by Anne Parker

Created on: July 22, 2009

Seventeen year old Mia is faced with some very tough choices. Ever since she was a little kid, her number one love has been music. The cello has been her favorite ever since she was ten. Now that she has to pick where to go with her life, she is faced with the choice of whether to go away to the number one music college around or stay to go to her town college to stay with her family and boyfriend. She had auditioned for an enrollment in the music college, but she has yet to get accepted. Problem is, will she go? Back at home, she has the people she loves so much, and there, she has the other love of life-music. Sure, Adam and her are opposites. Classic music is her love, and he's the punk rock type. He also has a way with her former punk rock / hippie parents. Besides, opposites attract right? But getting into a good college is about to be the least of her problems.

One mere February morning changes her whole life in a way she never expected. One little snow day, one innocent car drive with her parents turns out to be the worst nightmare. Their car skids off the road crashing into the trees killing her mother instantly since she was hit first by the impact and also because of lack of blood from the heart seeping out blood. Her father was also killed on the spot. Teddy, Mia's seven year old brother is taken to another hospital to be treated. Mia is suffering from a collapsed lung and some mild concussions. The doctors are able to fix her up, but she's in critical condition. While Mia's body is lying in the hospital, her spirit is roaming around seeing what's happening around her. She soon finds out that Teddy has given up and passed up life. Unlike before-Mia is faced with the biggest decision ever. Suddenly, all the choices are gone, and only one matters. She can decide- does she want to stay, or go with her parents? Mia is faced with the difficulties from the grief if she does stay. Then her spirit discovers all the hopeful faces of her friends and family members around her begging her to stay. She sees their grief and listens to their prayers for her, but Mia still doesn't know if she wants to stay. But a few words soon change her mind slightly.

"Just listen," Adam says with a voice that sounds like shrapnel.
I open my eyes wide now. I sit up as much as I can. And I listen.
"Stay," he says.

With that few things Adam tells her gives Mia a reason to want to stay. Now Mia must make her own decision-will she stay, or will she give it up?

If I Stay is a painstakingly beautiful book about the power or love, the bonds of family, and facing the toughest choice we could ever have to decide on.

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