I recently finished reading If I Stay by Gayle Forman, a light-emotional young adult novel. From the publisher:
In a single moment, everything changes. Seventeen-year-old Mia has no memory of the accident; she can only recall riding along the snow-wet Oregon road with her family. Then, in a blink, she finds herself watching as her own damaged body is taken from the wreck… 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.
What if you were comatose, having lost nearly everything? What if you were given the choice to stay or go? What would you do? This novel view the decision through a teenager’s life, as she looks back on key moments in her seventeen years and thinks ahead to decide whether her life is worth living.
I usually stay away from books about death, but something about this story pulled me and made me want to read it. I’m glad I did. While the story could have been far more emotional, it was almost a peaceful look at a life, at death, and a choice. I recommend this book for mother-daughter book clubs and women over age 16.