If I Stay Book Review and Analysis
Do you ever wonder how it would feel to have the power of choosing between life and death? I don’t, but I do know that isn’t an easy decision. Well, it wasn’t for Mia. In an instant, her whole world was shattered, leaving her with only questions. What will happen if she leaves? If she loves? If she stays?
About the Book and Author
If I Stay was published in 2009 by Dutton Books and written by American author, Gayle Forman. It won the NAIBA Book of the Year award and was a 2010 Indie Choice Honor Award recipient for this novel. In addition, it has earned such recognition that newspapers and magazines worldwide have discussed it; as Publishers Weekly said, “Intensely moving, the novel will force readers to take stock of their lives, people and things that make life worth living.” This expression is perfect evidence that this New York Times bestseller goes beyond the borders of a simple young-adult fiction story. That’s why the essence of this book review will take shape through Gayle Forman’s analysis of Mia’s internal and external conflicts, showing significant depth due to the use of flashbacks.
The Story of Mia Hall
This novel is about a 17-year-old named Mia, who had everything: a loving family, a gorgeous boyfriend, and a bright future full of music and full of choices. Then, in just an instant, almost all of that is taken from her. Caught between life and death, between a happy past and an unknowable future, Mia spends one critical day contemplating the one decision she has left, the most important decision she’ll ever make. She asks herself:
- If I could change that moment?
- If he waits for me?
- If I wake up?
- If I stay?
Mia’s Internal Conflict
Firstly, Mia grapples with an internal conflict; she deals with the accident and all that this encompasses. Her parents are dead and her brother is fighting for survival. After she realizes she is between life and death, she realizes her parents were killed instantly by witnessing their bodies on the road; she starts to panic and tries to wake up to find her little brother Teddy, who is lying in the snow struggling for his life. This awakens uncertainty in her, and she wonders if she is dead, so she starts to think about her boyfriend Adam. And as if that wasn’t enough, she was able to hear everything people said, no matter if it was good or bad, she would hear it; that’s how she learned her medical condition and the consequences of the car accident, witnessing every misfortune that happened to her and her family on their way to a family friend’s home. This issue worsens when Mia finds out she has a pivotal decision to make, her own life or death choice; she must choose to either leave with her parents and brother, or stay with her loved ones. In that moment is when she starts questioning herself if it’s worth living because she knows her life won’t be the same, so she wonders if it’s necessary to struggle to re-enter life and live it. In Mia’s words: “How am I supposed to decide this? How can I possibly stay without mom and dad? How can I leave without Teddy? Or Adam? This is too much.” So, should she stay or should she go?