After Ephraim’s mother believes she has identified his body after an accident she attempts suicide and Ephraim finds her slumped at the kitchen table when he gets home from school.Among the unidentified boys belongings which inadvertently come to Ephraim he finds a strange coin that can grant wishes...except it doesn't grant them in quite the way Ephraim expects. Things go horribly wrong each time he makes a wish, creating strange and frightening experiences and shifts, and affecting and changing his life and also the lives of the people in his world.Quite an intriguing sci-fi plot with parallel universes and dopplegangers. An interesting take showing how the same person can develop into different personalities given altered circumstances and it’s a good point that Ephraim takes responsibility for the actions he takes and does his best to rectify things. A really good story with realistic teenage characterisation. I like the plot twists and the ending. PerformanceOne of MacLeod Andrews’ strengths is narrating YA novels which he does with sincerity and credibility, always seeming invested and connected with the characters. This story is great. The science used blows my mind about the theory of parallel universes out there, living all of the decisions we haven't made. I got so engrossed in the quantum physics of the "magic coin" and it intrigues me how the "analogs" switched places every time a "wish" was made. Ephraim character was the typical kind-hearted guy who had a lack of information of what he was getting himself into. He had the morals of a typical hero-not wanting to kill. He was the average male lead character. The whole concept of the book was outstanding and mind boggling.
Pretty good. Parallel universe hopping adventure
—Lorraine
Not what I expected, in a good way.
—marielaaa
Pretty fun - def a YA
—Anj
Nebula Award winner.
—Landon57
