In a single moment, everything changes. In the book If I Stay, by Gayle Forman, Seventeen-year-old Mia has no memory of
the accident; she can only recall riding along the snow-wet Oregon road with her
family. Then, in a blink, she finds herself watching as her own damaged body is
taken from the wreck... My impression? It was good. Not fantastic, but okay. Decent. Tolerable. But I'm a bit irritated with this book right now, because it is one of those books that has been ridiculously overrated. Yeah, it was sad. But not 'devastating'. Not 'heart-wrenching'.This book was fine, but I honestly think that if I had read the first chapter and then read the last chapter I wouldn't have missed much. Yes, her parents were both beautiful people who will be missed. And I have to admit the whole story of he brother's life and death tugged at my heartstrings. But at the end of the book, I found myself feeling more bored than anything. This book wasn't new, or original, or groundbreaking. It was a way for me to kill time while I waited for my Mom to pick me up from school. I've seen stuff like this novel a million times before, and most of them were a lot more sad. Sorry Forman, but I'm not impressed.
Reviewed by Iren H., grade 10
Glendale Central Library
8 comments:
If I Stay, by Gayle Forman, is about 17-year-old Mia who was in a disastrous car accident which led to her family dying except her. In a coma, Mia watches as friends and family gather at the hospital where she is being treated. Mia watches as her memories flash before her eyes as she comes to realize that she must decide if she is to wake up or to die
Opinion: This journey is a life or death decision. I found it fascinating how she watched everything going on while she was in a coma. I didn't like how it was similar to The Lovely Bones but both books were well written and loved. I recommend it to those girls who like fictional stories but with a little thrill.
Reviewed by Karla S., grade 9
Glendale Central Library
If I Stay by Gayle Forman follows Mia, a teenage girl who is faces the most important decision: should I stay and live or do I give up and die. Mia is the only survivor of a car wreck that claims the life of her family. As she has an out of body experience, Mia gets to see how those close to her are reacting to her hospitalization. As she watches, she has several flashbacks which aid her in deciding between life and death.
Overall, If I Stay was a really touching book. It wasn't as heart-wrenching as I expected it to be because I thought that I would be crying from beginning to end. But I still loved the concept of Mia having a choice in her life. The best part of the book was the way it was written and how it switches from present day conditions of Mia in the hospital to flashbacks triggered by visitors. I really like the concept of her choices in which she can decide to survive, which would cause her to endure emotional and physical suffering, or choosing to die which would cause all those remaining close to her to be heartbroken.
Reviewed by Nayri T., Grade 11
Casa Verdugo Library
In the book If I Stay by Gayle Forman is about a seventeen year old girl named Mia. Mia and her family get into a car accident in which leaves Mia in a coma. Mia has to decide wether she will wake up or chose not to and die. If Mia decides to wake up she will be faced with a very difficult life and the obstacles that will come along with it. If Mia chooses to die and not wake up there will be nothing else to do.
My opinion on this book is that it is a very difficult and tough des ion for Mia in my opinion. I would feel terrible if I were on her shoes. I liked that Mia knows whatever choice she picks will come with a consequence. To me this book was kind of like a thriller. I didn't know what she would chose and what would happen next. I enjoyed reading this book. This author makes really good books as well.
Reviewed by Jacqueline, Grade 9
Glendale Central Library
In a split-second, Mia Hall’s life trajectory comes to a crashing stop- quite literally. As she and her family go for a drive to the city on a snowy day, they get in a car crash that kills her whole family. She has no memory of the crash, only able to watch her own body being urgently tended to in a spirit state. As she ponders upon the last decision left for her to make, she experiences a series of flashbacks, trying to figure out all that she has lost, and what remains for her.
This book had the potential to be a great piece of literature. The choice between life and death is an intriguing topic, that with the aid of complex characters and vivid literary tools could have been one of the most spectacular teen books. Unfortunately, this was not the case. The author failed to affect me at all, not achieving the ultimate goal of writers- to achieve the intended impact on readers. When a book does not move me, there is an obvious flaw in the plot, because I am one of the most emotional people on this earth. It just seemed that the author was trying a bit too hard in order to create deep themes in the story, making the parts that were intended to be “sad” seem very cheesy and unrealistic.
In addition, it was very difficult for me to be able to identify with the characters, who were incredibly dull and one dimensional. Before the crash, they seemed to be creating their own problems and confining themselves in a self made jail. There was no effective character development.
I did not care for the writing style, either. It was very sloppy and definitely needed more revision. The story was essentially a list of memories stringed together, constantly jumping from past to present. The author seemed to be writing the story aimlessly. This could have been the author’s intent, to try to give us more character insight. However, if this was the case, it was not executed well. My final thought on this book is that it should have been a short story instead of a novel.
Reviewed by RO, Grade 10
Casa Verdugo Library
The book is full of romance, tragedy and full of love for music.The book starts of with the narrator/main character Mia, who has a passion for the cello and classical music. She comes from a family that loves a music.Her mom and dad use to be in rock/punk music phase,when her dad was in a band.They then had her little brother Teddy and he too was in the same type of music,but Mia.Mia had it all,perfect family and an audition to Julliard,plus a boyfriend named Adam.Adam was also in a band called "Shooting Stars".Everything was fine until they go for a ride and then it all happens...Mia and her family are in a car accident.Mia and Teddy are in a coma while her parents are dying.Mia in the book is able to witness everything during the coma and she is also having beautiful flash backs.Flashbacks on performances,family time as a kid,how she met Adam,ect. It's all up to her,will she stay or go?Will the memories help her gain strength,
I loved that it was in first person and that she was having flashbacks.I also enjoyed that it revolved around music,since I love music.i also enjoy classical music like Mia,so I can relate.I recommend this book to females who are teens or adults.Mainly females because it is a chick flick.It was so sad at first,I was like what!!!!I could not believe that that had happened Mia had everything in her hands and it started disappearing in an instant. I am really exited on reading the second book.The second book is based on what happens on Mia's decision and what comes out of it.I hope you guys enjoy it as much as I did.When you are done go watch the movie because I still have to go watch the movie.
Reviewed by Andrea V., Grade 10
Glendale Central Library
Mia was a normal teenage girl with a crazy family, a caring boyfriend, and a promising talent for cello. That all changed when an enormous truck collided with her family car, killing her two parents instantly. As Mia floats between heaven and earth, she watches as they bring her body to the hospital and her friends and family cry beside her. Soon Mia realizes she must a choice: should she stay or should she follow her family into heaven?
If I Stay was a remarkable and emotional book. The writing is elegant and beautiful and the characters are so lovable. You can't help but root for Mia, and I teared up so many times while reading the book. I would recommend this book to teenagers and young adults who are looking for an emotional and inspiring book and I would give it an 8 out of 10.
Reviewed by Rebecca S., Grade 10
Glendale Central Library
A seventeen-year-old girl named Mia Hall is a senior in high school who is a cellist. Her family decides to have a family day out by going to their grandparent's farm in Portland. On their way there,they all went through a car accident with a truck and everyone dies in the family except Mia herself. Because of this,she goes through a coma that lasted for a very long time and she goes through an out-of-body experience. While going through this,she has to make a decision if she wants to live her life longer or end her life early as a young teen. Having her go through this experience,she looks at the times she had with her family,her friend Kim,and her boyfriend Adam Wilde,a guy who is a professional guitar player in a rock band.
If I had to use star ratings on this,I'd give it a 5-star rating. The thing that I liked about this novel is that the story involves a protagonist making very big decisions especially when it could involve your life. What I also liked is the different types of feelings that the characters felt in the story. Ranging from devastation to joy in the story,these different types of feelings give me a definition of what a good book is. What I didn't like about the book is that I think that the author put so much detail into the book. Having too much profanity in the book was also something that I didn't like. If this was meant to be a teen's novel,meaning ages 13-17,it shouldn't have too much bad words. This could also be an adult's novel. I think many people would like this novel such as my friends,family,teachers,and possibly the government. This fictional novel is a very good book to read. People could learn from this like learning to make better decisions in life. I highly suggest if you are a teacher trying to find your students a book to do an assignments on or a bookworm,then you should read this. I know you would love this book and it could you make you read it over and over again.
Reviewed by Hannah Rachel, Grade 8
Downtown Central Library
If I Stay is a novel about Mia and Adam, an unlikely couple, one a rockstar and one a talented cellist. It explores how their relationship began and how it continues to be until Mia and her family get into a car wreck. In that one instant, Mia's life completely changes and she has to make many difficult choices for herself and her relationship. Mia is the only one in her family to survive and she's also left in a coma, but she sees and experiences everything happening around her as a ghost. The novel is entirely based on the difficult choices Mia must make for her future that could change everything. She must choose between her family and herself.
This book really opened my eyes to how truly difficult it is to make decisions. Mia faces the toughest decision of her life that I don't think any teenager should be able to or have to make. It also made me acknowledge the fact that true love, while it is strong, has many difficulties that make it almost not be enough. It is not like your everyday teen novel that portrays a love that's something easy and something that you can hold onto forever. I would highly recommend this to any young adult reader who wishes to truly feel something through a novel.
Reviewed by Ani Samikian, Grade 11
Chevy Chase Library
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