If I Stay

Article written by Joshua Ehiosun

C2 certified writer.

With the novel written in the first-person perspective, one could feel the weight of the choice Mia has to take.

Key Facts About If I Stay

• Title: If I Stay.
• Book Inspiration: If I Stay was inspired by actual events of an accident that claimed the lives of Gayle Forman’s friends.
• Published: If I Stay was published in 2009 by Dutton Penguin.
• Literary Period: Post-modernist/Contemporary Period.
• Genre: Young Adult Fiction.
• Total Number of Pages: 210.
• Setting: Portland, Oregon.
• Climax: The climax occurs when Adam plays Mia a song she was familiar with, and she starts having flashbacks and finally feels herself in her body.

Gayle Forman and If I Stay

The idea to create the young adult fiction novel ‘If I Stay‘ was inspired by a tragedy that left an entire family of Gayle’s friends and their children dead.

‘If I Stay’ follows the story of 17-year-old Mia, who has an ordinary school life, a handsome boyfriend, caring parents, and a wonderful baby brother. However, life takes a drastic turn for Mia as all the happiness she felt came tumbling when her entire family is involved in a ghastly accident.

Mia regains consciousness and soon discovers she is in a situation where she only acts as an observer to events happening around her. Soon Mia begins to weigh the effect of her choice to stay or to leave. Mia knew staying would be the hardest decision for her as her life will never remain the same again, but at the same time, she realizes she should stay because though her family is gone, she still had people who loved her dearly.

Books Related To If I Stay

‘If I Stay’ is a novel that provides a perfect representation of choices in dire situations. The contemporary young adult novel describes in perfect analogy the weight of having to make a choice that makes all the difference in the world. The book shows the feeling of sorrow, loneliness, affection, and love from the perspective of a teenage girl.

Books with a striking literary similarity to ‘If I Stay‘ include novels like ‘Where She Went,’ the sequel to ‘If I Stay,’ ‘Thirteen Reasons Why’ by Jay Asher, and ‘The Fault In Our Stars‘ by John Green.

The Lasting Impact of If I Stay

With the book reaching the number one spot on the US top best-selling book list after its movie adaptation, ‘If I Stay’ has shaped the young adult novel world. With a positive criticism and audience reception, the book has proved that its refined characters, fluid storyline, and captivating emotional display make it one of the best young adult novels written.