If I Stay free essay sample

If I Stay, written by Gayle Forman, is an amazing book! When I read the back cover of If I Stay, I knew it was the right book for me, because I can relate to what has happened to the main characters and the feelings of other family members and friends. The family was in a car accident, and as you know from reading my other papers, my 16 year old brother was in a car accident in March. The feelings that were displayed in the book are very similar to the feelings my family and I had regarding my brother. At times we were very unsure of what would happen. Mia Hall, who is one of the most important main characters, is seventeen years old, plays the cello, and is mostly a quiet person. Mia loves classical music and practiced on her cello whenever she had the chance. Mia’s parents and her eight year old brother Teddy are also main characters in the story. We will write a custom essay sample on If I Stay or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Mia’s father, Denny, was in a band up until her younger brother Teddy was three weeks old. He realized at that point that he didn’t want to be like that anymore and needed to change for his family. Denny went back to grad school to become a teacher and changed the way he dressed completely, from â€Å"rocker† to â€Å"old school sophisticated†. He began wearing suits and ties and Mia hated this change. Mia’s mother, Kat, is very protective of others, very loyal, and has quite a bad mouth. Kat loves rock music and does not approve of Mia’s love for classical music but grows to respect her passion for it. Mia and her mother have a close relationship and Kat always offers her best advice to Mia. Mia’s brother, Teddy, is nine years younger than her. Teddy looks just like his parents, with blonde hair and light eyes, while Mia is the complete opposite with dark hair and dark eyes. He looks up to Mia and she is the only person who can do certain things with Teddy, like read the nest chapter of the Harry Potter books to him before bed. Adam Wilde is Mia’s boyfriend, they have been together for over a year and a half, he plays and sings in his punk rock band, â€Å"Shooting Star†, and he loves Mia’s family and friends. After breakfast one February morning, Mia and her family decided to go to the book store, and old record shop, and to have an early dinner at Gran and Gramp’s house because school was cancelled, due to a light snow though the night. By the time they had finished breakfast the sun was out and most of the snow was melted of the roads. After deciding on a radio station that would satisfy everyone they began their drive. Mia closed her eyes and leaned her head against the window, and the next thing she knew, the impact of a four-ton pickup truck going sixty miles an hour was plowing straight into the side of the car. The impact sent the passenger seat through the driver’s side window. In the beginning Mia thought everything was fine, but little does she know that it isn’t. She finds herself standing in a ditch without a scratch on her body, or so she thinks. Once she walks towards the car she sees that her parents are both lying on the pavement dead, she tries to look for Teddy, but instead finds her own mangled body. Mia tries everything to wake her from what she thinks is a nightmare but it doesn’t work. She thinks she is dead, until the paramedics arrive. Mia is then airlifted to the nearest hospital. Not knowing if Teddy is still alive or hurt once she gets to the hospital, she goes to look for him, leaving her â€Å"real body† in surgery. After searching for Teddy, and not finding him she wonders if he is still alive, but when she tries to ask a nurse about him the words don’t come out of her mouth. It’s almost like she is a ghost, but she isn’t really dead. Mia can see everything going on around her but can’t physically feel it and she can go wherever she wants. She can hear everything that others are saying but when she speaks, she makes no noise, and the other people can’t see her. Mia has to decide if she wants to fight for her life and have the grief of losing her family every day or if she wants to join them. Mia realizes Teddy is dead when her Grandparents show up and are both with her, she knows they wouldn’t leave Teddy alone. Adam tries to get into the intensive care unit but is unable because he isn’t immediate family. Adam gets special permission to see Mia and wants her to realize he hasn’t left her and is still there for her. Adam says to her, â€Å"Just listen†¦. stay,† and Mia forces all the strength she has left in her body to squeeze his hand. Adam knows then that she will be okay. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a good book that keeps you wondering â€Å"what will happen next? † I loved the book; I could relate to some of it and never wanted to put it down. It kept me on the edge of my seat wondering if Mia would decide to â€Å"stay† or not. Gayle Forman has a sequel to If I Stay, called, Where She Went, it is written in Adam’s point of view three years after the accident. Adam and Mia go their separate way, but I plan on reading it very soon! I want to know what happened next and why Adam and Mia decided to end the relationship.