If I Stay
If I Stay is a young adult novel[1] by Gayle Forman published in 2009. The story follows 17-year-old Mia as she deals with the aftermath of a catastrophic car accident involving her family. In a coma, Mia has an out-of-body experience, and watches as friends and family gather at the hospital where she is being treated. Mia watches as her memories flash before her eyes as she comes to realize that she must decide if she is to wake up and lead a life far more difficult than she ever anticipated, or to slip away and die. It has received widely positive reviews.[2] A sequel hit shelves in April 2011, entitled Where She Went.[3]Mia Hall thought the hardest decision she would ever face would be whether to pursue her musical dreams at Juilliard or follow a different path to be with the love of her life, Adam. But what should have been a carefree family drive changes everything in an instant, and now her own life hangs in the balance. Caught between life and death for one revealing day, Mia has only one decision left, which will not only decide her future but her ultimate fate. WrittenLife changes in an instant for young Mia Hall after a car accident puts her in a coma. During an out-of-body experience, she must decide whether to wake up and live a life far different than she had imagined.Mia Hall: the protagonist of the story. Mia is quiet, kind and very musically gifted. Above all things, she loves her family, her cello and her friends. Mia struggles with belonging, often feeling like she is out of place next to her rock and roll, rebellious family and boyfriend. She recently begins to view her heritage with a tiny degree of doubt, due to her lack of similarities in character and demeanor.