If I Stay Mortality

This book does not flinch from a graphic depiction of Mia's dad's death. The first line is brutal and gory, but the second line is a tragic reminder of her dad's life.

With Mom, we don't get the same humanizing touch as with Dad (remember that pipe in his pocket?). Why doesn't Mom get the same sympathetic treatment? Either way, though, it's a reminder of how fragile we are.

Mia learns that there is no modesty in death. The paramedics are more concerned with saving her life than with preserving her modesty.

The nurses wouldn't say the word "grave" if they knew Mia could hear them. It's another reminder to Mia of how fragile she is, and how fragile life is in general.

The sentiment behind Kim's line is repeated later, when Mia's parents talk about how you can't control your own funeral. Mia would hate this, and to her, it's very important to go out on her own terms.

This book doesn't have a spiritual view of the afterlife. There is no glowing light, or angelic parents keeping her safe. When you're dead, you're dead and gone, at least as far as we can tell. Or perhaps the issue is that because Mia's not yet dead, she isn't able to see over to the other side.

One of the reasons Mia gives us for staying alive is that she doesn't want to leave her little brother behind. But when she finds out he is gone, she considers dying herself. But does she think Teddy would want her to do this?

If there's a silver lining to this tragic accident, it's that Mia's parents do not have to bury her. We guess. It's kind of heartbreaking to bury anybody, though.

This is the line that explains why Mia wouldn't want a Princess Diana funeral. It's ultimately out of her control, though, unless she wakes up.

Mia is only making an assumption here. The one thing she learns for sure in this experience is that there is no certainty about what happens after death. Is it just us, or is she not thinking all that hard about what her choices really are?