If I Stay by Gayle Forman

Published in 2009, If I Stay has received positive reviews and a surge of popularity thanks to the film adaptation released in August, 2014.

If I Stay tells the story of seventeen year old Mia Hall, a girl with a bright future, a supportive family, and a loving boyfriend. Mia and her family take a drive on a snowy day and a catastrophic car crash follows. Plunged into a coma, Mia has an out-of-body experience as she contemplates whether to wake up or to die.

The meat of the story is the memories that Mia reflects upon as she lies in her hospital bed. I don't usually enjoy a book with too many details, however, in this case, they made the story more powerful. 

And the story is indeed powerful. Mia is still young and the decision she must make may be the most critical one she will ever face. The story line is interesting because you imagine what you would do in Mia's situation. The seriousness of the matter makes the book heart-wrenching and sad. 

This book is a tough read, but it is worth the effort because it is powerful and moving. Five out of five stars.

Whip It/Derby Girl by Shauna Cross

Originally published in 2007 as Derby Girl, Whip It was made into a film in 2009 directed by Drew Barrymore.

Bliss Cavendar is an indie-music-loving sixteen year old, stuck in the tiny town of Bodeen, Texas. Her mother is obsessed with beauty pageants and Bliss' only outlet to the "cool world" is traveling to Austin, Texas with her best friend Pash. In Austin, she discovers roller derby, which flips her world upside down for the better.

This book is not as well-written as Shakespeare but it is laugh-out-loud funny. It has a certain charm and Bliss' observations about the world are infused with the unmistakable sarcasm of a moody teen. 

The plot holds one's interest and the book is full of great descriptions of roller derby, a sport about which I previously knew little.  


This book is simply easy to read and enjoyable and does not require your full attention. I rate the book four out of five stars, because while it is fun and fairly well-written, it is not phenomenal. 

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Published in 2012, Gone Girl is Gillian Flynn's third novel. It's gotten a surge in popularity due to the recent release of the film adaptation. 

Nick Dunne and Amy Elliott meet in New York City. They marry and move to Missouri so that Nick can be closer to his dying mother. This is where Amy disappears.
I won't share any more of the plot -- I'd spoil it otherwise. 

This book is told in a really interesting way. Each chapter alternates the points of view of Nick and Amy, both told in first person. I enjoyed this because, over time, you can really see how both Nick and Amy morph into different people.

Flynn's writing is addictive. She ends each chapter with a brilliantly captivating sentence which begs you to turn the page and read on. 

My only negative criticism is about the novel's length. It was too long because there were a lot of unnecessary details which bloated the book to 432 pages.  

The book's plot is like a tightly woven rope, its unraveling catalyzed by Amy's disappearance. While I enjoyed the book greatly, I wish it were shorter. Four out of five stars. 

Looking For Alaska by John Green

This is John Green's (The Fault In Our Stars) first novel. It won the Michael L. Printz Award and there are plans to adapt it into a film.

It is difficult to summarize this book's plot mainly because mid-book, there is an event that changes the course of the novel. I'll just fill you in on the first half.

Floridian Miles Halter is looking for a fresh start to his junior year in high school and opts for his Dad's old boarding school in Alabama. There he makes new friends including the mysterious Alaska. She sucks Miles into her complicated life while making him fall in love with her. That is really as far as I can go in summarizing the novel without giving away the plot.

I read this book three years ago and decided to reread it after the recent explosion of popularity of The Fault In Our Stars. I didn't really appreciate the beauty of Looking For Alaska the first time around. This book has so much depth, richness, and sadness. In addition, its message is so relatable to the teen experience; teens are often lost in their own mazes of life from which it can seem like there is no way out. 

Green's writing is neither beautiful nor imaginative, but it is raw and still entertaining. That is what gives the book its distinct edge.

Looking For Alaska can be read on multiple levels. You are required to interpret the ending for yourself and the author does not give much closure. If there were no additional thinking required, this book would be a meaningless tale about teenagers. I rate this book five out of five stars because it is a labyrinth (read the book, you'll get the diction) in and of itself.