Book Review: Pivot Point

Pivot Point (Pivot Point #1)

by Kasie West

Obtained: Ebook from Edelweiss

Challenges: Goodreads 2013 Challenge

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.

I knew as soon as I started ‘Pivot Point‘ by Kasie West that I would love it. I’ve been going through a bit of a slow book phase as I’m trying to cut down on my tbr pile, and as a consequence reading books I’ve lost some enthusiasm for. So I decided to read Pivot Point to make a dent in my ebooks, and I’m soooo glad its the one I chose.

The story follows Addie, who lives in a world where people have mind abilities. Hers is Divergence, which means that when she has a choice she can Search the future, experience both and then pick the right one.
When she finds out her parents are getting divorced, she has to make a life changing choice: stay with her mum, and her friends and school, or live with her dad in the normal world,  where people don’t have abilities.

The book alternates chapters between each possible future, and it is actually really easy to follow. Though there is some frustration when the chapter is left on a cliffhanger, and the next chapter is a completely different storyline! It started off very lighthearted, but got really gripping towards the end.

Character-wise, the author does a really good job of integrating people’s abilities into the story. Unlike the tv series ‘Heroes’, people are not given abilities just for the sake of it.  Everyone has a purpose, and especially towards the final chapters, it really comes together.  The relationship between Addie and Laila (her best friend) was really interesting. The at home chapters showed the more fun side of their relationship; boys, football games and such. However, it was quite realistic in the moving future, in that Addie and Laila still kept in touch. Though I did find it very strange where Addie would call Laila from the bathroom (why did she get in the shower? And close the curtain?!).

Of course with two different storylines there are two different guys to swoon over, and we have to pick a team. Duke, lead quarterback of the football team, is ever-popular, and when he falls for Addie she is (rightly) suspicious of him. Why would he even look at her? Their relationship shows the vulnerability of Addie. On the flipside, Trevor (like the frog from Harry Potter!) is a Norm, with no abilities, and no understanding of the world Addie has come from, and the ability she possesses. But when the worlds collide, will her lies crumble?

The only thing that did niggle me a little was that when Addie moved to the normal world out of the Compound, she had to lie about where she came from. Understandable. But then we find out that her old school competes with her new school at football. Obviously the Norms do not know about the abilities. So why is it that Addie couldn’t say she came from there?

I thought this book was amazing, with incredible pacing that gets you hooked from the start. By the end of the book I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, but then I found out there is going to be a sequel, so all is well! I would recommend this for fans of character-based YA novels. The sci-fi aspect, while present and important, should not put anyone off as this is very much about human emotions. A great debut from Kasie West, and I can’t wait for her next book as well as the Pivot Point sequel! 5 sofas from me.