If I Stay

Another Young Adult novel following on the heels of Fault in Our Stars that also features teenage love and tragic death, but falling short.
The family breakfast idyll, where a disappointing snow storm gives the excuse for everyone to skip work or school, soon shatters when they are involved in a tragic car accident. Both parents are instantly killed and daughter Mia is rushed to hospital in a critical condition. It is frustratingly unclear what has happened to her younger brother, Teddy. Mia continues to tell the story of her treatment at the hospital and the various ways in which family and friends cope with the bereavement via an out-of-body experience. The question is does Mia have anything left to live for now or should she let go?
Interspersed with the current timeframe are Mia's reminiscences of her family and blossoming first love with Adam. Mia and Adam both share a love of music, as she develops as an accomplished cellist and he as a guitarist in a rock band.



 It was a very easy book to read but I didn't find any depth or charm in the pages. I think the problem is that the story is told from the point of view of somebody who cannot interact with others and does not show any emotion as a result. The book ends just when the lovers reunion starts, so I would say it manages to avoid any opportunity of overt sentimentality, which is strange when the overall message of the book is that love is the only reason to live.

Official movie website

The Movie

I caught the movie on a 13 hour flight from KL airport, so I probably didn't give it my full attention, but I found it a bit dull.
The film follows the flashbacks of the book, but the fate of the rest of her family is gradually revealed over the time Mia spends as a ghost in the hospital.
There are a few tear-jerky moments towards the end, where her grandfather tells her that its okay if she wants to let go, but less than it should have for what it is. It doesn't have the scale for a cinematic film and feels like a TV drama. Those who like the Nicholas Sparks adaptations may find some interest here, however. 










Enjoyed the book - there is a sequel "Where She Went"