In lots of young adult novels, the protagonist either doesn't associate much with his or her family or outright despises them. But in If I Stay, Mia's family is practically perfect. Their biggest disagreement is over what to listen to first in the car—NPR or classical music. A lot about Mia's life has a fairy-tale quality to it—she's got a perfect music career; she's got a perfect boyfriend who also has a perfect music career; she's basically Sleeping Beauty. And her perfect family enhances the ethereal quality even more.
Let's hope Mia doesn't have to live with wicked godparents in the sequel.
Questions About Family
- What makes Mia's family such a tightly knit unit?
- When thinking of her family, does Mia include her grandparents?
- What does Kim mean when she tells Mia, "You still have a family"?(16.17)
- How does Mia's family compare to Kim's family?