Book Review: If I Stay by Gayle Forman

If I Stay by Gayle Forman
Publisher: Dutton Books for Young Readers
Release Date: April 2, 2009
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Publisher’s Description:

In the blink of an eye everything changes. Seventeen ­year-old Mia has no memory of the accident; she can only recall what happened afterwards, watching her own damaged body being taken from the wreck. Little by little she struggles to put together the pieces- to figure out what she has lost, what she has left, and the very difficult choice she must make. Heartwrenchingly beautiful, this will change the way you look at life, love, and family.

Seventeen year-old Mia and her family go for a drive on a snowy day and end up in a car accident that leaves Mia in a coma. She’s not sure what happened to the rest of her family but it’s clear that it’s up to her whether or not she stays alive and wakes up or dies. She can hear the people around her and slowly pieces together what happened. There’s not much more to say without spoilers. Be careful of other reviews – spoilers abound!

If I Stay is a book that had me thinking for days after I read it about what I would do if I were in Mia’s situation. While Mia is in the coma, she flashes back on her life up to the time of the accident so we get to know her really well. Even so, I had no idea what choice she would make right up to the end of the book. I found out after I read the book that a movie based on the book was released in 2014. There is also a sequel to the book called Where She Went that I’d like to read.

Even though If I Stay is a young adult novel, it has plenty that will appeal to adults. I actually think it would make a pretty good book club selection. I imagine there could be a lot to discuss around Mia’s ultimate decision. Recommended.