
Released: 2009
Pages: 213
Source: Personal Copy
Rating: 5/5

Synopsis:

Seventeen year-old Mia was home from school due to a snow day, snow that barely covered the ground, but still warranted a school closer because the town wasn’t ready for snow. Her parents told the kids they were going out, and to jump in the car. One minute they were negotiating the music in the car and the next, they were in a horrific car accident. Mia was the only one who survived, and she’s barely hanging on. Stuck in a coma, but viewing life around her, Mia is trying to decide if it’s worth staying or should she just go with her family.

Review:

If I Stay was heartbreaking and beautiful. Mia’s story will remain with readers, and have readers questioning what should Mia do. This was my first Gayle Forman book, and I’m happy to know what all the fuss was about. She is amazing! If I Stay could easily be read in one sitting, I had such a hard time putting the book down to go to bed. Forman does an excellent job showing Mia’s present and past situation. Readers really get the sense that she had loving parents, a cute little brother and a boyfriend that was comfortable with the family. Mia is on the verge of Julliard and figuring out her life, she can’t imagine not having her family. The hospital is filled with her grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. Mia knows they want her to pull through, she knows her mother would want her to get better, but her grandfather gives her the permission to make her choice.

If I Stay is a must read. It’s a great contemporary young adult read. I can’t wait to read Gayle Forman’s other books. It's really easy for readers to put themselves in Mia's shoes.

5 comments:

  1. The second one is a sequel so I'm sure you'll love it!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Wow, you've made this sound awfully compelling!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I have this one lent to me, and I can't wait to read it and the sequel. It sounds as if there is a lot here that is emotionally charged, and that will leave readers enraptured with the tale that the author tells. I am off to find it now!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I read this a few months ago and thought it was amazing. And you are totally right, Mia's story is one that sticks with you and lingers in your mind. I loved the sequel Where She Went even better than this one and I LOVED this book. Glad you enjoyed it as well!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I read this before I started blogging (really?! For some reason I thought I read it after... that says something about the staying power of this story) and really enjoyed it. Also read #2 but I like the first one better, though I know many thought otherwise.

    ReplyDelete