Published in 2009 If I Stay as written by Gayle Forman. The movie which was released in August of 2014 was directed by R. J. Cutler and stars actors Chloe Grace Moretz, Jamie Blackley and Mireille Enos.
Mia Hall is a 17 year old in Oregon and lives with her mother, father and brother Teddy. The book tells the story of her love interest with a guitar player for the band “Shooting Stars,” Adam. Mia and her family get into a car accident and after seeing her family being carried away in bags she realizes she is having an out-of-body experience. Mia, now the only one left in her immediate family, must decide whether she should wake up and live a completely different life or move on into the next life.
The book is a mix of what is currently happening as she is seeing it as a “ghost” and flashbacks she is remembering while she is in a coma. It was not confusing at all to tell the difference between what she was talking about. The book was not separated by chapters, only small marks and times to suggest a new scene. I thought the book was excellent and that it was relatable in the way she talks about her life as a teenager. I think that the book is best fitting for teens and young adults because of the romantic moments and the words she uses. The book kept you on your toes and the switching between present and past was a great way of keeping the reader interested.
The book is very similar to the movie in the fact of the flashbacks, but like most movies there are parts that are different. The book was very good and it kept you wanting to read. I like how it was split into chapters because it flowed and you always got what was happening and you got a clear picture in your head. It was definitely something that made you think and you almost put yourself in her position. The writer made it realistic and not cliche so it’s easy for anyone to understand the concept of the story.
The only part I was disappointed with was the ending. Even though the book is a cliffhanger and there is a second book. I didn’t like how both the book and movie ended.
I am not much of a reader but this was definitely an excellent book and something I would read again in the future.
