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If I Stay

(2009, Fiction - Family Life, Written by Gayle Forman)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 13, age appropriate for kids over 14; suggested age 14.

  • Is it any good?

    4.0

  • Common Sense says

    Gripping, unsentimental look at teen in coma.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 14 and Up

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    Not an issue.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    A gruesome car accident, graphically described ("gray chunks of what looks like cauliflower," etc.). Several are killed, and Mia has horrific injuries. Two girls have a fight.

  • Sex:

    It's implied that Mia and her boyfriend have had sex, and stated that he has in the past, a brief discussion of virginity, mentions of one night stands, lesbians, and having unprotected sex, leading to pregnancy. In one very sexy scene, Mia and her boyfriend take turns playing each other like a musical instrument, leading both to climax.

  • Language:

    Quite a bit, including "assholes," "s--t," "f--k," "motherf--r," "bitch," "ballsy."

  • Consumerism:

    Clothing store, sneaker, electronics, soda, fast food brands mentioned.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Mia's father smokes a pipe, and she likes the smell; drinking and drunkenness; children drink wine as part of a religious ceremony.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About If I Stay

Parents need to know that this is a book for teens. In addition to plenty of swearing and sexual references (and one scene of not-very-veiled mutual masturbation), it deals with the aftermath of a gruesome accident in which a character is trying to decide whether to live or die.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about Mia's choice. What would you do in her place? Is life always preferable? Are there any situations when it wouldn't be? Why does Mia's grandfather tell her it's OK to let go, but her friends beg her to stay?
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Our Members Say

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  • What did you think about If I Stay?

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    misspretty626
    I rate this title on for age 13 and give it 5.0

    perfects for teens

    As a teen, I found it an absolutely amazing book. I LOVED it. It was so good. I cried, laughed, and everything in between. A definite must-read.

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate
  2. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    If I Stay123
    I rate this title on for age 12 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate language

    • My highlights are:
    • Educational

    I loved it. I just couldn't understand the last part of it.

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate
  3. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    Squirmbob
    Lives in Georgia
    I rate this title off for age 12 and give it 2.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Excessive consumerism

    • My highlights are:
    • Good role models

    Utterly forgettable.

    It was not my favorite book, and there were plenty of moments where I got bored of the book, and didn't want to keep reading. It's utterly forgettable. It shows of an inexperienced author, but many scenes were delicately described. Forman has a talent, but hasn't grasped the art. However many scenes were absurd (playing each other like instruments) and made me roll my eyes.

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate

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