Book review: "If I Stay"

Every summer I read an array of different books, and this summer was no different.  Out of all the books I read this summer, one book in particular stood out. "If I Stay," written by Gayle Forman, is a young adult fiction novel filled with drama and emotion. It follows the main character Mia Hall, an incredibly talented cellist, after a catastrophic car crash involving herself; her brother, Teddy; and both of her parents.

The story begins on a normal day. School has been cancelled due to snow and Mia and her family have decided to go visit some friends. On the way there, they are involved in a car crash with a large pick up truck. The crash ultimately leaves her entire family dead and herself in a coma. As the story progresses the reader follows Mia into her coma as she has out-of-body experiences and flashbacks about her life. During this time, Mia sits in on visits from her family and friends while still in a coma.



Overall, this novel is an emotional and moving story absolutely worth reading. "If I Stay" has been selected for a movie adaptation, which is set to release on August 22, 2014.  For fans, Forman has also written a sequel to the novel titled "Where She Went. "