If I Stay by Gayle Foreman

About the book:
In a single moment, everything changes. Seventeen year- old Mia has no memory of the accident; she can only recall riding along the snow-wet Oregon road with her family. Then, in a blink, she finds herself watching as her own damaged body is taken from the wreck... A sophisticated, layered, and heart achingly beautiful story about the powe... more »r of family and friends, the choices we all make?and the ultimate choice Mia commands.

My thoughts:
I have heard and read a lot about people in comas.  Can they hear all that is going on around them?  Are they unconscious and apart from the world?  Can the words that they hear during this time help them to get better or allow them to feel like it is okay to go if that is what is best for them?  In this novel you are seeing one authors' take on the situation from the other side of the coin.  I wondered how this was going to be done and stretched into a whole novel, but it was done so well I couldn't put the book down!

The characters became more human and fleshed out as Mia recalled days and times with each of them.  How her grandfather took her to San Fransisco for an important event and, while they talked little as he was a quiet sort of man, the words they did share meant so much.  How she was so involved with her little brother and had a bond with him.  How she met her boyfriend and best friend.  How she felt when her father gave up his punk rock life for the life of a teacher.  Her cello was so much a part of her and her life of music that that was almost it's own character.

Instead of being trapped in the bed in her body, Mia is able to see everyone coming to see her and talk to her almost as a ghost.  No one can see or sense her other self, but she is even able to leave herself and go other places in the hospital.  A nurse plants the idea with her that whether she stays or goes is up to her.  What a decision to have to make.  This book was so well done that I am looking forward to getting a copy of the next book, Where She Went hopefully in the near future!

Details:

ISBN-13: 9780142415436
ISBN-10: 014241543X
Publication Date: 4/6/2010
Pages: 208
Reading Level: Young Adult