Let's Talk is a new weekly feature here at i swim for oceans. I think it's important that we all have our say, and there's something to be said for raising our voices. Simply put, here on the little old blog, I like to host some of my very own discussion posts because, well, I like to converse with you all.

And so, Let's Talk will feature questions or prompts, which I will answer, too. Love it or hate it, weigh in or don't, it's my hope that Let's Talk will at least get you thinking...and maybe even get you discussing with the rest of us!

Question: If you could only read one genre for the rest of your life, what would it be, and why?

Some of you might hate me for this question, and colour me crazy, but I love it! Seriously, what's better than a question that really makes you sit down, limit yourself and think? Confession time: I love books. No. Really. I love pretty much anything and everything that is bound and can be read. Whether I love it or hate it, there's always a passion for it, and I will try any written thing once, as silly as that sounds. I've been asked a lot, however, what my favourite genre is.

At first, I think that's a super simple answer. Come on, guys. I review young adult literature. That pretty much means that YA lit is like gold to me. However, I'm a twenty-something lady who also loves memoirs, chick-lit, mysteries and a good ol' literary romp with shirtless (and pantless?) men every now and again. So sue me. Imagine for a moment that all your books are going to be stripped away except for a single genre. What would I want that to be. I actually put a lot of time and effort into this decision. My favourite reads vary, kids. We've got:

But we've also got:

So, what to do? I'm going with my gut on this one and stating that if I could only read one genre for the rest of my life, it would be young adult fantasy. Yes, I'm going that specific. While other genres are amazing, there's something so entirely limitless and freeing about this particular genre. Everything is possible. There's no pretentiousness or presumption. It's pure imagination - plain and simple. Yes, colour me crazy, but inside I'm still a 12 year old girl. Now, let's just pray we never really have to choose!

Title: Fair Coin
Author: E.C. Myers
Publisher: PYR
Publish Date: March 27, 2012
Genre: YA, Sci-Fi
Pages: 250
Source: Publisher

Sixteen-year-old Ephraim Scott is horrified when he comes home from school and finds his mother unconscious at the kitchen table, clutching a bottle of pills. The reason for her suicide attempt is even more disturbing: she thought she’d identified Ephraim’s body at the hospital that day.

Among his dead double’s belongings, Ephraim finds a strange coin—a coin that grants wishes when he flips it. With a flick of his thumb, he can turn his alcoholic mother into a model parent and catch the eye of the girl he’s liked since second grade. But the coin doesn’t always change things for the better. And a bad flip can destroy other people’s lives as easily as it rebuilds his own.

The coin could give Ephraim everything he’s ever wanted—if he learns to control its power before his luck runs out.

Ephraim is your ordinary teen about to run headlong into circumstances that couldn't be farther from ordinary. When he finds his mother doubled over, nearly dead from a suicide attempt, Ephraim has no idea that it's merely the tip of the iceberg. His mother was certain she'd seen her son dead at the hospital, but Ephraim's doppelganger died; not him. Among his possessions, Ephraim finds a coin, and he discovers it grants wishes, giving him the power to change bad situations to nearly perfect. His first wish proves that it, and he finds his mother darn-near Stepford. But the wishes might not be all they seem, and they very well might have dire consequences. Ephraim must establish control over the coin before it begins to eat away at everything in his life.

Last year, I complained that there weren't enough YA books on the market told from a male POV. I believe I also said that sci-fi and fantasy were becoming tired and boring, rehashing the same ideas each time. I'd like to extend a heartfelt thank you (and hallelujah!) to author E.C. Myers for creating a novel that not only defies the norm but commands the reader's attention. Fair Coin takes an intriguing and utterly original concept and sets a powerfully engaging story in motion with a dynamic set of characters, a heavy undercurrent of morals and a heart-pounding concept that tugs at your conscience long after you put the book down. Not too many stories can keep you guessing late at night what is going to happen next, or questioning your own theories, but Fair Coin does all that and more.

Ephraim was the embodiment of fun and life. I often find that female MCs become a bit washed out and dry, acting as mere shells of characters that you might find in other novels. In Fair Coin, however, we're given a teenage boy that's every bit the average teen, but there's a sense of goodness and caring within him that draws you to his core. The relationship between his best friend, Nathan, too was refreshing and honest. It was a great way to lead into the story, giving us two characters who have a very normal friendship and one that you don't cringe to read - something I find lacking in a lot of female-drama books. Furthering the dynamic cast are Ephraim's crush, Jena and his mother, both of whom are well-rounded and completely engaging. I never once felt they were simple secondary characters. Instead, everything in Fair Coin seemed to have a level of significance. The concept behind the novel isn't altogether new; we've all heard of wishes gone wrong. However, Fair Coin propels it to the next level, giving us adventure, tension and action, as well as a thought-provoking mystery that leads to a heart-pounding conclusion to this first book.

Needless to say, I thoroughly loved this book. Rather than finding just another same-old, same-old book, this one smashed through the mold, and I'm so thrilled to say it's probably my favourite read in 2012 thus far. I give it a 5 out of 5, and I highly recommend this book to all fans of YA, especially those who enjoy male MCs, science fiction and fantasy.

I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.