If I Stay
Forman, Gayle, 2009.
If I Stay.
New York: Dutton Books.
208 pages, hardcover.
$16.99
ISBN 978052521030.
Rating: 4.5/5.0 stars
Plot Summary
If I Stay is written as time-stamped entries over a 24-hour period sharing the life and story of Mia, whose family is involved in a tragic accident on a snow day off from school. One moment the family is in the Buick heading on an adventure, with a plan to stop at Grandma’s, and the next, Mia is above the accident scene watching rescue personnel attend to her and her little brother Teddy.
As Mia arrives at the hospital and remains in a coma, she relives pieces of her life,those shared with best friend Kim and boyfriend Adam. Mia sees how much she is loved, and all those supporting her fill her hospital room. She remembers treasured moments with her family, discovering her love for the cello and performing – and all the while, trying to make the decision of whether to simply let go or fight her way back.
Critical Evaluation
In If I Stay, Forman writes of Mia in such a heart wrenching, yet entirely realistic way that the reader never feels manipulated. Instead the reader feels like a cheerleader for Mia as she makes progress and aches from the pain when she slides back to the point she might be lost. Mia’s story of love, and life, and her dreams all become the backdrop for understanding who she is – and the catalyst to determining who she will become.
Anyone who has ever had the struggles of making decisions can appreciate the stress young people face. Like Mia, most high school seniors must balance planning for the next year while just trying to get through their final year of high school. The drama that entails is normal, as friendships wane, and some are left behind so that the new graduates can flourish on the dream journey. For Mia, in so many ways, all of these decisions become irrelevant. In other ways they become the focal point that help her make the most important decision of her life.
Reader’s Annotation
In a split second, 17-year-old Mia goes from having so many tough decisions to make as a high school senior - to just one, the most important decision of her life: whether to stay or let go.
Information About the Author
Gayle Forman began her professional writing career as a journalist specializing on young people and social justice issues writing for Seventeen magazine (12 to 20 crowd) for five years, before writing freelance and taking a yearlong journey with her husband. Home for a while, and settled in NYC with Nick and their two children, it is no surprise that she has come full circle and now writes so eloquently for YA readers.
Her first YA novel: Sisters in Sanity, originated from one of the articles she wrote for Seventeen magazine. If I Stay was her second YA novel and has been published in 30 countries. The sequel: Where She Went was released in April 2011, and she is currently working on another YA novel.
(Forman, 2011).
Genre
Fiction: Issues – death/injury
Read-Alikes
Elsewhere - Gabrielle Zevlin
Before I Fall – Lauren Oliver
Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold
Curriculum Ties
The health and psychological connection between mind, body and spirit - and how conflict within can either help heal or tear one apart.
Booktalking Ideas
1) scene of Mia watching herself during the rescue/accident scene with her family and their mangled Buick
2) scene of Mia and grandfather in hospital room with his encouraging words to try and get her to stay
Book Trailer Links
Book Trailer by the Publisher
Book Trailer by the Publisher (reprint edition)
Reading Level/Interest Age
Grades 9 and up /
Challenge Issues
family tragedy, parental death, sibling death, coma, decision to live
First, I would share some of the recommendations used as part of the selection process, including reviews from resources as noted below. Next, I would point out the value in allowing these types of materials to be optional reading as teens grow ever closer to adulthood and making their own decisions. Finally, following our school district’s policy #KEC, after explaining that our school district’s philosophy is that no parent or group of parents has the right to determine the reading matter for children other than their own, I would refer the parent or community member to the building principal, so that he/she can file a written complaint to begin the process of review.
Awards
YALSA/ALA Quick Pick for Reluctant YA Readers, 2010
Goodreads Choice Award Nominee, 2009
ALA Teen's Top Ten, 2010
(as well as various other state/library awards)
Why Title Included & Selection Tools
Though not the kind of book for every reader, If I Stay is being included because it is a beautiful and powerful story of love, pain, family, and what it means to be alive. The circulation rate is strong for this book, the need for tissues guaranteed, and the emotional connection some of my students made to the story of Mia will resonate with them long past their YA years.
School Library Journal, Publisher's Weekly, Booklist, VOYA, Kirkus Reviews
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