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: Do you like issue books? Why, or why not?

When I first started blogging, I don't think I even had the first clue what a real issue-based book was. I mean, I knew that there was contemporary fiction, and I knew that I didn't enjoy it for the most part. I found it to be riddled with cliches and, frankly, lacking any true semblance of human emotion. That, in a nutshell, made it impossible for me to make any sort of connection with the characters. It wasn't until I started actually reviewing books that I began to understand the difference between straight contemps and issue-based books.

Over time, I've come to love a good issue book, and my reasons are pretty simple. If I want to read about real life, I want it to be really real. I mean, I want to feel something when I read a book. I don't want to see some glossy and pristine little image that paints a picture nobody really knows. If I decide to pick up a book about a real issue like abuse, I want to actually be able to put myself in the shoes of the character because if I can't, then the issue misses the mark.

I realize that issue books aren't for everyone. I love a good sci-fi, fantasy or paranormal novel as much as the next person, but I'll admit that I have a very big soft spot for issue books. I think, when done really well, they have the ability to reach a reader on a much deeper level, and I envy that raw, intimate writing style. It's definitely a gift. So, in the spirit of sharing, below are my top four issue books.

Bitter End by Jennifer Brown...The Right & The Real by Joelle Anthony

Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson...Raw Blue by Kirsty Eagar

Title: The Right & The Real
Author: Joelle Anthony
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile
Publish Date: April 26, 2012
Genre: YA, Contemporary
Pages: 288
Source: Publisher

Jamie should have known something was off about the church of the Right and the Real from the start, especially when the Teacher claimed he wasn’t just an ordinary spiritual leader, but Jesus Christ, himself. But she was too taken by Josh, the eldest son of one of the church’s disciples, and his all-American good looks. Josh is the most popular boy at school too, and the first boy outside the drama geeks to give Jamie a second look.

But getting her Dad involved in a cult was not part of the plan when she started dating Josh. Neither was her dad’s marriage to the fanatic Mira, or getting kicked out, or seeing Josh in secret because the church has deemed her persona non grata. Jamie’s life has completely fallen apart. Finding her way back won’t be easy, but when her Dad gets himself into serious trouble, will Jamie be ready to rescue him, and maybe even forgive him?

Jamie's life is on the brink. There is beauty in first loves, but there is also that touch of hidden danger in taking the plunge and diving headfirst into a maelstrom of emotions. When Josh gives Jamie a second glance, Jamie is smitten, and the wheels of her young teenage life start turning. Piece by piece, she watches as her family is drawn into a world of deceit and lies surrounding the Church of the Right & the Real. It's a church where they not only worship Christ, but the head of the church claims to be the second coming of Christ, himself. Her world is crumbling around her, and when Jamie realizes she has to step out, she finds herself on the outside, watching the inevitable collapse of all she holds dear. Can she fix it in time, or will all be lost forever?

Oh, hello, issue book! The Right & The Real is only the second book I've read with cults, and I have to say that it certainly is one heck of a no-holds-barred account of life within the confines of a strict, fanatical cult. Author, Joelle Anthony, has painted a haunting backdrop in which her teenage MC must learn to survive by all means necessary. Baring the heart and soul of a teenage girl in the clutches of the dark and twisted nature of a dangerous church, The Right & The Real holds nothing back. Giving the readers everything from love, to loss, to the very roots of forgiveness, this is one novel that promises the true art of human nature in its most basic form, and we're invited to share in the journey.

There is something so very, very troubling about The Right & The Real, and I found myself thinking about that fact long after I closed the book. It's simple, actually. This book could very well be real. In fact, there are most likely people out there in the world going through somewhat similar circumstances, and it's both painful and terrifying to think about. Through Jamie's eyes, we see just how very barren her world becomes with the Church of the Right & the Real throws her out. Left to her own devices, Jamie is helpless but to watch as her father continues in his path to self-annihilation within the church. Her father was a complex character whom I felt myself alternating between hating and pitying. He was a weak man, and the church clearly preyed on his need to find a sense of belonging. Yet, there was a part of me that wanted to kick his teeth in for overlooking the fact that his teenage daughter was struggling simply to make it from day to day. The throes of young love were sweet and dark, twirling through the mess of the story as we watch as Jamie attempts to somehow put her life back together. I have to mention above all else though, that The Right & The Real is one of those books where a secondary character steals the show. When you meet a LaVon, a caring, kindhearted and true man, you will understand the true nature of human compassion. It's incredible. Were a few things in the story a bit unbelievable? Sure. Overall though, the pieces fit together seamlessly.

All in all, I was, yet again, blown away by an incredible issue book. There's something to be said for horror stories that are scary simply because they could be real. I give it a 5 out of 5, and I highly recommend it to both adult and YA audiences, especially those who enjoy contemporary fiction and issue books.

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.