Pivot Point (Pivot Point #1)

Can someone please come and erase my memory such that I can fall in love again with this story in 2014? I really have a hard time believing that I will be able to sit still and wait a whole year for the next book in the series.

I LOVE(D) this story. I loved Addie, I loved her friendship with Laila, I loved both love-stories, I loved how fun the writing was and how emotionally invested I got (without even noticing until I fell deeply in love with this book).

The concept is great: A tiny world inside our world, with supernatural people and their supernatural powers and advanced technologies? A girl that needs to choose a path and that can see both futures in the need to figure out her choice? An unusual love triangle, that it is not even that but two swoon-worthy love stories, that could pin you in place reading and reading and doing nothing more than reading? I’ve been having a hard time finding a book to read in the past few weeks, but this beauty here reminds me of why I love reading so damn much!

All I an left to say is that this book has really made my day.
Yes, in fact I had a horrible day and it cheered me up in a heartbeat – it made me smile, it made me dream, it made me giggle like a kid, it made me swoon, it made me hope.. and also it made me hate the brief ending because I wanted so much more. 2014, please come faster!

Review originally posted at: http://www.readingaftermidnight.com/kasie-west/review-pivot-point.html

I was blown away by the originality of the plot. The world was unique, nothing to be overly excited about, but still kept my interest. I think she could've maybe done a bit more with it, by adding a bit more description, but I don't think that was what the author was really focused on.

I really, really loved Trevor. I seriously had a new imaginary crush while I read this book, and he stayed in my mind all the next day. He was beautiful, serious, broken, and strong. I got the impression he would take care of any woman he loved. What a man!

I will definitely be reading book two!

This book was a keep the pages coming because I have to know what happens next. I loved the writing style in this book. Each chapter alternates between the two futures that Addie could potentially have. West did this impeccably well, I never got the two mixed up and the story flowed like a steady, but intense at points stream. There's a small trick to define the chapters that I didn't pick up on until over halfway through the book. Each chapter begins with a word and in the word will either be NORM or PARA and that will tell you if you are reading the normal choice or the paranormal choice that Addie could make. I thought that was really clever and I always love when there are little phrases or illustrations to start off the chapters.

I enjoyed the world in this book. The compound is this sectioned off area in the US where they live. They still interact with the outer US but no one knows that they are paranormal. This book was a breath of fresh air when it comes to the paranormal. It wasn't about one person discovering that another is paranormal, it was about a paranormal girl that was trying to decide to live normal or live paranormal - to decide if she wants to embrace her paranormal self or hide it in the normal world.

I loved Addie as our main character. She was sensible, curious and strong-willed and I don't see sensible a lot, so I especially enjoyed reading about a character that makes good decisions. Let's talk about the romance for a second here. Never, ever have I switched "teams" in a book. Once I know both points on a love triangle, I make up my mind and I stick to it. However in this book, I actually did switch teams. In the beginning I was all for her initial love interest in the hot, cocky guy but I found myself by the end disliking that guy and hoping she ended with the sweet, quiet guy. This never happens!

Not only is this story about Addie's choice that she has to make, but there is sort of a murder-mystery going on on the sideline. I enjoyed reading that part of the story as well reading about Addie's choice. I can't wait to see what the next book in this trilogy (I think it's a trilogy?) will bring.

Overall, a fun and well-written mystery/romance that I would recommend to fans of time travel and alternate realities. I will definitely be reading the next one in the series! :)

"I run my finger along the smooth glass, drawing my standard doodle—a line that halfway up splits in two. Then I circle the pivot point. The point right before the path separates. I press my finger into the center. One little choice can make all the difference."

The split second when the mind is swaying between two things, there is a subtle buzzing. If you ponder too much, you might get paralyzed and ultimately rendered unable to make the right choice. If you don't ponder at all, you might make a wrong one. What comes to mind in that instance is a wish to be able to see the outcome of each choice, a searing hope. It all happens in a moment that Pivot Point explores.

Addison Coleman is a Divergent so when faced with a choice, she can close her eyes, feel and see the future almost as if it was real. The Compound where Addie lives is full of Paranormals who have a special something in their genes and are much more advanced that the Normals who are unaware of their existence.

Thus, it comes as more than a shock when her parents tell her that they're divorcing. Even more so when she comes to know that her father has decided to leave the Compound for the Normal world. As easy as it sounds, to make a decision based on the familiarity of the Compound and the unfamiliarity of the Normal world, Addies knows that she has to Search.

The journey between the words ambush and screwed thus ensues. I say this because of the word and its definition at the start of each of the 36 chapters. The events of the next six weeks of the two possible futures occur almost simultaneously in Addie's mind. Alternating between the Normal and the Paranormal, Addie experiences life like never before.

In the Normal world, she has a hard time adjusting to its ways with electrical switches, locks, and the people. Trevor is the only one who gives her hope that she might just survive okay. While in the Paranormal world, life goes on as it was before with Addie trying to act out and Duke showing interest in her.

One of the things I really loved about Addie was her behavior in each of the worlds. It's fascinating to see her out of her element in the Norm world and then to really see her make her way into life with the help of Laila, her best friend, in the Paranormal world. I like that she's a reader, she's witty and she's smart. It's very easy to relate to her and her problems even though she's a paranorm which makes her so fascinating.

Trevor is a pretty reserved character and as a reader, you really want to get to know what is going on with him. He surprised me with his penchant for graphic novels and the quiet. His capability to put other people at ease is what makes him the perfect choice for Addie to get to know in the Norm world. Duke, on the other hand, is flamboyant, swoon-worthy, humorous and definitely have a way with words.

The abilities in the Paranormal Compound range from being fairly simple to dangerous. There are the ones who have the ability to Persuade and Discern, the ones who can perform Telekinesis, then there are also Memory Erasers, Mood Controllers and of course, Clairvoyants. Essentially, these are mind powers and seeing as how obsessed I'm with anything to do with the brain and its manipulation, I devoured the explosive way they came together to make Pivot Point a thoroughly breathtaking read.

Kasie West style of writing is simple and clever and you really marvel at Pivot Point as it maneuvers its way through tough decisions and laugh-out-loud moments. It is a difficult feat to achieve that balance and still shock the reader at the end of the book. Kasie West made it look easy and for that, I am amazed.

This books is just, uhm, wow. It's been a while since I've wanted something as intensely as I did in Pivot Point. I'm perfectly fine to go with the flow of a story, but when you have something to root for it definitely adds to the experience.

Since this is kind of a complicated book let's break it down. Also, it's my blog so I can do it for no reason anyway :P

Two Storyline Aspect
You'd think this would get a little confusing sometimes right? Well, yeah, it actually does sometimes. BUT, it's really not that bad since any confusion gets cleared up pretty fast as the two storylines are really different despite the fact that they contain a lot of the same characters.
At first I didn't really have a favorite. I was kind of leaning towards one, but wasn't particularly rooting for it. By the end, though, I'd not only changed my mind, but was rooting for it hardcore. And then the end happened and I'm still feeling conflicted (also confused. Can someone please explain it to me?)

Characters
Pivot Point has an great cast of characters.
Addie isn't exactly always likable, but it's not in an obnoxious way. I mean, she even admits she's whiny. Hey, if you can see your shortcomings then you're a step ahead of most paranormal girl leads. She's not all bad, though, she makes tough decisions when necessary and really cares about her friends.

All the side characters have full personalities and it's great. Addie's best friend never gets shoved to the side like so often happens and she isn't just comic relief. Laila (the BFF) is certainly funny, but that's not all she is. She's a pretty integral part of both storylines.
I loved Rowan. I know he was a little persistent, but it was kind of cute (in a slightly pathetic way.)

Romance
So get this, there's two guys, but there is NOT a love triangle. Since the two different guys are in separate futures, they don't even (really) know each other. Therefore, no love triangle just a love choice. And it's all Addie's since no one else knows about the futures she saw. [Sidenote: for those who have read it, the choice was totally unfair.]

The Nutshell: Pivot Point is an incredibly unique story with a great set of characters. If you, like me, see “paranormal” and immediately lose interest, don't fret. It's not your typical paranormal romance. Yes there's paranormal and yes there's romance, but there are no broody, dark guys or wimpy, needy girls. If you're looking for something original that will suck you in and give you something to root for then check out Pivot Point.

Direct Hit

"I run my finger along the smooth glass, drawing my standard doodle—a line that halfway up splits in two. Then I circle the pivot point. The point right before the path separates. I press my finger into the center. One little choice can make all the difference."

The split second when the mind is swaying between two things, there is a subtle buzzing. If you ponder too much, you might get paralyzed and ultimately rendered unable to make the right choice. If you don't ponder at all, you might make a wrong one. What comes to mind in that instance is a wish to be able to see the outcome of each choice, a searing hope. It all happens in a moment that Pivot Point explores.

Addison Coleman is a Divergent so when faced with a choice, she can close her eyes, feel and see the future almost as if it was real. The Compound where Addie lives is full of Paranormals who have a special something in their genes and are much more advanced that the Normals who are unaware of their existence.

Thus, it comes as more than a shock when her parents tell her that they're divorcing. Even more so when she comes to know that her father has decided to leave the Compound for the Normal world. As easy as it sounds, to make a decision based on the familiarity of the Compound and the unfamiliarity of the Normal world, Addies knows that she has to Search.

The journey between the words ambush and screwed thus ensues. I say this because of the word and its definition at the start of each of the 36 chapters. The events of the next six weeks of the two possible futures occur almost simultaneously in Addie's mind. Alternating between the Normal and the Paranormal, Addie experiences life like never before.

In the Normal world, she has a hard time adjusting to its ways with electrical switches, locks, and the people. Trevor is the only one who gives her hope that she might just survive okay. While in the Paranormal world, life goes on as it was before with Addie trying to act out and Duke showing interest in her.

One of the things I really loved about Addie was her behavior in each of the worlds. It's fascinating to see her out of her element in the Norm world and then to really see her make her way into life with the help of Laila, her best friend, in the Paranormal world. I like that she's a reader, she's witty and she's smart. It's very easy to relate to her and her problems even though she's a paranorm which makes her so fascinating.

Trevor is a pretty reserved character and as a reader, you really want to get to know what is going on with him. He surprised me with his penchant for graphic novels and the quiet. His capability to put other people at ease is what makes him the perfect choice for Addie to get to know in the Norm world. Duke, on the other hand, is flamboyant, swoon-worthy, humorous and definitely have a way with words.

The abilities in the Paranormal Compound range from being fairly simple to dangerous. There are the ones who have the ability to Persuade and Discern, the ones who can perform Telekinesis, then there are also Memory Erasers, Mood Controllers and of course, Clairvoyants. Essentially, these are mind powers and seeing as how obsessed I'm with anything to do with the brain and its manipulation, I devoured the explosive way they came together to make Pivot Point a thoroughly breathtaking read.

Kasie West style of writing is simple and clever and you really marvel at Pivot Point as it maneuvers its way through tough decisions and laugh-out-loud moments. It is a difficult feat to achieve that balance and still shock the reader at the end of the book. Kasie West made it look easy and for that, I am amazed.

Addie lives in a paranormal compound hidden from the normal population. Her best friend Leila can erase memories, her mom can influence people, and her dad is a lie detector. Addie has a unique power where she can see the different outcomes of a choice in her life. She can only look into her own future and she usually doesn't look further than a few hours or days. Too many extra memories to deal with. The farthest she ever looked was one week when she waned to see how a date to the dance with Bobby would have went. It was awful so she kept her memories. Laila could erase them but if she erased them then Addie wouldn't remember why she should stay away from him. When Addie's parents decide to divorce they give her the choice of where to live. It is a huge decision since her dad will be leaving the compound to live with Norms. Addie will look a full six weeks into both futures in order to make her choice. The lives are told through alternating chapters.

Choice 1 or Team Mom-Para-Duke as I like to call it lol

Addie is sad that she doesn't get to be with her dad so she decides to do some teenage rebelling that she read about in books. She is pursued by the very charming quarterback of the football team, Duke. Addie is usually into the reserved type but Duke peruses her relentlessly so it would be hard not to give into his charm. He says all the right things and makes her feel special and popular. I really liked Duke. He wasn't perfect but I felt for him and the difficult decision he was facing. During this choice we also got to know Addie's best friend Laila more. She has the power to erase memories which makes them a perfect friend combo. If Addie doesn't like the way one choice goes, Laila can erase it out of her mind. Although Addie explains how she sometimes looks to the future and sees that one choice was so much fun but lead to getting in trouble so she doesn't take it. But she will always have that happy memory even if it never happened. Kind of sucks for Laila who will never live the choice with her though. I enjoyed this choice because Addie stayed at the paranormal compound. I really wanted to learn more about it but the book focused more on her choice. I really hope to get further into this world in the sequel.

Choice 2 Team Dad-Norm-Trevor

This choice is a big culture shock for Addie. The outside world is very different from where Addie originally lives inside the paranormal compound. She has no idea how to make friends with Norms especially when she has to hide a big part of who she is. Looking at things in our world confused her but made me laugh. She attends a football game and meets Trevor who she decides will become her new best friend. Trevor is exactly Addie's type, shy and reserved, but then Addie learns that Trevor actually used to be a football player but was recently injured when playing against Lincoln High, Addie's paranormal school. (Lincoln High was actually the name of my high school!) A new mystery of whether or not paranormal students are using their powers incorrectly. There is also a murder mystery that her dad researches. Trevor was so sweet and a perfect friend to Addie. He saw the real her but Addie desperately wanted to tell him the truth about her powers. The compound had strict rules about who to tell. I also didn't understand why Addie's dad was looking into the murders so undercover. The compound seems to be hiding too much. Laila is really distant since Addie left her. Laila avoids a lot of her calls and hangs out with Bobby who Addie used her power to see that he would have been a big jerk on their date. I didn't like Laila in this version. I understand that Addie left her but was sad with the way she treated Addie.

About both choices

It is so hard to review and explain this book without giving too much away and also trying to explain what I liked about each life at the same time. lol I have no idea how the author kept both worlds lined up! That is what I really loved. Both choices have events line up and there are little clues scattered in both lives to give you hints to the mysteries. I somehow didn't guess it. Looking back maybe I should have but my mind was everywhere at once (And mostly on the boys as it always is!) It makes me really want to go back and read it a second time. Especially since I was literally up all night reading. So many emotions and trust issues while reading. I couldn't decide who or what choice was better and who or what to trust. It was crazy in a perfect way! I also liked that it didn't feel like a love triangle. Even though there are two love interests they are both in separate lives so there isn't any of that cheating or the guys fighting over her. I loved the build of both relationships. No insta-love at all. They felt very real to me and very close to the way I fell in love in high school. I had butterflies with Addie. Then is slowly becomes clear which guy is best for Addie. Of course I still really liked both guys but one guy was better for Addie.

Making a choice

As you can guess both lives have good things and bad things but one life had something horrible. I kind of expected her to make the choice she did but at the same time was a bit surprised. To try to change the choices would risk something even more disastrous happening. Like in Sliding Doors I guess no choice is perfect and no matter what choice you make shitty stuff is going to happen but maybe in the end you will always end up where you are supposed to be and maybe you couldn't avoid certain things no matter what. (Sliding Doors is a great movie BTW and streaming on Netflix) My mind was reeling for days off of it! It makes you wonder...where you might have been if... Anyway it was a brilliant book and I want Laila to erase my memory of reading this book just so I can read it again for the first time! It didn't end exactly how I wanted but what I did love was that it was fully wrapped up with no cliffhanger! Although I still think about it often and can't wait to see what happens in the sequel!

Pivot Point by Kasie West
ARC received from HarperTeen
Release Date: 2-12-2013
Reviewed by: Middle Sis Jenn
The Sisters Say: Powerful, Poignant, and Perfect

At some point in your life, you are going to (or have already) read Robert Frost’s poem, “The Road Less Traveled.” And at some point in your life, you are going to be at a crossroads and you will have to choose right or left. Unless, you are Addison Coleman. Addison, lucky dog, gets to kick Robert Frost in the face and say “Suck it Frost because I can travel both!” Kasie West has written a superb debut novel about love and loss, freedom and tyranny, truth and deceit. One decision I can make without wondering about the future: I will definitely be reading the sequel to Pivot Point!

Addison is a Searcher, someone who can see down both roads of her future, no matter the ultimate choice. When she is forced to choose which parent to live with after a divorce, she searches to see what the future holds. I really enjoyed how this novel was told—in alternating “realities” as Addie’s search continues. It was crazy to see how the people in each of her “realities” mold and shape the person that she becomes, in each reality, different strengths and weaknesses present themselves. I was awed at how seamlessly Kasie was able to weave Addie’s two separate lives, and I couldn’t believe it when I blinked and was almost done with the book!

Pivot Point was a quick and fun read, and I never felt like there was a dull moment. At times I felt like I was watching a horror movie and I wanted to scream, “Look behind you!” because Addie would discover something that was useless in one reality, but it was something she really needed to know in the other. So, it wasn’t the action and events themselves that made it feel like I was watching a horror flick, but it was the dramatic irony of me knowing something that Addison didn’t. I just wanted to swoop in there and tell her everything she needed to know! This was also what made the book so breath-taking. I was on the edge of my seat waiting for her to discover the truth.

While Addie wasn’t my favorite heroine, I still admired her confidence and rules. She didn’t give in to bullying, and her code of morality was inspiring. My heart went out to her as she suffered heartbreak and loss, and I truly wished that I could give her a great big hug. I did like her much more in one reality than I did in the other (I won’t say which because of spoilers), and I found myself like this with her best friend, Leila. It’s just crazy to see how much your environment can shape her attitude and actions.

And the boys….Duke and Trevor. I was Team Trevor right from the get go. Though he’s not normally the kind of guy I fall for (he’s too sweet and a comic book geek—but still a tough football guy), I couldn’t help but swoon for him. Plus, he managed to make me laugh out loud (literally, had to stop and catch my breath) with his description of Charles Dickens as a zombie, so that’s a major plus! Trevor just seemed truthful and real, and I felt like him and Addie just melded together better than she and Duke. Although Duke did have his charms. He’s the quarterback, all charm and smiles; but something about him just nagged at me. So, I disregarded him and grabbed my “Team Trevor “ sign.

And the ending….I’m not really sure I completely understood what was happening at the end, but I can say that it has left me screaming for the next book!!!!!
This was a fantastic debut by Kasie West, and I look forward to more from her. Kasie’s world of magic (or mind powers…whatever you want to call it) will suck you straight in. So, need a new book to read? Quit standing at the crossroads—instead, join Addie as she spikes Robert Frost’s famous words right back down his throat! hehe