 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
If I Stay
- By Gayle Forman
- Genre: Family Life
Common Sense Media says
Gripping, unsentimental look at teen in coma.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this is a book for teens about a girl who loses her family in a car accident -- and is now in a coma. In addition to plenty of swearing and sexual material (including a steamy scene of mutual masturbation), it deals with the aftermath of the gruesome accident as Mia decides if she wants to live or die. This book can spark discussions about a range of topics, including unusual
narrators to more intense talks about what they would do in Mia's place.
Readers who enjoyed this book may want to check out its sequel, Where She Went.
What's the story?
Mia, a gifted cellist who may be heading to Julliard next year, barely survives a horrific car accident that kills her family. As her broken body is extracted from the wreck, rushed to the hospital, and worked on by doctors, Mia hovers between life and death in a coma. She finds herself out of body, able to walk invisibly through the hospital and listen in on family, friends, doctors, and nurses. Roaming the corridors and her memories, she realizes that she has a choice: Does she want to struggle through a life without a family and perhaps crippling injuries, or will she let go and perhaps rejoin the loved ones she has lost?
Is it any good?
Media about dying teens often plays out as mawkish melodramas. How satisfying, then, to find a book that's actually well-written, compelling, honest, and unsentimentally moving. Through Mia's disembodied thoughts and flashbacks we get to know not only her, but also her quirky, semi-punk parents, her sweetly energetic brother, her friends, and especially her boyfriend, Adam -- and all of them are appealing characters.
Despite the supernatural, out-of-body premise, author Gayle Forman keeps Mia's story grittily real, perhaps a bit excessively so in the accident scene (which demonstrates the power of metaphor and grim humor to unsettle the reader), but also in the characterizations, relationships, and hospital routines. She lets the situation play itself out matter-of-factly, relying on the power of the events to speak for themselves, rather than bringing in the literary equivalent of throbbing violins to wring sobs out of readers. This is moving and very thought-provoking, but never manipulative or melodramatic.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about teen books and movies that deal with a young person's death. What other titles can you think of? Why is this a topic that resonates with teens? How does this book compare and contrast with other media?
This book's topic is intense -- as are the descriptions of the accident and some of the sexual material and language. Should a book ever be off limits to teens? Who should decide?
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AGE
Disapointing first, better latter.
I love this book!!! At first, I thought it was really boring. But after I got more into it, I couldn't put it down.
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AGE
Love this book. And sex? You wouldn't even realize that they did unless you were older and could put dialogue with action together, its not graphic at all. Hello, I'm a fourteen year old. PARENTS! Please understand we hear worse words at school. We shouldn't need to censor. The drinking wine really wasn't an issue. As long as you brought up your kids well, they should realize that it was for a religious reason.
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AGE
Wonderful Book!
This book is a really good story. I think it sends the message that you should never give up on your dreams. Mia is a good role model because she is brave and a diligent worker when it comes to Cello, she is extremely talented and its implied that she goes to Julliard. I think the book is kind of emotionally tense so younger kids might have a harder time coping with the accident.
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AGE
Perfect for 15 and up, definitely not for any under the age of 13
LOVED this book! How it was a mix between drama, romance, family, friends, medical science, and life threatining decisions. There was a lot of language. But i took note that it was indeed properly placed in the novel. I read this book when I was 13. A lot I didn't understand, but I got the basic idea and story line of the book without understanding the inappropraite parts for my age! HA! I suggest this to any teen 14/15 year old and over!
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AGE
Amazing :D
Love it! I couldn't put it down wone i started reading it. I wasn't happy with the ending, Cuz it left me wanting more! But they came out with a 2nd book just waiting to read it!
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AGE
Loved It!
I love this book! I thought it was really captivating. I love how Kim ( her best friend ) refuses to believe she'll die and also refuses to cry about it. She has a strong character, and she's my favorite character. I also love how Adam still loves her and doesn't give up hope that she won't die no matter what. I really thin that they should make this into a movie! Its a really good book and I love how the character flashes back on her life.
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AGE
Perfect for older kids, but not for tweens
I loved this book. My mother and I read it, and there was only one small issue. Where Mia and her boyfriend are 'playing' eachother.
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AGE
Positive family messages
I loved this book. It was actually quite sad though. I started reading it and I didn't want to go on reading it, because it was sad. I didn't want to waste the book so I read it anyways. It turned out really good though. It makes you cherish what you have in life even more. It makes you love your family even more and I think that is a positive message. It's really positive for teens who are at the point where they think their parents are stupid. I've never thought that, but a lot of teens do. This book really puts out that message.
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AGE
Disturbing, yet good
It was a pretty good book with a very strong message, but it was also very disturbing when Mia describes the remains of people in the car accident. I think mature tweens could handle it.
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AGE
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.
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| Author: | Gayle Forman |
| Book type: | Fiction |
| Genre: | Family Life |
| Publisher: | Dutton Children's Books |
| Publication date: | April 1, 2009 |
| Number of pages: | 201 |
| Hardcover price: | $16.99 |
| Publisher's recommended age(s): | 14 - 17 |
| Read aloud: | 14 |
| Read alone: | 14 |
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