Find One Object that Symbolizes the Main Theme of the Novel. Explain how it Accomplishes this.

Since If I Stay and Where She Went are both written by the same author, Gayle Forman, and revolve around the recurring ideas of music and love, the item that symbolizes the main theme of the novel is a cello. It accomplishes, in my opinion, everything that Mia is willing to fight for when she decides to stay. Even though Adam and their relationship is what helps Mia to realize what she wants for the rest of her life, her musical instrument is what helps her to make a full recovery and what also brought the two of them together in the first place. The cello gives Mia her future, going along with the fact that because of how talented she is, she got accepted into Julliard.

Would You have Liked to have Grown Up with the Main Character? Why or Why Not?

Growing up with the main character from If I Stay, Mia, would have been a rollercoaster to say the least. The family she came from, parents who enjoyed hard rock and were accustomed to things their own way, had an interesting approach of raising two kids. That, along with her younger brother Teddy, were far from the conservative and classical music type that Mia was. Besides all that, she would have made a loyal friend. Mia was always the one to help somebody out or be there for them in a crisis, even if she was shy around people she did not know that well. The only problem with growing up with someone like this is the tragedy that the book surrounds. A tragic car accident places her with a life changing decision and the stress and grief that, as a supporter, would be placed upon you when that happens. So all in all, yes, I would have liked to have grown up with Mia. Even though with how talented she is and her busy her life is now, you would always have the option of saying that you knew her when...

Do You Want to Read Something Else by this Author? Why or Why Not?

Yes, I would want to read something else by this author because I thoroughly enjoyed the amount of detail and the way the chapters were set up while I was reading. Gayle Forman, the author of If I Stay, also has wrote many other novels, including a sequel to her latest book. The way she illustrates exactly what is happening so well and uses words that are simple to understand, while also creating a complex story makes me interested to see what other works she has created. She also sets up the chapters with times helps contribute to the overall feeling and mood.

What Would be One Small Detail that, if Changed, Might Change the Outcome of the Story.

In my opinion, life is all about timing. There are so many instances when you believe being early or late can be such a downfall in the moment, but in the grand scheme of things, that instant can be the reason you are still alive to this day. The book, If I Stay, clearly demonstrates this by the main family gets into a car crash and the mom and dad die on impact. When put in a tragic situation, you begin to think about the possible situations that could have went on if something went differently. If Mia, who shares the point of view, sat somewhere else in the car or didn't go at all, she might still be alive and without a family to return to.

How does the Setting Affect what is Happening in the Book?

The setting of Catch a Falling Star is placed in Little, California, a suburb based off the large city of Los Angeles. This plays an important role in the differences of the main characters and how they react to one another. Carter and Adam form a pretend relationship to better improve his image as a celebrity, and because of this, the headlines for newspapers are able to make references to the couple by having an important society teenager dating a simple, small town girl. The disagreements that arise between them revolve around how Adam has seen more of the world and is greatly impacted for the worse because of how much attention he receives, while Carter has never left her town of Little and has no desire to either. In the end, they both realize how changing up their scenery can be for the better.