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4.06 AVERAGE
4.06 AVERAGE
I think I just don't love Kasie West's writing. It's not great, it's not bad, just meh.
So, Pivot Point is my first directed attempt at a book on the Truman list for next year (since I've already read The Girl who was Supposed to Die). And I've got to say, I'm not sure I'm super excited about reading the rest of the list if this is what's in store. It's not a bad book, but it's definitely not my favorite.
This is an interesting one to classify, genre-wise. There is a little bit of sci-fi/fantasy, some mystery, some romance, etc. Addie lives in a paranormal-ish world concealed within the normal one. Everybody who lives there has an ability, kind of like in X-men or something. Addie is a Searcher. When faced with a decision, she can "Search" the two outcomes and choose which one she wants to happen. When her parents get divorced, she Searches to see who she should live with. In the version of the future where she chooses her mom, she gets the guy and lives a pretty fun life. In the version where she chooses her father, she has to leave the "Compound" where she lives and be a Buffy-type character (not normal girl with a secret living in a normal world) and make new friends and such.
I was pleasantly surprised that the twist in this book was not about the destruction of Addie's world, as so many YA books seem to be now, but just a choice for her future. Addie herself was an enigma; I never felt like I could predict her choices, which wasn't a good thing. I never truly understood her as a main character. I do wish West had gone more into the mythology of the Paras a bit more. The supporting cast of characters was pretty well-developed, I felt like. I did like the contrast of Trevor and Duke. They were similar enough, but had subtle differences to make me feel like they were different enough characters.
I don't know. I think I'll read Split Second, but only because it is summer and I have the time. Not sure what my kids will think of it though.
So, Pivot Point is my first directed attempt at a book on the Truman list for next year (since I've already read The Girl who was Supposed to Die). And I've got to say, I'm not sure I'm super excited about reading the rest of the list if this is what's in store. It's not a bad book, but it's definitely not my favorite.
This is an interesting one to classify, genre-wise. There is a little bit of sci-fi/fantasy, some mystery, some romance, etc. Addie lives in a paranormal-ish world concealed within the normal one. Everybody who lives there has an ability, kind of like in X-men or something. Addie is a Searcher. When faced with a decision, she can "Search" the two outcomes and choose which one she wants to happen. When her parents get divorced, she Searches to see who she should live with. In the version of the future where she chooses her mom, she gets the guy and lives a pretty fun life. In the version where she chooses her father, she has to leave the "Compound" where she lives and be a Buffy-type character (not normal girl with a secret living in a normal world) and make new friends and such.
I was pleasantly surprised that the twist in this book was not about the destruction of Addie's world, as so many YA books seem to be now, but just a choice for her future. Addie herself was an enigma; I never felt like I could predict her choices, which wasn't a good thing. I never truly understood her as a main character. I do wish West had gone more into the mythology of the Paras a bit more. The supporting cast of characters was pretty well-developed, I felt like. I did like the contrast of Trevor and Duke. They were similar enough, but had subtle differences to make me feel like they were different enough characters.
I don't know. I think I'll read Split Second, but only because it is summer and I have the time. Not sure what my kids will think of it though.
OMG THIS BOOK WAS SO GREAT. CANT WAIT UNTIL I GET SPLIT SECOND! Really liked Addison, even though I usually hate female main characters in YAs. Thanks to my group (The Fabulous Bibliophiles) i disclvered my favorite dystopian book of 2015.
“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.”
I'm a sucker for stories that deal with split timelines based upon a choice and Pivot Point expertly delves into these themes and concepts. I'm genuinely surprised by the depth hidden within this seemingly simple narrative.
When Addie's parents announce their impending divorce, it sets the stage for a pivotal decision: whether to stay with her mother or relocate with her father. However, there's a twist. Addie lives in a world where individuals possess a superpower and Addie's unique gift is the ability to 'search' the future of both her decisions and make the best possible choice. Unfortunately, things aren't that simple.
The narrative unfolds through alternating chapters, exploring Addie's life based on both options. This storytelling technique is interesting as the timelines have overlaps and differences based on Addie's involvement or lack thereof. I ended up preferring the 'Norm' chapters and also like the chapter subheadings.
Pivot Point reads like a contemporary novel and this approach lends itself well to character development.
Addie, the main character, is endearing, relatable and generally has a good head on her shoulders. She thinks before she acts, the choices she makes reflect her core values and her actions consistently align with her character.
Laila, Addie's best friend, is portrayed as a realistic companion, particularly in the 'Norm' timeline. The contrast between her and Addie adds depth to their friendship. There is a moment that shocked me, where Laila acts out of character, but there is a valid explanation.
Trevor is a great character, and the organic connection that develops between him and Addie is a highlight. His understanding and willingness to communicate are a pleasant surprise. On the flip side, Duke's character might seem perfect, but I constantly felt a sense of unease towards him because he subtly pushes Addie's boundaries.
Spoiler
However, it all makes sense when his power is revealed.I always have to mention present parents who care about their children when I see it, because it's definitely not the norm in YA literature. The unique abilities of the parents (especially Addie's) is interesting because it has an effect on the parent-child relationship.
I wholeheartedly enjoy the way this story is told because it heightened the significance of Addie's momentous choice in the face of adversity. For the most part, the story is fun and light-hearted, but the mysteries and surprises peppered throughout the plot build up to an emotional conclusion. Amazingly executed!
Needless to say, I'm definitely reading Split Second. Furthermore, my interest is piqued to explore more of Kasie West's contemporary works.
“When I read, I feel emotion all on my own. Emotion no living person is making me feel.”
(Full review can be found on my blog, Paper Riot)
Let me start by saying that I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It was a pretty quick read and I was flipping through the pages very fast without ever having the feeling that I was missing something. It was not at all what I was expecting, but it was definitely a good book and I cannot wait for the sequel! But it was not perfect.
In the world of main character Addie, there's a hidden town where people with paranormal abilities live. Addie herself has the rare ability to see the future as a Searcher, which means she can see the different outcomes of the choices she has to make. This book is the example of such a Search: Addie leads two different lives, which we follow in alternating chapters. I had no idea how West was going to handle mixing the two lives Addie leads, but she did a very good job. The concept itself (a so-called sliding doors effect) is so unique and unlike anything I've ever read before! I loved the way the two stories came together and had so many similarities, and yet so many differences. To me, this was what made the novel stand out. There was one quote in the book that I felt described best how Addie's ability worked *.
When it comes to the writing, this book is very character-based. West doesn't spend a lot of time describing the surroundings and background of the characters, and all the more time on conversations and actions. This was what made this book a very quick read, and I especially loved getting to know Addie. She was a bit flat to me at first, but I'm glad she got more depth as the story progressed, especially when the feelings she had about her ability were described.
But the thing I don't really like about character-driven novels is that it lacks explanation on the background. Personally, I would've loved a little more knowledge on the Compound and how it came together and who makes the decisions, and also some more information on the different abilities people had and how exactly they worked. (Because at the start of this story I was like YAY SUPERPOWERS, but I was a little disappointed at the lack of explanation.) I hope the next book in this series gives us more of that.
Also, there was a moment where I just felt like writing the book off. If I could, I would split this novel in two different parts and review them seperately. Because if I could, I would say that the first 70% was enjoyable, but never overruled me like I had expected it to. It focused mostly on Addie's life in alternate timelines and the romances that came along with it, and not at all on the thrilling and very difficult choice Addie had to make. To be honest, I didn't like Addie at first. It took me a long time to get used to her, and the other characters as well. But the thing that made me give this book 5 stars on Goodreads, was the ending. Because OH MY GOD.
I wish the first part of the book had the action and thrilling twists of the last part, and a little less of a cliche focus (football, mostly). But though the first part of the novel wasn't my favorite, the ending sure as hell made up for it. Trust me, you want to read this book for the ending alone. There's a Revelation with a capital R, that made me shiver and even scream a little. And then I had a dream about it. Seriously, SO GOOD!
* "One person can't change the future. Do you know how many people and things are involved in every major event that happens? Sure, you might be able to change some of the minor aspects of a day, but ultimately things that are going to happen, if you go along a certain path, do happen."
Let me start by saying that I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It was a pretty quick read and I was flipping through the pages very fast without ever having the feeling that I was missing something. It was not at all what I was expecting, but it was definitely a good book and I cannot wait for the sequel! But it was not perfect.
In the world of main character Addie, there's a hidden town where people with paranormal abilities live. Addie herself has the rare ability to see the future as a Searcher, which means she can see the different outcomes of the choices she has to make. This book is the example of such a Search: Addie leads two different lives, which we follow in alternating chapters. I had no idea how West was going to handle mixing the two lives Addie leads, but she did a very good job. The concept itself (a so-called sliding doors effect) is so unique and unlike anything I've ever read before! I loved the way the two stories came together and had so many similarities, and yet so many differences. To me, this was what made the novel stand out. There was one quote in the book that I felt described best how Addie's ability worked *.
When it comes to the writing, this book is very character-based. West doesn't spend a lot of time describing the surroundings and background of the characters, and all the more time on conversations and actions. This was what made this book a very quick read, and I especially loved getting to know Addie. She was a bit flat to me at first, but I'm glad she got more depth as the story progressed, especially when the feelings she had about her ability were described.
But the thing I don't really like about character-driven novels is that it lacks explanation on the background. Personally, I would've loved a little more knowledge on the Compound and how it came together and who makes the decisions, and also some more information on the different abilities people had and how exactly they worked. (Because at the start of this story I was like YAY SUPERPOWERS, but I was a little disappointed at the lack of explanation.) I hope the next book in this series gives us more of that.
Also, there was a moment where I just felt like writing the book off. If I could, I would split this novel in two different parts and review them seperately. Because if I could, I would say that the first 70% was enjoyable, but never overruled me like I had expected it to. It focused mostly on Addie's life in alternate timelines and the romances that came along with it, and not at all on the thrilling and very difficult choice Addie had to make. To be honest, I didn't like Addie at first. It took me a long time to get used to her, and the other characters as well. But the thing that made me give this book 5 stars on Goodreads, was the ending. Because OH MY GOD.
I wish the first part of the book had the action and thrilling twists of the last part, and a little less of a cliche focus (football, mostly). But though the first part of the novel wasn't my favorite, the ending sure as hell made up for it. Trust me, you want to read this book for the ending alone. There's a Revelation with a capital R, that made me shiver and even scream a little. And then I had a dream about it. Seriously, SO GOOD!
* "One person can't change the future. Do you know how many people and things are involved in every major event that happens? Sure, you might be able to change some of the minor aspects of a day, but ultimately things that are going to happen, if you go along a certain path, do happen."
4.5 stars! I really enjoyed this book, much more than I was expecting. I thought Kasie West did an excellent job of interweaving the two story lines, and I loved the mix of romance/mystery/suspense. Very much looking forward to "Split Second"!
Oh my god. That's about the only thing I can come up with now. Oh my god. This book was so... Brilliant, original, heartbreaking, sad, happy and full of love and friendship. I may have a new favorite for this year!
This book is about Addie. She lives in a Compound, a place where people with abilities live. It's top secret and the Norms, normal people, don't know about it. Addie can see where certain paths take her in the future when she has to make a choice. When her parents tell her they will be getting a divorce, she has to choose to stay with her mom or her dad, who is leaving the compound to live in Norm world. In one future she is pursued by the hottest guy in school, Duke, but she never wanted to be a quarterback's girlfriend. In the other one she's adjusting to live outside the Compound with her dad. She meets Trevor, a cute, sensitive and sweet artist and he understands her. But when her father is asked to consult in a murder in the Compound, she's drawn into a dangerous game that threatens everything and everyone she loves. Love and loss in both lives, but she has to choose which one she wants to live through and who she can't live without.
This was such an amazing story. The writing is so great and the world where Addie lives in is so original. I loved how the author chose to indicate which future it was at the beginning of each chapter. This story was build so great and both futures blended together in so many ways, especially near the end and I know she must have worked on this a long time and thought it through about a hundred times. So amazing! The romance in this book was beautiful. I believed it and there was no insta-love or anything like that!
Spoiler
I never really trusted Duke, and I'm glad I was right in the end. I hate those popular hot quarterback types.I loved the characters too. Addie is so cool. I wish I had her power sometimes. And I feel for her too, but I know she makes the right choice in the end. Laila is such a vibrant and funny character! And Trevor may be my new book-boyfriend. All of them were great, even the bad ones, who I still hate. Well developed and surprisingly realistic for people who have abilities (well, not all of them of course). Awesome.
I highly recommend this book to everyone. It's a must-read for sure. And I'm so glad I have the hard-back because I will re-read it many times in the future and I love the cover too. Just awesome. And Brilliant. And breathtaking. Read it. NOW!
I know I'm going to love this book. I mean, that cover model TOTALLY looks like Emma Stone. Who is my favorite actress.
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Pivot Point Review
_________________________________
Full formatting of this review at link above.
This was absolutely fantastic.
Could you imagine the burden you would carry on your shoulder if you happened to make a wrong decision in life? A decision that may end up costing someone their life?
Addie understands that pressure, because she can see the future, only her own, though. When presented with two choices, Addie has the option to Search the future to see the outcomes. Sounds like it might come in handy, but could you handle always seeing the other choice-the one you didn't make? Is there such a thing as too much knowledge?
I didn't have any expectations when first starting PIVOT POINT, I really didn't know what to expect. Needless to say, I wasn't thinking I was going to get my heart torn in two different directions repeatedly. I became emotionally invested with Addie and both of her lives, each moment more precious than the last because you know there will be only one outcome.
Addie is told the news of her parent's divorce. Her parents are making her choose between them because Addie can Search and see which outcome is preferable. So begins our journey into two alternate futures, both containing happiness and both containing horror, and only one can be chosen. Knowing this, as readers, is heartbreaking,
“Sometimes I feel like I'm slowly floating away. I'm constantly looking for something to grab on to so I don't lose myself.”
Excellently written supporting characters are abound, some shrouded in mystery-and some with motives clear as day. The diversity is refreshing, each character relatable in their own way. The mystery was chilling, its effects taking a toll on the characters without us knowing. This meaning, we knew only what Addie knew-which wasn't a lot, and only make the suspense worse.
Really, my only complaint with this was that it was hard to follow at times. We are, after all, living in two different stories, two different lives, and that alone made it confusing. This isn't a book you'll want to put down for a few days and then come back-you won't want to anyway. I was hooked from the beginning, and each page only made me fall harder.
I will be reading the sequel, because after that ending-who wouldn't?
I suggest this to fans of YA who are looking for something fresh and different in the genre.
Pivot Point Review
_________________________________
Full formatting of this review at link above.
This was absolutely fantastic.
Could you imagine the burden you would carry on your shoulder if you happened to make a wrong decision in life? A decision that may end up costing someone their life?
Addie understands that pressure, because she can see the future, only her own, though. When presented with two choices, Addie has the option to Search the future to see the outcomes. Sounds like it might come in handy, but could you handle always seeing the other choice-the one you didn't make? Is there such a thing as too much knowledge?
I didn't have any expectations when first starting PIVOT POINT, I really didn't know what to expect. Needless to say, I wasn't thinking I was going to get my heart torn in two different directions repeatedly. I became emotionally invested with Addie and both of her lives, each moment more precious than the last because you know there will be only one outcome.
Addie is told the news of her parent's divorce. Her parents are making her choose between them because Addie can Search and see which outcome is preferable. So begins our journey into two alternate futures, both containing happiness and both containing horror, and only one can be chosen. Knowing this, as readers, is heartbreaking,
“Sometimes I feel like I'm slowly floating away. I'm constantly looking for something to grab on to so I don't lose myself.”
Excellently written supporting characters are abound, some shrouded in mystery-and some with motives clear as day. The diversity is refreshing, each character relatable in their own way. The mystery was chilling, its effects taking a toll on the characters without us knowing. This meaning, we knew only what Addie knew-which wasn't a lot, and only make the suspense worse.
Really, my only complaint with this was that it was hard to follow at times. We are, after all, living in two different stories, two different lives, and that alone made it confusing. This isn't a book you'll want to put down for a few days and then come back-you won't want to anyway. I was hooked from the beginning, and each page only made me fall harder.
I will be reading the sequel, because after that ending-who wouldn't?
I suggest this to fans of YA who are looking for something fresh and different in the genre.
My actual rating is probably something like 4.5 stars because I really enjoyed Pivot Point. I don't know how Kasie West does it but I was hooked throughout the entire story and I read it in one sitting because I really couldn't put down the book. I'm not usually a fan of stories with alternating chapters but Kasie West somehow pulls it off and also includes a love triangle (of sorts) that I didn't find nauseating but it actually kinda works instead.
Addison Coleman is a Searcher, meaning that whenever she's faced with making a choice she can see into her future to decide which choice would be better for her. She's hardly ever used her powers but now she's faced with an impossible choice: her parents are divorcing and they want her to choose between them, to Search into the future and figure out which is the better choice for her. Addie sees two very different futures. If she stays in the Compound with her mom, she becomes the school quarterback Duke's girlfriend, something which she has no interest in becoming. If she goes with her dad to live outside the Compound with the Norms, she meets Trevor an injured football player with dreams of becoming an artist. But there's more than her love life at stake, her choice is a matter of life-and-death because there's a killer on the loose within the Compound and Addie has the key to stop him.
Pivot Point is like a romance/sci-fi/mystery thriller story all wrapped in one and all of it surprisingly works really well together. Kasie West does a great job at explaining Addie's powers and how it only works for her as well as how the Compound is made up of people with slightly different powers, from her human lie detector Dad to the football team and their Telekinesis power. I also liked Addie's struggle in the Norm world, because she's trying to figure out her identity and what she amounts to if she didn't have her powers. The romance between Trevor and Addie was so adorable too and I loved the way it slowly developed. The plot was also incredibly well thought out because we can see the little touches where the same things happen across her two different futures but in slightly different ways. That was really cool.
And can I just say that I loved Addie? She's the perfect MC for the book, a girl who loved books, thinks too much and tries to avoid obvious things? She's pretty much the opposite of a Mary Sue and I loved her determination when she's faced with an impossible choice. I really can't wait to find how how she recovers her memory of the future that she didn't choose and why she made that decision (there had better be no question of whether she recovers it) in [b:Split Second|18080902|Split Second (Pivot Point, #2)|Kasie West|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1380573617s/18080902.jpg|21514069].
I do have one minor quibble with regard to Pivot Point though (and that's the same reason why it's not given 5 stars).
This is the first novel that I've read by Kasie West and I can't wait to read her other contemporary novels too! And I'm going to get my hands on Split Second as soon as I can, so that I read more about Trevor and Addie ;)
Addison Coleman is a Searcher, meaning that whenever she's faced with making a choice she can see into her future to decide which choice would be better for her. She's hardly ever used her powers but now she's faced with an impossible choice: her parents are divorcing and they want her to choose between them, to Search into the future and figure out which is the better choice for her. Addie sees two very different futures. If she stays in the Compound with her mom, she becomes the school quarterback Duke's girlfriend, something which she has no interest in becoming. If she goes with her dad to live outside the Compound with the Norms, she meets Trevor an injured football player with dreams of becoming an artist. But there's more than her love life at stake, her choice is a matter of life-and-death because there's a killer on the loose within the Compound and Addie has the key to stop him.
Pivot Point is like a romance/sci-fi/mystery thriller story all wrapped in one and all of it surprisingly works really well together. Kasie West does a great job at explaining Addie's powers and how it only works for her as well as how the Compound is made up of people with slightly different powers, from her human lie detector Dad to the football team and their Telekinesis power. I also liked Addie's struggle in the Norm world, because she's trying to figure out her identity and what she amounts to if she didn't have her powers. The romance between Trevor and Addie was so adorable too and I loved the way it slowly developed.
Spoiler
Is it weird that I liked how Trevor asks her not to choose him? Because I loved it, how unconditional his love for her is such that he's okay with not knowing her in the future if she can avoid the pain of losing Laila.And can I just say that I loved Addie? She's the perfect MC for the book, a girl who loved books, thinks too much and tries to avoid obvious things? She's pretty much the opposite of a Mary Sue and I loved her determination when she's faced with an impossible choice. I really can't wait to find how how she recovers her memory of the future that she didn't choose and why she made that decision (there had better be no question of whether she recovers it) in [b:Split Second|18080902|Split Second (Pivot Point, #2)|Kasie West|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1380573617s/18080902.jpg|21514069].
I do have one minor quibble with regard to Pivot Point though (and that's the same reason why it's not given 5 stars).
Spoiler
I wish that there was more world building done with regard to the Compound and how it works. We get some scenes of her high school and about how it's an area that's very secret and that Addie and her dad need to pass through some clearance tests before they can leave. However, I'm still not sure what the repercussions are on Addie if she accidentally slips up. And aren't there rules about not using their powers when Norms are around? If that's the case how can Lincoln High's football team use their powers repeatedly against the other teams they're playing without the people overseeing the Compound realizing that something's wrong?This is the first novel that I've read by Kasie West and I can't wait to read her other contemporary novels too! And I'm going to get my hands on Split Second as soon as I can, so that I read more about Trevor and Addie ;)
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes