If I Stay

A critically acclaimed novel that will change the way you look at life, love, and family.

In the blink of an eye everything changes. Seventeen­year-old Mia has no memory of the accident; she can only recall what happened afterwards, watching her own damaged body being taken from the wreck. Little by little she struggles to put together the pieces- to figure out what she has lost, what she has left, and the very difficult choice she must make. Heartwrenchingly beautiful, Mia's story will stay with you for a long, long time.

An Interview with Gayle Forman

<img align="left" border="0" src=" http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/PENGN-EMS/Gayle_Forman_Aplus.jpg"/> Q: You started your career as a journalist and your first book is a travelogue about going around the world. Is YA literature a departure for you?

Gayle Forman: Actually, it’s more of a homecoming. My first writing job was at Seventeen, where I spent five years on staff and as a contributor reporting the magazine’s social-issues stories. I loved writing for teens then because—contrary to popular opinion—they really care about serious issues (from child soldiers in Africa to kids embroiled in the drug war here) and the engage in their reading with such passion. So, now that I’m writing young-adult literature, it feels like I’ve come full circle.

Q: This book explores some serious themes. Why is this a book for kids and not adults?

GF: It’s a book for kids precisely because it explores serious themes. Teenagers are grappling with choices about life and love as much as adults, so why shouldn’t their reading reflect that? I don’t set out to write YA. It just seems like I’m drawn to stories about young people. That said, I think If I Stay is for adults, too. I love the idea of teens reading this book and then handing it off to their parents.

Q: Many key characters are serious musicians, and songs are referenced throughout the book. Are you a musician?

GF: No. Except for piano lessons when I was a kid and a brief spate of guitar playing in my teens, I’ve never played an instrument. I am, however, a huge music fan. And my husband is a musician; he was playing in a punk band when we met, so I’ve spent a lot of my life ensconced in that scene. I seem drawn to writing about musicians, though I’ve never been all that interested in the cello until Mia popped into my head.

Q: What inspired you to write this book?

GF: Music. Oregon. People I have loved. And unfortunately, the book is inspired by a real-life tragedy that happened several years ago.

Q: This is a book about death, but it’s not depressing. Why is that?

GF: Maybe because it’s really about the power of love—of family, friends, music—and therefore it ultimately affirms life.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It made me laugh and cry. This is a book can be enjoyed by all ages. It was a very moving book and one that I would definitely recommend.

This felt like I had read it before, and the writing did not make me feel what I should have cared about the young girl, I got tired of all the talk of her boyfriend. a story that is for teens and adults will find it boring and too much of what we have read or seen.

I loved this book! Sad, sweet, happy, smart, and short! It's perfect and I can't wait to see the movie. I'm reccomending it for my book club.

I have mixed feelings about this book - which I'm sure I'll be battered a little for, as all the reviews I have read thus far have been nothing but praise!

I loved it's simplicity, it was so easy to read and I was able to completely immerse myself in the story. It too was moving, moving a little too close for home with some recent personal tragedies, causing me to cry and feel personally affected by each of the characters and in particular Mia's loss and choices that lay in front of her.

I loved the detail of the characters and left feeling like I knew them.

Stories should absolutely be left with questions hanging - it makes for interesting writing. However, I did feel though like this was the first 5 chapters of a book and ended much much too soon. It's not a case of too many unanswered questions, but I didn't feel like anything was explored enough, but issues were just touched.

For me, this book had me engaged and had gripped my emotions but it came up a little short and left me wanting more. More emotion, more of Mia, more of seeing the challenge of living out your choices and witnessing a life forever altered but full of sheer possibility. Forman - please write a sequel.

I started out reading this book not sure about it and then it sucked me in. :-)

Not appropriate for kids under 12 due to the subject matter.