Book Review: If I Stay

I never really understood what the doctors meant when they told a family member that a patient can still hear you if they’re in a coma. But after reading what Gayle Forman wrote, I finally understand the doctors and their jargon. Gayle Forman’s novel If I Stay is about this young girl Mia Hall, a talented musician who just got accepted to Juilliard College of Music. She is thrilled about her acceptance into one of the most prestigious music schools in the country. But things take a tragic turn of events when she and her mother, father, and baby brother are involved in an awful car accident. Mia is devastated, she has no idea what to do or who to turn to, and worst of all, she’s alone. She wakes up and she begins to panic when she realizes that no one can hear or see her. Her panic increases as she runs in to the hospital and can’t find any of her family members. Mia is caught in a world of conflict. She doesn’t know if she wants to leave or stay. This novel tells Mia’s story in a way that we understand because many people can relate to her decision making process. She reflects on her past and debates with the future while seeking advice from her best friend and boyfriend and relying on the wisdom of her sage grandparents. This novel is something I highly recommend that you read; the story is wonderful, the adventures are hilarious, and the ending is heart warming.