Mias primary conflictwhether to stay alive or join her family in deathspeaks to the unassailable connection she has to her parents and brother. Gayle forman broke out as one of the masters of young adult literature with 2009s if i stay, a heartbreaking, but inspiring story that had a whole lot to. Gayle forman, if i stay people think i like chick flicks, and i always have good excuses for reading books that are apparently, chick flicks. This book stays with you long after the book has ended. Life lessons throughout the novel if i stay by veronika. Even though mia was a cellist and adam was in a rock band, they still loved each other. Her parents in the book are only referred to as mom and dad because she narrates the story. For their first date, adam used all his money to buy two tickets to a yoyo ma concert.
I honestly have nothing negative to say about this book. One theme is love can decide between life and death. Seventeenyearold mia is out for a car ride with her. Now mia has to figure out what shes lost, what she has left, and whether or not to fight to survive. This is a stellar thoughtprovoking, contemporary novel that will stick with me for a long time. If i stay is a young adult novel by gayle forman published in 2009. Just like any other novel, they have a theme throughout the story. Their listeners are both sensitive and dramatic, which is the perfect way to describe if i stay, a book about a violent car accident that causes a teen girl to ponder life and death. If i s tay is a book that seemed simple when i read the synopsis but within the first few pages i realised that this would be a book that i loved mias family are simply fantastic, and i loved that she wanted to be with them as much as possible. This visual represents the different choices you have, decisions you can make, and paths you can take in life. If i stay symbols and motifs classical music classical music not only defines mias personality, but marks the major events of the novel while serving as the symbolic link between mias past, present and future. At the beginning of the story mia wanted to be with her family in heaven.
Gayle forman s if i stay analyzes the life of one seventeenyearold mia hall, a teenager and accomplished cellist who lives in oregon with her family, all of whom except mia were killed in a car accident while traveling to visit friends. Trapped between life and death writer kaleb nation admits that he buys books for their covers thats why he first picked up gayle formans if i stay. If i stay themes from litcharts the creators of sparknotes. Mias brother teddy and her father, a middleschool english teacher, also have the day off, so her mother takes the day off of work. Throughout the time that she is in the coma, her feelings towards he boyfriend change drastically. Gayle formans if i stay tells the poignant story mia, who falls into a coma after a. Their listeners are both sensitive and dramatic, which is the perfect way to describe if i stay, a book about a violent car accident that causes a teen girl. If you go into this book expecting not to cry, you are a fool. If i stay is a book series written by gayle forman. If i stay is a pageturner, save the moments when reflection is required.
Discussion of themes and motifs in gayle formans if i stay. Pdf if i stay by gayle forman read online book download. If i stay by gayle forman book club discussion questions. For instance, mias folks, her beau adam, her closest companion kim, and by far most of her familys dear companions have a fondness for exciting music. The novel starts with mias family sharing a pancake breakfast on a snowy oregon morning. While the rest of her immediate family decided what they could do with this free time mia already has other plans. These notes were contributed by members of the gradesaver community.
Mia hall is the main character in if i stay by gayle forman. In a fairly slim volume, author gayle forman manages to create a believable and virtually blameless character in mia. I first discovered allie larkin via her 2019 release, swimming for sunlight, and fell in love with her writing style and storytelling and love of dogs. Both the book and the movie take you on a torturous journey into mias past to show her backstory, and then continue reading if i s tay movie vs book. If i stay is without a doubt one of the most powerful books youll ever read. As a teenager, mia is at the crossroads of many major life decisions. A sophisticated, layered, and heartachingly beautiful story about the power. Both the book and the movie take you on a torturous journey into mias past to show her backstory, and then continue reading if i stay movie vs book. The importance of love and family is a driving force in if i stay, as many of the choices and sacrifices made within the novel are done for the sake. For example, mias parents, her boyfriend adam, her best friend kim, and the vast majority of her familys close friends have an affinity. The theme of living is easy, dying is hard stays with you for a long long time and shapes your own life for the better. At just 17 years old, mias life is only just beginning.
If i stay is the international bestseller by ya author, gayle forman. If i stay is proof that the young adult genre is not just for silly stories for teenagers. Theme the main theme of the story was love that will last through anything no matter what the circumstances are. Although if i stay was a quick read, it wasnt necessarily an easy one if i stay is a book that seemed simple when i read the synopsis but within the first few pages i realised that this would be a book that i loved mias family are simply fantastic, and i loved that she wanted to be with them as much as possible. It relates to the novel because the quote i used from the novel to represent this life lesson is.
It doesnt matter what kind of love, whether it be storge,philia or eros. Forman has crafted a heartbreaking tale with solid characters and very real problems. Life lessons throughout the novel if i stay by veronika roze. This study guide consists of approximately 23 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of if i stay. A horrible car accident that kills almost the entire family instantly. If i stay summary from litcharts the creators of sparknotes. Jan 09, 2016 if i stay is a book about one of the biggest decisions mia must make. Gayle forman talks about her new book i was here and why. Pdf if i stay by gayle forman read online book download online. Therefore, the authors purpose, theme, and maintaing my interest is all demonstrated when and after reading if i stay. As the book states, love can make you immortal, this is the reason mia stays.
The characters that are involved in her making her choice are all her family, adam, and kim. A collection of classical records is not the kind of thing you advertise. Even though mia was in the hospital, and there were high chances that she would not wake up, adam waited by her bedside hoping and praying that she would wake up. We can stop at bookbarn on the way back, mom says, as if to entice me.
It makes you have really deep thoughts about life and makes you feel really bipolar as well. Mia and her family get to enjoy a snow day at the beginning of if i stay. While this book would be enjoyable for a singular reader, the points of view that emerge from discussing this book. A books theme is not the same as its plot or its moral lesson, but these elements are related and necessary in building the larger story. Can not wait to see the movie to see if it is any way as great as this story. The main theme of the story was love that will last through anything no matter what the circumstances are. The entire crux of the novel hinges on mias decision about. Through this coma, however, mia has an outofbody experience.
Music functions paradoxically in gayle formans if i stay, dividing the characters along lines of personal taste, personality, and worldview. The novel also demonstrates how ones close friends such as mias boyfriend adam are indeed a. Although she is physically unconscious throughout the story, mia is faced with the most important decision she will ever have to make whether to succumb to her injuries or fight to stay alive. I am very very late in reading this book as all the hype was last year. Love can decide between life and death is a constant theme that occurs thoughout the entire story. Once you hear the premise of gayle formans if i stay, it doesnt take long to realize this isnt exactly going to be a feelgood read. I immediately went to the library and picked up stay. This study guide for gayle formans if i stay offers summary and analysis on themes, symbols, and other literary devices found in the text. Not since twilight have we seen as emotionally moving a book for a youth audience with this kind of crossover appeal.
Love, family, and relationships theme analysis the importance of love and family is a driving force in if i stay, as many of the choices and sacrifices made within the novel are done for the sake of loved ones. Aug 17, 2018 in if i stay our seventeenyearold mia wakes during a snowing morning, her parents and other family are busy celebrating the holiday with chocolate chip pancakes. It is a recurring theme in the book since mia has a lot of love in her life. So after i watched if i stay and i ugly cried for about 20 30 minutes i decided i was going to read the book. Key characters theme setting the book that i chose for the. Litcharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in if i stay, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work. Producers often use a book as a springboard for a movie idea or to earn a specific rating. In all romantic books the topic of love is explored. Visit to buy new and used textbooks, and check out our awardwinning nook tablets and ereaders. If i stay is a novel that explores the kinds of sacrifices that inevitably accompany choices. If i s tay home and dont go no fear shakespeare othello act 1 scene 1 page 6 starting to worry its true. If i stay is an epic that asks us to focus on the loves we have in our lives and the importance of pursuing our dreams and passions. Seventeenyearold mia hall lives in a small town in oregon with her mom kat, dad denny, and eightyearold brother, teddy.
It was ripe for discussion as to whether or not the right decision to stay or not to stay was made, and why. She is the author of just one day and just one year, and the companion enovella just one night, as well as the new york times bestsellers if i stay and where she went. Another theme in if i stay is that there are different types of love. A sophisticated, layered, and heartachingly beautiful story about the power of family and friends, the choices we all make, and the ultimate choice mia commands. Mia experiences a life changing car accident that makes her reflect of her early life. For example, mias parents, her boyfriend adam, her best friend kim, and the vast majority of her familys close friends have an affinity for rock music.
I can lose you like that, if i dont lose you today. I chose if i stay because it looked like a great book. Learn how to find the theme of a book or short story. Gayle forman is an awardwinning, internationally bestselling author and journalist. You control everything, there is always a choice to be made. Although she is physically unconscious throughout the story, mia is faced with the most important decision. If i stay quotes by gayle forman goodreads share book. The theme of love, family, and relationships in if i stay. Mia is the only member of her family to survive, and she finds herself in a coma.
A site dedicated to book lovers providing a forum to discover and share commentary about the books and authors they enjoy. She lives in brooklyn, new york, with her husband and daughters. Learn and understand all of the themes found in if i stay, such as choice. The primary theme of if i stay is the concept of choice. The book is about a girl mia that likes a boy adam. I m not sure which book i loved more i adored the characters in this book from van to alex to louis and especially joe, the german. She scans the morning paper looking for news about her boyfriend adam and his musical band. Mia has her love for adam, her love of her parents, her love for her brother, her love. Written by anastasia melnyk and other people who wish to remain anonymous. I mean, it takes real talent to really think outside the box like the author has. If you actually watch this movie and dont cry, you have no soul. The power of family bonds is the most prevalent theme in if i stay.
The story follows 17yearold mia hall as she deals with the aftermath of a catastrophic car accident involving her family. Much of the book takes place in mia halls mind while she is in a coma, her memories swirling around her. Therefore, i think this is gayle formans purpose of writing if i stay. Mia has her love for adam, her love of her parents, her love for her brother, her love for her best friend, and her love of music. The plot of a novel is the action that takes place within the course of the narrative. This is a project i did for american lit on a book of our choice.
I wake up this morning to a thin blanket of white covering our front lawn. Aug 26, 2014 if you go into this book expecting not to cry, you are a fool. If i stay s mia and kim arent going to be joining the sisterhood of the traveling pants, but they are good friends, even if mia sometimes veers into bellas territory of choosing her man above anything else. In the back they keep a stash of twentyfivecent classical records that nobody ever seems to buy except me. Gayle forman, the author of the book, shows a love story hidden under the mess of a tragic family car accident. The themes of sacrifice and choice occur throughout the story and play out in several. Written by hector rivera, cathy ortiz, chika offor and other people who wish to remain anonymous if i stay follows the story of seventeenyearold mia.
Apr 26, 2011 for the best answers, search on this site its been a while since i read this book,but you should summarize the partchapter where mia and her family are in the car accident,the part where one of her grandparents i cant remember. I know i always say that its important to read the book before watching the movie, and trust me. The family pile into their rusty buick, planning to go out for a day trip to visit. The juxtaposition of familiar coming of young adult age issues with far more heavy themes elevates the film above your average ya love story just not enough for if i stay to have the sort of crossover appeal that, say, fellow ya book adaptation the fault in our stars achieved earlier this year. Now a major motion picture starring chloe grace moretz, mias story.
In oregon, this small amount of snow is enough to cause school closures. She has a boyfriend named adam who is a musician himself in a punk rock band called shooting star. Readers will find themselves drawn to empathize with mia and nearly all of. The second theme is reflecting on the past can change the future. Music as a separating and joining force music works incomprehensibly in gayle formans on the off chance that i remain, isolating the characters along lines of individual taste, character, and perspective. The authors purpose is to show to the readers that anything can happen to your life.
We would like to show you a description here but the site wont allow us. The major themes include time, family, and friendships. Parents need to know that this is a book for teens about a girl who loses her family in a car accident and is now in a coma. Scientists say that heavy metal music and classical musicand the people who love themare very similar. She has a beautiful and loving family, a great boyfriend, a caring best friend, as well as being a. In if i s tay our seventeenyearold mia wakes during a snowing morning, her parents and other family are busy celebrating the holiday with chocolate chip pancakes. Although she is physically unconscious throughout the story. If i stay is a wonderful book that will teach you the true meaning of family. But the you who you are tonight is the same you i was in love with yesterday, the same you ill be in love with tomorrow. This book was the most recent choice for our book club. This book helps the readers realize that your life is a very precious thing, so you shouldnt take it for granted. Towards the end she changes her mind and stays in the world.
Mia is a dynamic character because in the beginning of the book she was deeply in love with her boyfriend, and near the end she wasnt so sure if she still felt the same way. If i s tay is one of those great rare books with a deeply authentic voice that can speak for and move a generation. The conflict of making choices is a prominent theme in the book. There are two themes in if i stay that really stick out. The theme of music that runs throughout the book is something else that makes if i stay appealing. Sacrifice and choice if i stay is a novel that explores the kinds of sacrifices that inevitably accompany choices. Their listeners are both sensitive and dramatic, which is the perfect way to describe if i stay, a book about a violent car accident that causes a teen girl to ponder. However, love can also complicate these decisions, and can sometimes be the very thing that must be sacrificed. If i stay begins with seventeenyearold cellist mia hall waking to a thin layer of snow on her lawn. We are thankful for their contributions and encourage you to make your own. On one snowy morning, school is cancelled, leaving mia and teddy, as well as their father, an english teacher, with the day off. But here are some of the themes that other people have picked up when reading the book. Sometimes you make choices in life and sometimes choices make you.
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