{Synopsis} – In the blink of an eye everything changes. Seventeen year-old Mia has no memory of the accident; she can only recall what happened afterwards, watching her own damaged body being taken from the wreck. Little by little she struggles to put together the pieces- to figure out what she has lost, what she has left, and the very difficult choice she must make. Heart-wrenchingly beautiful, this will change the way you look at life, love, and family. Now a major motion picture starring Chloe Grace Moretz, Mia's story will stay with you for a long, long time.
{My Thoughts} – Mia is a seventeen year-old girl that has a loving family, a love for classical music and a caring boyfriend.
When this story begins there is a snow day announced so Mia and her family go on a road trip to visit some family friends. On their way there they get into an accident. I have to point out that the scene in which the accident takes place is remarkably well written. Once the scene starts to shift Mia is left on the side of the road looking back at the devastation that was once her car. She notices immediately that her mother and father have passed due to the accident. she starts looking around for her little brother but doesn’t find him, instead she finds herself and realizes that she is looking at her own lifeless body on the side of the road. Once she makes that realization the story starts to pick up at a much faster pace.
I really enjoyed reading this book because it helps to show that there are still teens that care about their families. That they aren’t afraid to bond with their families and love them. This book showed the close relationship that she shared with her family. The close relationship that she had with her music and the closeness she had with her friend Kim as well as her boyfriend Adam.
The thing I took away most from reading this book is that it’s okay to be afraid. It’s okay to be uncertain. It’s okay to want to give up and stop being strong, but when you have a solid support system it is possible to overcome anything. Mia has a choice to make in this book. Does she want to live or does she want to join her family? The idea that she gets to make this choice is brilliant because who doesn’t wonder about the afterlife or how one ends up there? Who doesn’t wonder if when it is their time to go will they be given the option to choose to stay or choose to leave?
I think this book would be ideal for any teenager that is wanting a decent read. Any teenager that is dealing with a power struggle within themselves trying to figure out which direction to turn. Teenagers that want to make the right choice for their lives but are uncertain of what that choice might be. Mia gets the opportunity to make a choice that will effect the rest of her life and by making her choice she will also effect the lives of all those that are near and dear to her. Often times, teenagers don’t think about the choices they make and how they can effect others around them. This book helps to show them that they can make a choice and that choice can be good or bad and depending on the choice can have a huge impact on the lives of those around them.
I think the only thing I disliked most about this book was the un-natural use of the f-bomb. I realize it was to help better understand the personality of Mia’s parents, but I disagree with it being used as many times as it was in such a short amount of time.
Final Conclusion: 5 Star Rating.
