Book Review (Canon): If I Stay

If I Stay

Written by Gayle Forman in 2009

The Raccoon: While her body lies comatose after a car accident that kills the rest of her family, 17-year-old cellist Mia Hall must choose between life and death.

UNMASKED: If I Stay is the first book to address the heroic amount of willpower involved in staying alive, making it stand far above any other work in which a character hangs between life and death.  Forman openly explores the controversial idea that the decision to live is not always a clear one, and her courage makes the character of Mia much more human.  I was dared to judge Mia’s seemingly flawed personality; could I really say that her hesitation to live is objectively wrong?

Because the plot takes place over the course of only one day, much of the story comes from flashbacks. Forman utilizes the nonlinear structure to spare readers the pain of a drawn-out love story, similar to how the movie “Captain America: Civil War” relieves audiences by introducing Spiderman without the now oversaturated hero origin.  Instead of the typical pattern, I was introduced to Mia’s boyfriend, Adam, as someone she had loved for a long time.  After I had become invested in Adam’s character and the nature of his relationship with Mia, Forman filled in their history as the novel went on.

This style of storytelling kept me in a constant state of excitement.  Mia tells four stories simultaneously in If I Stay: her hospitalization after the crash, her relationships with Adam and her best friend Kim, her journey as a musician, and her parents’ experiences.  Each chapter brings the next fragment of one of these plot lines, thereby quenching my thirst for that story, while increasing the suspense for the other three.

The other aspect of If I Stay that primarily kept me turning the pages was how complex every character is.  Despite Mia being alone in her position and being the only narrator, everyone close to her has his/her own story that is revealed over time through his/her actions in the past and present.  Forman adds incredible depth to these characters by showing their words and behaviors when they are unaware that Mia is watching.

Strengths:

• Although several specific artists and pieces are mentioned, Forman presents them in an easily swallowable way.  One does not need to have any musical knowledge to understand the characters and plot.
• The relationships between characters are realistic and have a strong emotional impact.
• The chapters are the perfect length to fully explain situations without dragging on.

Weaknesses:

• The characters are arguably too perfect.

Rating: 18/20 hours

Ideal Setting: Read this before a concert to both appreciate the music more and experience the feeling of existing but being unable to affect your surroundings.