I received this book for free from Author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Pivot Point by Kasie West Series: Pivot Point #1
Published by HarperTeen on February 12th 2013
Pages: 352
Genres: Sci-Fi, Young Adult
Format: ARC
Source: Author
Amazon・ Good Books・Book Depository
Goodreads
Knowing the outcome doesn’t always make a choice easier . . .
Addison Coleman’s life is one big “What if?” As a Searcher, whenever Addie is faced with a choice, she can look into the future and see both outcomes. It’s the ultimate insurance plan against disaster. Or so she thought. When Addie’s parents ambush her with the news of their divorce, she has to pick who she wants to live with—her father, who is leaving the paranormal compound to live among the “Norms,” or her mother, who is staying in the life Addie has always known. Addie loves her life just as it is, so her answer should be easy. One Search six weeks into the future proves it’s not.
In one potential future, Addie is adjusting to life outside the Compound as the new girl in a Norm high school where she meets Trevor, a cute, sensitive artist who understands her. In the other path, Addie is being pursued by the hottest guy in school—but she never wanted to be a quarterback’s girlfriend. When Addie’s father is asked to consult on a murder in the Compound, she’s unwittingly drawn into a dangerous game that threatens everything she holds dear. With love and loss in both lives, it all comes down to which reality she’s willing to live through . . . and who she can’t live without.
Pivot Point, I’m not quite sure what you are… but I think I kinda loved it. I have this issue where I feel the need to categorize things. I can’t explain it, I guess that’s just the way my brain works. Pivot Point was really an enigma for me because I just couldn’t tell what genre it would fall in. From the blurb, it clearly screams sci-fi, but when you start reading it feels so contemporary. And that was a very, very pleasant surprise because the novel kept me guessing from beginning to end.
Addison lives in a little community that is very different from our world. Everyone she knows has abilities similar to those right out an X-Men comic book. She herself can see into her future by Searching different paths for her to take. Unfortunately for her, she has to use this ability to choose which parent she wants to live with when they spring their divorce on her. So what does she choose? Door number one or two?
Throughout the course of the novel you have two of Addie’s future telling one story. Her POV effortlessly bounces back and forth, revealing clues to the ultimate ending. It’s a very clever way of telling a story. Time after time, I thought I would get lost due to the flip-flopping, but that was never the case. West wove both futures together allowing them to compliment each other and somehow not detracting from the story. I really have to give her major props there because this book could have gone very wrong, but it went so very, very right for me.
Now, what I didn’t expect from Pivot Point was the very well assembled plot. West’s ability to build just the right amount of anticipation reminds me of Beth Revis’ Across the Universe series. Regardless of what you may be feeling while reading, you’re going to be flipping pages. I really feel it’s a skill that I don’t see very often these days. So many times I found myself really hooked so much so that as I was carrying on the most mundane of tasks throughout the day, my eyes diverted to the book across the room. At that’s mostly do to all the great moments in Pivot Point: From the witty dialogue, the mystery, the uniqueness of the story, to the character development of Addie.
And then there’s Trevor. *sigh*
AWESOME. Guys, there’s this part in the book where Addie learns some THINGS and he’s there to hold her and says some really sweet THINGS and, I swear, I cried because that scene was just utter perfection for me.
But what I really loved about the book was the ending. I love how Addie didn’t let her feelings for one guy to dictate which path she should choose. Her choice is ultimately based on love for her friends and kindness for others at the expense of her own happiness. I loved her for that and I wish I saw more YA heroines of this same quality.
In case it wasn’t clear: I LOVED Pivot Point and highly recommend it. I thought it was just going to be a cutesy little book, but it slowly became more and more complex and intriguing as the novel wore on. It took me completely by surprise and I’m so ready for that sequel!
*ARC was provided by the author for a review. Thank you!
Steph Sinclair
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Kimmy
Ooh, I really want to read this one! Sounds so good!
Jennifer @ The Bawdy Book Blog
Eeeeeee, I am so glad you loved it!!!
SnugglyOranges
Yayyyy I’m so glad you loved this book!!! 😀 I love everything about this review and agree wholeheartedly. It really took me by surprise as well. And TREVOR and the THINGS he does – asdfjkl; soooo many feelings. He is too perfect. ♥
JenniferMesserschmidt
I LOVED this one too! It was a mix of genres but it was just so brilliant! And I loved how everything came together!
NatalieAguirre
I so agree with you. I loved this. Such a unique premise and the plot was riveting.
erinf1
oooh… and here I did the cardinal sin of judging a book by it’s cover. definitely going to have to go add it to my wishlist 😉
Lilysbookblog
I loved this book! Everything about Pivot Point just screamed pure perfection in my opinion! I get what you mean by it feeling like SCI-FI and then Contemporary at the same time once you start actually reading it. I thing the ending is just what blew the ball out of the park for me, I loved how Addie isn’t some silly girl with no backbone and just accepts the awfull fate for those closets to her, she fights to protect them even if it hurts her and risks her happiness! You don’t understand how anxouis I am for it’s sequel,,,like how are things going to end? AHHHH i cant take it!!!
Great Review Lily xx
evieseo
Great review, you definitely got me very excited for this book, Steph! Especially the thing your said about it reading more like a contemporary novel? Man, I love that! That’s how I feel right now about Love In The Time Of Global Warming, it’s kind of a dystopia/sci fi, but it reads like a good contemporary, and I’m just falling in love with it 🙂 I’m going to have to bump this one up on my TBR, can’t wait to read it! Thanks for sharing your thoughts! 🙂
tigerlilyrachel
Ahhh, everyone is saying fantastic things about this book. I seriously can’t wait to read it. I’m glad to hear that it feels contemporary because, at least for me, when books of different genres like sci-fi or paranormal feel like a contemporary book it makes the story seem that much more realistic.
Renae M
Everything I’ve heard about this book has only cemented my need to get my hands on it, ASAP. Ut I especially love what you say about Addie not letting her decision be ultimately affected by a boy, that she let other factors sway her. That’s being fantastic to hear!
Renae M
Everything I’ve heard about this book has only cemented my need to get my hands on it, ASAP. Ut I especially love what you say about Addie not letting her decision be ultimately affected by a boy, that she let other factors sway her. That’s being fantastic to hear!
sazbah
Dude. DUDE. STEEEEPH. You thro words like ‘sci-fi’ around. Then you add X-men. THEN you go and add Across The Universe? I DON’T EVEN NEED TO READ THE REST OF YOUR REVIEW. I’M ALL OVER THIS LIKE KAT AND GIN.
But, you know, I’m kind of glad I did (keep reading) because your review is brilliant.
This… sounds amazing. Especially how you’ve explained Addie herself. She sounds A M A Z I NG <3
tripsis
I’m so glad that you loved this book too! I absolutely ADORED it. Everything about it was so unique and just… amazing. I’m kind of mad that we don’t have book 2 yet. THAT ENDING!!!
cynicalsapphire
Dude, I am SO happy that you loved this one! Trevor is so great, and I loved how contemporary it was, and how uncategorizable. Shut up, spellcheck, uncategorizable is a word because I say so!
Addie was a wondrous heroine. Hos over bros!
alexalovesbooks
Oh wow, I’m so glad that you enjoyed this! It sounds like such an interesting book, and I love that it’s a mix of contemporary issues (what with that divorce) with a touch of sci-fi (because of her powers). I’d love to see what happens in her two alternate futures and what she ends up deciding.
kitgrind
Thanks for this! Haven’t read it yet, but my intrigue is now ramped up.
parajunkee
Twitter: parajunkee
Fabulous. I actually just got this one for review. I have to read it and I’m so glad you liked it. Now I’m excited to read.
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