Emily
Charton
Gayle
Foreman’s If I Stay is a beautifully written novel about the power of
music and the the pain in lose. Foreman’s way of writing makes you feel like
you are experiencing everything the characters are. Every heartbreak is your
own, every tear, every smile, every laugh is yours as it is the characters.
Foreman has a way of writing like no other. Readers will feel every emotion
possible while reading her novel.
Mia, the main character of the book is a gifted cello
player, who never received any special attention until that bow crossed her
cello. Although never feeling like she really fit into her rock and roll family
she loved them more than anything. Her mother was a punk rock chick who was
very outspoken and would do anything to stick up for what she believes in. Her
father was an old fashion rock and roll guy who was still in the band he had
been in, in high school. Her brother Teddy is an energetic, happy go lucky boy
who loved to laugh and make others laugh. With all the conflicting personalities
and different musical interest the Hall family somehow made it all work. The
Hall family is a strong and close nit family who always stuck together no
matter what and readers will fall in love with them.
The one thing Mia loved more than her family was her
boyfriend Adam Wilde who is a perfect fit into the Hall family. Adam being in
his own band himself always had a lot to talk about with Mia’s dad and his
charming personality captured Mia’s mom as well. Readers will be captured by
Adams rock and roll charm. The Hall family accepted Adam in as one of their own
protecting and loving him like their own child.
Mia’s life was not perfect but she loved it. Her love for
the cello got her accepted into Julliard which her family was very proud about
and her boyfriend’s band was on the rise. But one day in the blink of an eye
Mia loses everything, including herself. On a snowy day Mia’s father lost
control of the car as it crashed into a truck. Mia woke up on the sidewalk with
the radio still playing in the car. Mia looks around and sees her mom, no blood
but a bruised neck and no heartbeat. Then she sees her father head bleeding in
the back of the head. Not breathing. She sees the paramedics lifting her little
brother into the ambulance and she feels relieved. Then Mia looks to her left
and sees it. She sees her own body bloodied and bruised in the grass. But how
could that be?
This novel teaches us the power of music and love and how
combining the two can be life changing for Mia. Readers will not want to put
this book down. Readers will quickly fall in love with Mia and Adams love story
as if it’s their own.
