45 pages • 1 hour read
Gayle FormanIf I Stay
Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2009A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
If I Stay by Gayle Forman is set in a small, contemporary Oregon town and follows 17-year-old Mia’s struggle with life and death after a car accident kills her family and leaves her in a coma. The narrative switches between Mia’s past as a talented cellist with a quirky musical family and her comatose present, where her consciousness observes her loved ones as they urge her to wake. Sensitive topics include severe injury, death, and grief.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Gayle Forman's If I Stay has elicited strong emotional responses from readers, with many praising its poignant narrative and relatable characters. The exploration of life-altering choices has been commended, though some found its pacing uneven and the storyline occasionally predictable. Balancing heartbreak with hope, the novel resonates particularly with young adult audiences.
Who Should Read If I Stay?
If you enjoy poignant, introspective young adult novels akin to John Green's The Fault in Our Stars or Jandy Nelson's I'll Give You the Sun, If I Stay by Gayle Forman will captivate you. Its emotional depth and exploration of love, loss, and difficult choices appeal to readers who appreciate character-driven stories with profound themes.
RecommendedReading Age
14-18yearsLexile Level
830L