Pivot Point

I got an advanced reading copy of this book to review through the Amazon Vine program. This was a truly unique book that was incredibly engaging. I had a very, very hard time putting it down and was constantly on the edge of my seat wondering what would happen next! This is definitely a paranormal YA book that is different from everything else out there.

Addie lives in a secret complex of people who all have a mental ability they can use. Some are telekinetic, some can influence emotions, but Addie is different...she is a Searcher. As a Searcher she can search out the results of a decision she makes. So when Addie’s parents announce they are getting into a divorce it is definitely something Addie needs to Search out. Addie decides to show more search out both future options; leaving the complex and living with her dad or staying in the complex and living with her mom. The story alternates between the reality where Addie lives with her dad and the one where she lives with her mom.

This book blew me away. I mean the idea of a secret society of paranormal individuals isn’t all that unique, but Addie’s power is. Imagine having the ability to search out both branches of a vital decision...wouldn’t that be awesome? You could check things out like career path, what boy you should date, or...well....just anything. The book is also put together in a very creative way; each chapter features a word and definition. The words with “para” in them are the chapters where Addie stays at the paranormal complex with her mom. The words with “norm” in them are the chapters where Addies leaves the paranormal community to live with her dad.

You would think being able to search out your choices would be wonderful but West also explores the downside of this. What if while you were searching you saw someone do a really bad thing. Well if you don’t choose that path, then they won’t take that bad action...but you are still going to know that they would have done it given a chance...and this colors your opinion of them even though they never actually did anything. It’s crazy things like that and the way they are explored that make this an excellent book.

Addie is a pretty down to earth character. She was very believable and very easy to relate to. Both paths she searches out have good things and bad things that happen. But the way everything turns out was awesome and surprising and heartbreaking. I mean what if either choice ends up being devastating? I guess that would be just like real life sometimes then, huh?

This ended up being a seriously emotional book for me. I just got so wrapped up in the story and so sucked into Addie’s character. I felt so bad about some of the decisions she had to make. Seriously, I haven’t had a book pull me in and twist me up this much for quite some time.

The book ends spectacularly and in a way that totally matches the tone of the story. It was a very well written and engaging read. I am absolutely dying to know what happens next.

Overall a wonderful, wonderful read. I think everyone should read this book. Not only does it totally redeem the YA paranormal genre, it gives the reader a lot of food for thought. It is an engaging book, that is unique and creative, and impossible to put down. I cannot wait to see what West comes up with next. This book is highly recommended to everyone. show less

Going in to Pivot Point, I really wasn't sure what to expect. The book sounded so very different from what I normally read - a girl who can see her future based on a single choice - and I just didn't know how well I'd like a book made up of two potential what-ifs instead of a book where things are actually happening. However, I need not have worried, because this book turned out to be really really good.

Addie has a special ability called Divergence, which allows her what's going to happen when she makes a particular choice. The book is made up of those two choices, so while the reader gets to experience her two lives through her Searching, the real Addie spends most of this book lying on her bed while her friend, Laila, watches over show more her. Of course, this was easy enough to forget, because both of Addie's potential futures are equally compelling, although I personally enjoyed her living in the Norm world more (thanks mostly to the character of Trevor, who I couldn't help but love immensely). I do want to point out that the book can be confusing, but the author made it easier to follow by giving hints in the chapter titles. Each chapter starts with a definition of a word that either has "para" or "norm" in it, which helps keep the reader on track.

I really enjoyed Addie in both of her potential futures. I loved how she slowly integrated herself into the "Norm" world and I loved her interactions with Trevor, as they moved from potential best friends to something more. I love that he was a bit nerdy with his comic book drawings, but also quiet and sensitive and sweet. He was such a huge contrast to Addie's love interest in her other future, Duke. Whereas Trevor was unassuming but still tough and popular, Duke was over the top and in your face with his brashness and arrogance. While there were times that I enjoyed his and Addie's banter, on the whole he just really paled in comparison to Trevor. Obviously this definitely swayed my opinion of which choice I thought Addie should make, at least until the plot twist showed up.

What I really wish we'd had more of was the background for the Para world. I wanted to know how these abilities came to be, how the city they live in was created, etc. This is the main reason I didn't give this the full five stars. It's still a phenomenal book, but I was just left with too many questions (not least of which is what's going to happen next; can I have the as-yet-untitled book two now, please?). Maybe book two will go more in depth with the world building?

All in all, Pivot Point is a really solid debut. I enjoyed every second of it, and found it intriguing and compelling in equal measures. I loved the cast of characters, the diverse worlds, and the fact that we essentially got to experience two books in one. While I did notice a few nitpicky things that made it impossible for me to give this the highest possible rating, I can still wholeheartedly recommend this to everyone!

An ARC was received via Debut Author Challenge ARC Tours in exchange for an honest review. show less

BookNook — Young Adult book reviews

If there is any book in the world that can give you a book orgasm, it's this one.

Pivot Point is not just one of my favourite books. Screw favourite book of the month, or favourite book of the year. Screw favourite paranormal or favourite science fiction. This is at THE TOP. As in favourite book ever. As in the best book I have EVER read. Pivot Point was always really good, but when I got to the ending, my mind was completely blown, and this book soared to the top of my list. To see everything come together (Addie's two paths) was just PHENOMENAL, flawless, and heartbreaking. And holy sweet Searching, I wanted to stomp and kick and rage when the book ended because I NEEDED more!!! I Twitter stalked show more harassed threatened messaged Kasie, demanding book two immediately.

Lately, all of my favourite books have been new adult contemporary romances with that bursting-at-the-seams emotional trauma. It's almost like I can't love a book unless it has that gut-wrenching shake-me-to-my-core feel to it. Pivot Point has a bit of that, but what makes it different (other than the paranormal twist) is that it's brimming with originality and suspense, and it has a structure that can only be described as pure genius. This book is executed flawlessly and will keep you hooked, addicted, and all kinds of psyched out. It was almost like I didn't even care about my life any more. I just sat down and read and read and read and read because it was SO FREAKING GOOD and I could not be parted with it. You would have had to pry the book from my cold, dead hands. You weren't getting it away from me any other way.

Those other books I mentioned are good, but they're just emotionally jerking. I love that, and it's amazing, but Pivot Point made me see something more than that. This is an amazing example of a book that is so intricate, so complex, and yet delivered simply and flawlessly. It has "carefully crafted" written all over it.

Honestly, I was a little nervous of Pivot Point at first. I mean, two futures, two lives? That sounded really confusing! But somehow, Kasie West manages to pull it off with ZERO confusion! It was flawless. Just imagine: two paths—two different futures—both playing out simultaneously. They're different, but there's distinct overlap. You see how the futures have similar elements, and even a few similar events, but they are executed slightly differently. How the bloody hell do you pull that off? Ask Kasie West.

So in this book, we follow out these two paths in alternating chapters. The two paths lead to different love interests! BACK OFF OF TREVOR, HE'S MINE. *ahem* At first I was totally and completely torn between the two. They were different, but they were both pretty darn hot. But as the book progressed, I easily picked a side (oh Trevor, how I loveth thou!). Their relationship is really slow-building, tender, and sweet. And Trevor is the perfect book boyfriend. Honestly, my favourite part of the book was when Addie messed up and Trevor found out. In normal YA books, the love interest would have been pissed and raged out of there without an explanation. But Trevor was kind and patient. Sure, he was disappointed, but he allowed Addie to explain. Oh my god why don't more YA boys do that???

The characters in this book are just all so likeable (or hate-able). The dialogue had me constantly giggling, laughing out loud, and squealing with delight! I kept texting my boyfriend incoherent things like, "OH MY GOD! THIS IS AMAZING! THIS IS AMAZING! MY BOOK IS SO GOOD!! HOLY SHDFOISD;MNA!"!i" Addie was hilarious, but without trying to be.

"I don't care when people think I'm an antisocial, controlling bookworm because that's what I am. It's when they interpret me wrong that I have a problem."
—Addie, ARC of Pivot Point by Kasie West

"Thanks. And can we just get this out of the way? Your eyelashes make mine want to commit suicide from shame."
—Addie to Trevor, ARC of Pivot Point by Kasie West

I wanted to cry my eyes out when this book ended. Yes, it was sad, but mostly I wanted to cry because the pure, solid genius that is Pivot Point had ended. It took my brain a while to actually compute that. PIVOT POINT? ENDED?? WHAT?? ARE WE DIVIDING BY ZERO??? The way this book unravels is just so heart pounding; it left me awe-struck. Like.. I couldn't move. My eyes were actually all wide like basketballs O_O And when I finally regained my composure, cue insane, mindless Tweeting, sobbing, crying, and bribing at Kasie West for book two.

The end of this book actually reminded me a bit of Heroes, which was a really cool surprise. I didn't even think about that connection until the very end. I won't tell you why, to avoid spoilers, but just know that it is FREAKING AWESOME. I wanted to cry because I didn't have book two. I pity the book I will read next because it will not be this good. I'm going to curl up in a ball in a corner and rock back and forth like a crazy person until book two is released. When is that? February 2014. So I guess I'll see you guys in one year, because I will be in no state to write reviews until then.

Kasie West single-handedly cures jet lag

Prior to reading this book, I was suffering from severe jet lag for an entire week. I was going to bed at like 6pm, waking up at 4am, taking a nap from 10am-12pm, and then starting all over again. It was absurd. But Kasie West is solely responsible for saving me from a life of being nocturnal. Normally I would have gotten tired at 6pm, or maybe 8/9pm if I was lucky. But, no. Because I was reading Pivot Point. I COULD NOT PUT THE BOOK DOWN. So instead of succumbing to exhaustion, I stayed up until 11:30pm. ELEVEN THIRTY. For a jet lagged person like myself, this was HUGE. And when I finally did go to bed, I lay there mumbling variations of "holy shit" and "wow". I'm not even just saying that for the sake of this review, I actually did that.

Going to bed at 11:30pm allowed me to finally sleep through the night, waking up at a more reasonable 8:30am. THANK YOU KASIE WEST!! Thank you Pivot Point, thank you HarperTeen. You guys have banded together to cure an almost-nocturnal bookworm. My would-have-been-skipped-because-I-was-sleeping-during-the-day classes thank you as well.

The moral of the story is...

Go buy this book IMMEDIATELY!! Or else I will find you. And haunt you. And hurt you. And... *ahem*. show less

Re-read opinion: Yeah, I liked Pivot Point before, but this re-read just blew my mind. This was one of those books that is much better the second time because you can see everything leading up to the ending and it is fantastic. Full 5 stars this time!

I had a suspicion of it before, but Pivot Point confirmed it for me: I am a HUGE fan of Parallel universe stories. I like being able to see the way two different things will play out while knowing more than the characters, because I’m an evil reader like that. And Pivot Point reminded me of all my favorite parts of parallel universe stories.

Not only do we have parallel choices in Pivot Point, but also superheros(basically), and um, it’s set in my home state of Texas, so that always gets show more a nod. Now, the words “superhero” does not sound that great to me. I picture cheesy Superman comics. However, I really liked the idea of the ParaNormals, their talents/abilities, and The Compound. The idea behind the Compound was so cool–a whole city, basically, hidden from the rest of the world where people with special abilities live and teenagers go to school to work on honing their specific abilities.

I really admire Addie’s ability to use her talent with restraint. Not going to lie, if I had her ability to look at two different outcomes of each decision, I’d probably use it more than would be healthy. The majority of this story(at least 80%), is Addie’s search when her parents tell her about the divorce. It makes for a really interesting reading experience because while both realities are intriguing enough in their own right and keep my attention, there was a little voice at the back reminding me that this wasn’t really the story yet. It could be, depending on which future Addie choose, but at the moment the story’s told, it’s a search.

There’s a love triangle in Pivot Point(kinda), but I’ve decided I really like parallel story love triangles. Because generally the two sides of the triangle don’t know each other, there’s no animosity. Instead, love triangles can serve a point in the story of showing two different sides of the main character. I was never a fan of Duke, Addie’s potential love interest in the Compound, and really liked Trevor, the “norm” boy. Even with the love triangle, it never overshadowed the plot.

My only real complaint with Pivot Point is that it got off to a bit of a slow start. After the world’s set up a bit, the first few chapters are quite. . . normal. Nothing out of the ordinary, mainly just Addie adjusting to a new life. While that would be fine on its own in a contemporary, I thought the premise of this book warranted a pace that was just a little quicker than what this book actually was at the beginning.

Final Impression: Other than a little issue with pacing at the beginning, I REALLY enjoyed Pivot Point and it’s take on parallel realities. Addie’s an interesting main character and I have a feeling I’ll like her even more in Split Second, the sequel. This was a really original story that I flew through. show less

“What if…”

Such a simple question that many times remains a mystery, but in Kasie West’s YA paranormal/fantasy debut Pivot Point we meet a teen who can literally see the consequences of each choice she makes and how they will affect her future. A simple premise, an original spin, and an entertaining new voice in the YA world equals Pivot Point.

Kasie West’s YA paranormal debut Pivot Point is all about the “What If’s.” What if…I made this choice? What if…I took that path? What if…I fell for this guy instead of that one? But with Addie’s special ability, the “What If’s” can become certainties…with just a quick look down both paths. It is an original premise that West brings to life with flair.

First, I’d show more like to say a little something about the summary for this book. It really manages to capture what Pivot Point is about, without really capturing what it’s about. By this I mean it is telling the absolute truth about the story and lays out the bare bones of the plot, but it doesn’t do justice to the style and execution of author Kasie West. She is a very natural writer, and it is extremely easy to fall right into the story with no bumps or jars along the way. Everything flows quickly and smoothly, with plenty of humorous one-liners and turns-of-phrase thrown into the mix. Both futures play out in alternating chapters, and the pattern is so clean and clear I never felt any confusion as each of them unfolded. I enjoyed seeing events play out in different ways depending on which future Addie was in – the way the events would overlap and different points would become clarified due to the perspective. Very, very well done.

What really surprised me, however, was how very character-driven Pivot Point is. For some reason, I was anticipating a lot more action, mystery and suspense in Pivot Point than what is actually present. Don’t get me wrong, all of these elements are there and handled extremely well, but Kasie West takes her time getting to them. Instead she focuses on the characters, rounding them out and giving them personality so that when the mystery and suspense really start gearing up – and Addie has to make a choice about which path to follow – I was completely invested in the outcome and had to agree with Addie’s decision. I wasn’t happy about it, but it was the “right” choice – and left things in such a way I have no idea where West will be taking the story next.

Addie is a wonderful protagonist, straightforward, bright, and self-aware, with a wry sense of humor that shines through her thoughts. She’s a thinker who weighs the pros and cons of any given situation, and doesn’t completely depend on her ability for all the answers, which I really liked. Something I found particularly interesting was her reaction to each of the boys in her alternate lives – brash, bold Duke in the Compound future and quiet, laid-back Trevor in the “Norms” future. Her comfort level with one of them is much more obvious than with the other, and in one future she is the pursuer while in the other she is the pursued. I loved seeing both relationships play out, although I admit I was definitely rooting for one of them more than the other. I’m not going to give my impressions of the guys because I think that could lead to some spoilers; instead I’ll just say my feelings were borne out by events, so I was as satisfied as I could be with the outcome of each relationship.

As if an entertaining execution, a sympathetic protagonist, and two romantic relationships were not enough, author Kasie West sweetens the deal with a couple of little schemes and one big murder mystery. While the smaller stuff is not particularly surprising (plenty of hints are given), West plays the mystery hand close to her chest. I had my suspicions about the “who;” it was the “why” that caught me off guard. I appreciated discovering what was happening and who was behind it right along with Addie, instead of having the secrets handed to me ahead of time, and I loved how its conclusion played into Addie’s ultimate choice to stay or go – and who she would lose in the process.

In her YA paranormal debut Pivot Point, Kasie West puts a unique spin on a simple question of “What If” by having two futures play out parallel to each other, both leading to a tough choice that will have consequences. West takes her time with character and world-building, but provides plenty of humor, a bit of suspense, a well-plotted mystery, and two chances at romance for engaging heroine Addie – all of it told with a quick pace and very engaging writing style. Kasie West’s Pivot Point is a world I’ll happily dive into again in the future. show less

After a string of books, some of them even very good, that I have just failed to emotionally connect to, I finally read another one that gave me feels! So far, with two notable exceptions, I have been very impressed with the 2013 debuts I've read, and Pivot Point is perhaps my favorite book so far this year, though, admittedly, it's only my eighth book for the year.

From the cover and the synopsis, I expected things to start off with a bang and be dark and creepy pretty much all the way through. Well, not so much. Actually, the book starts off with a huge focus on humor, even once the split happens. Much of it feels very contemporary, science fiction elements aside. Though a bit thrown by the lightness of the beginning, West really makes show more this work, slowly and steadily amping up the action and the eerieness as the novel progresses.

Addison Coleman loves books and loathes football. Is it any wonder I think of her as a kindred spirit? She also spends time musing over such things as how confusing the phrase 'heads up' is, since it usually means to do just the opposite. Addie is witty, more on the introverted side, a good friend, and able to make tough choices. Of course, she also acts like a teenager, acting out in response to her parents' divorce. Let it be noted, too, that, though divorced, both parents take an active role in her life (or try to).

Addie lives in the Compound, a secret city of people with advanced brains, so advanced that they have powers. Awesome, right? These powers include telekinesis (Duke), matter manipulation (Bobby), persuasion (Mom), detecting lies (Dad), memory erasure (Laila), and divergence, which is not at all like in the Roth novel (Addie). West makes excellent plot use of each power, rather than giving people abilities solely for the cool factor. She also does a great job considering some of the ramifications of these powers on family and friendship dynamics.

What Addie can do is, with every choice, examine her future options, or at least the most obvious two. When her parents announce their impending divorce, they tell her she should analyze the future and choose whether she wants to live with her father outside the compound or her mother inside. After chapter three, the narrative alternates between her future should she choose to stay in the compound and if she should leave. This has been done before, but I think West uses this technique to great affect.

West sets up Addie and Laila's relationship so well. Unlike so many novels where the heroine moves and a best friendship melts away almost instantly, Addie and Laila continue to call one another regularly. They remain each one another's best source for a discussion of boy drama or discomfort at home. Just because friends are far apart does not mean that they cannot remain close. In fact, Addie and Laila are somewhat closer when more physically distant, which is fascinating. Comparing the dynamics between Addie and the various other characters in the two futures is endlessly fascinating. In some cases, there seems also to be an element of serendipity, where in others certain people will or will not bond depending on how they meet.

All of you authors going overboard on instalove, I want you to read Pivot Point, because this is a perfect example of how an author can set up a convincing relationship in 300 pages. In fact, West sets up two of them, all without bandying about the word love. Instead, she makes use of delightful banter and actual time spent together to establish relationships. West had me feeling butterflies vicariously several times. I really like the way she set up the romance, which I suppose could be called a love triangle, but not in any ordinary sense.

The would building could use a bit of work, since only the most minimal of effort is given to explaining how this magic invisible to norms (think Hogwarts unseeable by muggles) compound came to exist in Texas. Plus, the scope of Addie's abilities is never entirely clear to me. Can she only see yes/no choices or can she see any possible choice she could make? Wouldn't she be confronted with other choices within the future, thus possibly negating the future she's just seen? I hope there will be clarification on these things in the next installment, and I suspect there certainly will be on Addie's powers.

The formatting of the chapters is quite cute, but I suspect not clear enough to keep some readers from being confused about what is happening in the story. Basically, all of the chapters where she's in the compound start with the definition of a word that has PARA in it, and the ones outside have NORM in them. While I do think this is quite clever, I'm not sure if people will notice that and put the two together, and, more worryingly from my point of view, I don't think the definitions themselves add to the story.

Pivot Point has mind powers, family drama, kissing, humor, and action. What more could you want? I will be anxiously anticipating the sequel to Pivot Point and her contemporary novel The Distance Between Us, due out in July 2013. I expect to see great things from Kasie West, since she starts off with such a marvelous debut. show less

Addison Coleman's life shouldn't be full of any unwanted surprises.

Addie lives in the Compound, where everyone has an ability, a place hidden to those who aren't supposed to know about it. Addie is a Searcher, able to look at any choice and see both possible outcomes, to live them inside her head.

So, when her parents tell her they're getting a divorce, it's a huge surprise for Addison. One thing that won't be a surprise, though: which parent she should live with. Addison can 'live' six weeks into the future with each, her mother who will stay at the Compound with the life Addie's always known or her father who will leave, choosing to live with -- and as -- the 'Norms.'

Addie finds a love interest in each possible life, along with more show more than her share of danger. As she lives through the time in each, a choice that should have been so obvious, may become less so.

I'd forgotten, between first reading the synopsis and then reading the novel, that there was a supernatural element to this story. There was, of course, one to some extent with the alternate/dual lives, but I didn't remember about the Compound and the characters' abilities. It's a great way to make the divergent paths Addie views possible. Rather than the result of some wacky dream or a bump on the head, they're something she expects and doesn't later try to explain away.

This premise, of Addie being aware that she's going to be viewing/living the two possible futures is a great setup. With chapters alternating between her 'para' world and her 'norm' world readers can see how she stays the same as she adjusts to each new life, then the major differences as well as any things that may happen similarly despite the alternate choice made.

There's also the possibility that Addie may, in her Search, wonder if it is, in face, a Search and not reality. That presents another level of interest.

While the alternating chapters can make it hard to always remember what happened in which world -- or when -- especially when some of the main characters are present in both, its the best way to tell the story. With the knowledge that they're both coming to an end and a decision, suspense builds. They're not 'really' happening and one's not ever going to. It's just a question of which. If the story lines were done consecutively rather than concurrently, it just wouldn't work.

The end of the dual worlds is the other time that having Addie be a Searcher rather than a girl trying to make sense of some 'dream' world is so brilliant. She really makes a fully informed decision, knowing that both futures are true possibilities.

Kasie West did a fantastic job building both possible worlds here. As different as the two worlds are, in spite of both being set in or around high schools, they each had their appeal. In one world Addie befriends (possibly more?) Trevor, the arty former jock, in the other the quarterback is going to convince her she can like football players. With her best friend Leila either constantly by her side in one world or a phone call away in the other, Addie has someone to help her through tough situations. It was great seeing the differences brought about in her character in the different worlds and the situations each presented.

The ending of Pivot Point was not quite what I expected but I liked it -- more so after seeing the (#1) after the title. I can't wait to see what #2 brings.

If you like this book, you might also enjoy: Through to You by Emily Hainsworth and If We Kiss by Rachel Vail show less