If I Stay, a gripping book full of true love and the power of choice. Young Mia is faced with the epic question, “to stay or not to stay.” She battles with the power of pain versus love for one painstaking day and poses the question, “What would you do in Mia’s place?”
This reporter finds that the book was better, as is most cases with novels turned into to heart pounding and tear jerking cinema. The cinema rendition, however, was a surprising success. The main characters of Mia and Adam were portrayed very well by actors Chloe Grace Mortez and Jamie Blackley. These star crossed lovers are faced with boundaries unknown and pull it off quite well.
The novel, written by Gayle Foreman and published in 2010, is a beautifully written book. A new aged Romeo and Juliet story, it captures your imagination and allows you to be in Mia’s footsteps as she relives her short 17 years while she is stuck in a Seattle hospital, fighting for life.
The cinematic portrayal is very up to par. The characters are very dedicated to this film and the emotion is very real. While some aspects of the book were not portrayed the same way or at all in the movie, the message is carried very well from print to picture.
The verdict? Was the book better than the movie? Or, by chance, did the movie pull into the lead? I suppose the answer to that question lies in both the book and the movie. So, the only way to know for sure, is to dive into Mia’s world, and decide for yourself.
Kyla Blankenship
Talon Times Paper 