Pivot Point (Pivot Point, #1) in The Reader's Lounge

Jan 18, 2013 Jasprit rated it really liked it

Shelves: out-2013, read-in-2014

Kasie West is another author who I’ve heard incredible things about, so when picking up Pivot Point, I was expecting to be blown away, and simply put I was. With the niche of Parallel/alternative universes so over done lately, it’s hard to find books which do this subject the justice it deserves. So far I have only read one book which I did an exceptional job at this (Parallel), but West has also gone to show just how it should be done.

Addie’s story was thrilling, with her mind power of divergen Kasie West is another author who I’ve heard incredible things about, so when picking up Pivot Point, I was expecting to be blown away, and simply put I was. With the niche of Parallel/alternative universes so over done lately, it’s hard to find books which do this subject the justice it deserves. So far I have only read one book which I did an exceptional job at this (Parallel), but West has also gone to show just how it should be done.

Addie’s story was thrilling, with her mind power of divergence (when left with the choice, she can make a search into the future to see which path way be suitable to take), which had been a great talent, it had helped her out of messy situations in the past, but she didn’t expect to be using it to decide who she should live with when her parents announced their divorce.

West did an incredible job at portraying the alternative futures that were available to Addie. She was s o swift in moving from the present to one future and the other and back again (view spoiler). Also West was able to give me two worlds that I adored so much, I did find myself switching favourites as the story progressed but I did find a favourite in the end. Of course with two possible futures, there were two potential love interests that Addie found herself with. I was actually rooting for someone completely different at the beginning (view spoiler) but loved who won me over in the end.

West gives us a story in Pivot Point that is truly plausible, she has created something which could be really frightening, but imagine living in a society where everyone has some sort of mind control powers and you have no idea about it. I’ve always been a fan of X-men comics, so found learning about these different individuals highly appealing. Not were only the different powers that West incorporated well fleshed out, but West also managed to create a brilliant bunch of characters which had so much to offer. When we left one world I did kind of miss certain characters in the other world (view spoiler).

I am quite gutted that I took so long to pick up such a great book, but now I only have to wait a few weeks until I’m back with some wonderful characters and their wonderful worlds once again.
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Jul 05, 2013 Danielle rated it it was amazing

For more reviews check out What Danielle Did Next

Ever want to kick yourself for waiting so long to read a book? Yes?

Great! ME TOO!

Pivot Point...where do I even begin?

Okay - so I'm a firm believer in that we make our own destiny with just a little sprinkle of fate to help us on the way. That Movie - "Sliding Doors"? I adore how we get to see how life can turn out if we take the other path. Being able to do it though? I think I'd probably be all talk and no action because that's a lot of terrifyi For more reviews check out What Danielle Did Next

Ever want to kick yourself for waiting so long to read a book? Yes?

Great! ME TOO!

Pivot Point...where do I even begin?

Okay - so I'm a firm believer in that we make our own destiny with just a little sprinkle of fate to help us on the way. That Movie - "Sliding Doors"? I adore how we get to see how life can turn out if we take the other path. Being able to do it though? I think I'd probably be all talk and no action because that's a lot of terrifying power.
Addie can see the road less travelled, She's a Searcher and has the ability to look ahead and decide based on what she sees how her life can turn out. When her parents announce they are getting a divorce Addie is devastated and persuaded by her best friend Laila to do a Search and see which parent to live with would be the better choice. Addie knows it's a risk to look ahead, what she doesn't realise is just how big a risk it truly is.
I read the blurb twice before I started Pivot Point and I still didn't really know what I was getting into with this book. In a way it almost reminded me of Harry Potter, with the Para's living out secret lives in plain sight of the Norm's. Needless to say I was delighted to get a fresh, entertaining and above all riveting story with awesome characters! The Paranormal community consists of people with abilities as wide ranging as Telekinesis, Mood Control, Mind Erasing and Addie's rare talent to Search. They mostly live on The Compound away from the Norm community, interacting with them under heavy instruction to never let outsiders know the truth about who they really are.
I loved how "normal" West made the Para community, I never felt like I had to suspend disbelief or roll my eyes at an implausible storyline which happens quite often in Paranormal/Contemporary mix novels. Each alternating chapter focuses on the path Addie would take if she moved in with her Mother or her Father. Her mom chooses to stay in the Para community on the compound so we got to know how this secret world operates, the attitudes the people hold towards the outside world and the lengths they go to manipulate their successes when using their talents in their everyday interactions with the Norm world. Addie's dad takes a job with the FBI to assist in cases pertaining to the Para community and we see how Addie must adjust to life on the outside, dealing with less advanced technology and ways of thinking.
Both story-lines were equally compelling and my heart was pounding at times as they crossed over and we saw how a simple decision could have world-rocking consequences. I made my decision pretty early which path I hoped Addie would choose and who I personally would trust and *pats self on the back* I was right although it was amazing to read how Addie came to make her choices.
Addie was a wonderful MC, she was independent, confident, snarky, kind, just all-round kick ass nice girl and in both story-lines she was equally captivating as our heroine. I never stopped rooting for her from day one. I loved her relationships with her parents, I found them realistic and full of love which was a pleasant surprise considering the trend of the disappearing parents in YA these days. While Addie remained steady and constant in both scenarios it was interesting to see how her choices affected the people around her. Her best friend Laila irritated the heck out of me in the "Para Path" however I adored her in the "Norm Path". It was also equally interesting to see how certain people - no matter what path you meet them on are the same, their true colours may not always be so transparent but eventually they will be revealed.
There is of course the romance! While there are two guys there isn't a love triangle thankfully. Duke is the star football player, charismatic, handsome, it takes Addie a while to really take his attentions seriously but when she does she falls hard and fast. Trevor, cute, quiet, kind, he becomes the pillar for Addie to lean on as she adjusts to life with the Norms. I genuinely liked both guys at the start but I quickly made my choice and again *self high five* I was right! If you've read it let me know which guy stole your heart, I'm intrigued to see if we have the same taste!
The story builds pace steadily until it gallops towards the finish with blistering speed and I couldn't put the book down until I found out which path Addie ultimately chose and the consequences of her decision.
It's very rare that I come across a book that I can't fault on any aspect, technically or otherwise but Pivot Point is that book. The world-building was captivating, the characters well-drawn, realistic and consistent and the story - heart pounding, interesting and utterly thrilling. The ending was wholly satisfying to be considered a stand-alone but still leaves many avenues open for a sequel. With Split Second due out in February I await with bated breath to see just what paths lay before Addie and which she will choose!
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Feb 19, 2014 Pili rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I had heard so many good things about Pivot Point for so long that I was a wee bit scared about reading it, even more since I had heard about the rather heartbreaking ending. But once Split Second released, I knew I had to give this one a chance! (Thank you, Becca, for the push!).

If you haven't read the book, I'm not sure how I can review this book avoiding all kind of spoilers. I'll avoid the bigger ones and most obvious ones, but if you want the book to surprise you, stop reading my review and I had heard so many good things about Pivot Point for so long that I was a wee bit scared about reading it, even more since I had heard about the rather heartbreaking ending. But once Split Second released, I knew I had to give this one a chance! (Thank you, Becca, for the push!).

If you haven't read the book, I'm not sure how I can review this book avoiding all kind of spoilers. I'll avoid the bigger ones and most obvious ones, but if you want the book to surprise you, stop reading my review and go get it. It is very much worth reading!

Pivot Point is set in a world were some people have special abilities, and Addison is one of those. Her ability is being able to see the possible futures before she makes a choice. She lives in the Compound, a city where only people with abilities live. Her life is rather ordinary, with her best friend, Laila, school and her parents. Everything changes where her parents surprise her with news of their divorce, and the fact that her dad will be leaving the Compound and living amongst the Norms.

Her parents tell her to use her ability to search her two possible futures and choose the one that she likes most.

I was wondering by this point, if she was gonna do a search and then we'll see her choice, or if the whole book was gonna be about the Search and the options, and I wasn't really sure I was going to like that. And that's the way it works, we get alternate chapters with Addie living with her mum in the Compound and with Addie living with her dad with the Normal people.

Addie's voice was so relatable, even when she had her "teenage" moments I never thought her too typical or too irritating. She was learning who she was without her ability in the Normal world when she's living with her dad, and despite the difficulties she finds herself growing up and making friends, and not defining herself only by her ability. And when she was with her mum, she tries to improve herself but she doesn't have to make the same efforts, life seems a bit more easy for her.

We keep on seeing the plot progress in two different but parallel ways and we get more information with each chapter, complimenting the info from the previous one or something mentioned a pair of chapters back. It seems like we keep on getting bits of half a story each time and what we learn each time keeps on getting a bit worrisome.

The book is driven partly by the mystery and partly by the characters, and we follow two sets of characters, that get fully fleshed out and we get to know very well. By the time Addie has to make a choice, you perfectly understand why she has to make the choice she does, even if it absolutely breaks her heart (and mine!).

After Addie making her choice we see the future she saw play out and we are left wondering if we'd remain heartbroken or how would the future play. By the end of the book I just have no idea what will happen in the sequel, but I knew what I wish somehow would happen!

With an interesting mystery, wonderful real characters and equally beliavable relationships between them. I loved seeing Addie's and Trevor's relationship progress from meeting to friends to being together. And I loved seeing how Laila's and Addie's friendship got through some different kind of hardships in each of the futures but equally got out those stronger.

Very much deserving of 5 stars!!

This was a 5 stars book for sure! ...more

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Feb 26, 2014 Stacie (Shy Book Nerd) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Actual rating 4.5

WHAT I LIKED

This was not the average type of book and I quite liked that. It alternated between two pathways that Addie went through to choose which future she wanted to stay in. She could either stay with her mother in the Paranormal world, or move with her father to the Normal world. The first pathway, Addie stays with her best friend Laila and gets a boyfriend named Duke. Most things look peachy. She's happy for the most part, has an awesome boy friend, but she always had dou ...more

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Oct 30, 2012 Emma marked it as to-read

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