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4.06 AVERAGE
4.06 AVERAGE
Kasie West really went out of her comfort zone with this novel and it worked!! This has the lovely light and fluffy feel of a Kasie West book with so many more fun sci-fi aspects, and a little more danger involved. The romance is so well written and had me smiling so many times throughout the read. The plot twists and betrayals were such a welcome add to this novel and it was overall a great quick read!
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
SPOILERS!!!!!
This book was amazing! The whole aspect that the entire story was a Search itself, stupifying! I also loved that in order to key to reader into which Search we were reading, the definition of the word either had PARA or NORM in it.
It seemed that in each search, the stories began to overlap towards the end. Also, I think that in the normal life Addie discovered herself really quickly when in the paranormal world, it took her until Laila almost died. Although events in the plot line affected this, I think that her chosing the paranormal timeline was the best idea because her life was a unknown challenge to her.
This book was amazing! The whole aspect that the entire story was a Search itself, stupifying! I also loved that in order to key to reader into which Search we were reading, the definition of the word either had PARA or NORM in it.
It seemed that in each search, the stories began to overlap towards the end. Also, I think that in the normal life Addie discovered herself really quickly when in the paranormal world, it took her until Laila almost died. Although events in the plot line affected this, I think that her chosing the paranormal timeline was the best idea because her life was a unknown challenge to her.
I liked this more than I thought I would. I went into it thinking it would just be mediocre, and when it split in two opposite directions at the beginning, I was worried it would be too difficult to follow, but Kasie West did a good job of keeping it all connected. It is still very much a teen romance; there just happens to be a supernatural twist. The book had its cliches, but I still enjoyed reading it.
Pivot Point was a difficult book to rate for me... There were aspects that I wanted to give 5 stars, and others that really only deserved 2. Here we go:
The Good:
The Idea: The premise of this book was actually really interesting to me. Addie can look into the future to see both outcomes of any choice she makes, big or small. She's not the only one with powers like these. She lives in the Compound, a secret society of people with advanced brains that give them powers. I really liked Addie's ability, it was different from anything else I've read about, and a lot more specific and defined. While it wasn't completely original, it did have some ideas and concepts that were.
The Love Stories: There is no love triangle! What a miracle! As the book is mostly two different story lines based on a choice Addie has to make, we see her in a relationship with two different guys. Addie's parents are getting a divorce, and Addie's father is moving out of the Compound to live in the "Norm" world (with regular people). She has to decide who to live with. With her mother, who she isn't very close with, she'd stay in the Compound, in the society she's been raised with and the only one she knows. Not to mention that her best friend Laila is there. But if she left with her father, who she is extremely close to, she'd get an entire world of new experiences and friends. In the timeline with her mother, Addie ends up dating Duke Rivers, the quarterback on her school's football team and totally "hotlicious". Addie is extremely reluctant to even consider a relationship with him, but sooner rather than later, agrees because it can be used as a form of rebellion against her mother. Duke is very subtly manipulative of Addie,we find out in one of the last chapters that Duke, who claims to be a Telekinetic, (someone who can move things with their mind) is actually a Mood Controller (which is pretty self-explanatory). The author hints at this throughout their relationship, with irregular bursts of pride, happiness, or trust whenever Duke is near Addie. but it's hard to see unless you already know some red flags that can pop up in toxic relationships. However, in the timeline where Addie lives with her father in Dallas, Texas, she meets Trevor. He's also a football player, most likely a quarterback, but was injured a year previously and can no longer play. He's sweet and overly-kind, and a comic-artist. They first begin as friends, but we all know that won't last long. They get together near the ending of the book, but Stephanie, Trevor's ex-girlfriend, reveals some of Addie's secrets to him. Even though she knows the consequences that could follow, she tells Trevor everything about her powers, the Compound, her life before Dallas. Of course, he accepts her and they continue their relationship.
The Plot: While this novel was primarily a romance, there was an underlying plot to the timeline where Addie stays with her mother, which in turn affects the other timeline. It was very exciting to see where the timelines intersect and mingle with each other, whether it be when Addie meets the love interest from the opposite timeline, or when the bad guy shows up in both timelines.
The Bad:
The Dialogue: Some of the dialogue in this book just felt awkward and disjointed. I mean, these are teenagers we're reading about! Almost every affirmative answer was "yes" when it would have been more realistic as "yeah" or "sure". Now I know that this complaint is purely subjective to me, and I don't expect anyone else to share the same opinion. But to me, it felt awkward to read.
The World-Building: Half of the story takes place in a world that we don't know, a world that none of us have ever been to. It would be nice to understand it, right? Well, I guess that sucks for us. Most of the gadgets and ideas inside the Compound's community are hardly explained, either how they work or what they're used for. A lot about their society as a whole is never explained, such as the government, the schooling, their abilities, and how these people even came to be. It was kind of frustrating to not be able to get fully submerged into their world, but the story does get by without it.
Character Development: Basically, it doesn't happen. Most of these characters are as deep as kiddie-pools. I didn't feel connected to any of them. It was unfortunate, really, because I wanted to like Addie, I wanted to like Trevor, I wanted to like Laila, and everyone else. The author didn't really show or tell anything about them. I mean, we barely got to know anything about either of the love interests! When Addie is over at Trevor's house, and he confesses his feelings to her, he seems to know everything about Addie. But what do we know about him, really? We meet his mom, but where's his dad? We don't even know his last name! It's similar with Duke. We meet his mother, there are mentions of his father, but does he have siblings? Does he do anything but play football and hang out with Addie?
Overall, I did enjoy this book, but it could have been better. It was a fun and interesting read, but if you're looking for something deeper, this isn't the book for you.
The Good:
The Idea: The premise of this book was actually really interesting to me. Addie can look into the future to see both outcomes of any choice she makes, big or small. She's not the only one with powers like these. She lives in the Compound, a secret society of people with advanced brains that give them powers. I really liked Addie's ability, it was different from anything else I've read about, and a lot more specific and defined. While it wasn't completely original, it did have some ideas and concepts that were.
The Love Stories: There is no love triangle! What a miracle! As the book is mostly two different story lines based on a choice Addie has to make, we see her in a relationship with two different guys. Addie's parents are getting a divorce, and Addie's father is moving out of the Compound to live in the "Norm" world (with regular people). She has to decide who to live with. With her mother, who she isn't very close with, she'd stay in the Compound, in the society she's been raised with and the only one she knows. Not to mention that her best friend Laila is there. But if she left with her father, who she is extremely close to, she'd get an entire world of new experiences and friends. In the timeline with her mother, Addie ends up dating Duke Rivers, the quarterback on her school's football team and totally "hotlicious". Addie is extremely reluctant to even consider a relationship with him, but sooner rather than later, agrees because it can be used as a form of rebellion against her mother. Duke is very subtly manipulative of Addie,
The Plot: While this novel was primarily a romance, there was an underlying plot to the timeline where Addie stays with her mother, which in turn affects the other timeline. It was very exciting to see where the timelines intersect and mingle with each other, whether it be when Addie meets the love interest from the opposite timeline, or when the bad guy shows up in both timelines.
The Bad:
The Dialogue: Some of the dialogue in this book just felt awkward and disjointed. I mean, these are teenagers we're reading about! Almost every affirmative answer was "yes" when it would have been more realistic as "yeah" or "sure". Now I know that this complaint is purely subjective to me, and I don't expect anyone else to share the same opinion. But to me, it felt awkward to read.
The World-Building: Half of the story takes place in a world that we don't know, a world that none of us have ever been to. It would be nice to understand it, right? Well, I guess that sucks for us. Most of the gadgets and ideas inside the Compound's community are hardly explained, either how they work or what they're used for. A lot about their society as a whole is never explained, such as the government, the schooling, their abilities, and how these people even came to be. It was kind of frustrating to not be able to get fully submerged into their world, but the story does get by without it.
Character Development: Basically, it doesn't happen. Most of these characters are as deep as kiddie-pools. I didn't feel connected to any of them. It was unfortunate, really, because I wanted to like Addie, I wanted to like Trevor, I wanted to like Laila, and everyone else. The author didn't really show or tell anything about them. I mean, we barely got to know anything about either of the love interests! When Addie is over at Trevor's house, and he confesses his feelings to her, he seems to know everything about Addie. But what do we know about him, really? We meet his mom, but where's his dad? We don't even know his last name! It's similar with Duke. We meet his mother, there are mentions of his father, but does he have siblings? Does he do anything but play football and hang out with Addie?
Overall, I did enjoy this book, but it could have been better. It was a fun and interesting read, but if you're looking for something deeper, this isn't the book for you.
3.5 stars
It was an easy read, but i found myself zoning out a fair bit through the story and i wasn't as invested in the plot to go back a reread what i missed. I really liked Trevor and I'm looking forward to seeing more of him in the sequel.
It took me a while to get through this book, I guess it just wasn't a complelling idea in my opinion. I'm still interested in what happens, but the writing wasn't great (I think it's her debut novel) and i think the idea could have been played out a lot better to be more intriguing and inviting.
It was an easy read, but i found myself zoning out a fair bit through the story and i wasn't as invested in the plot to go back a reread what i missed. I really liked Trevor and I'm looking forward to seeing more of him in the sequel.
It took me a while to get through this book, I guess it just wasn't a complelling idea in my opinion. I'm still interested in what happens, but the writing wasn't great (I think it's her debut novel) and i think the idea could have been played out a lot better to be more intriguing and inviting.
A gripping new voice in young adult fiction – Kasie West delivers a fresh and riveting fantasy story that will leave you wanting more.
This book was purely magic! It was MAGIC, I tell you! !! I have had this book sitting on my shelf since March when I went to the Yappiest event in Disney. Anyways, I put on the back burner not really knowing if I should read it, but being berated (not really) by my friends to read it.
Needless to say, I didn’t regret it for a second and I am completely and utterly excited for the sequel Split Second to be released soon!
I won’t bore you with my own summary of the novel because the synopsis is self-explanatory. In Addie’s world there are people who have special abilities like telekinesis, clairvoyance, ect. She lives in a hidden compound in the mountains where people who have gifts live separately from the “Norms.” Within the compound, those with abilities learn to develop and expand their gift. Those who live on the outside don’t have an ounce of knowledge that people like Addie exist.
The story is told from Addie’s p.o.v. in first person present tense. Every chapter is split between two alternate paths, which I found really interesting and fresh. I’ve never read something like this, in which a girl has the power to see two possible paths based on a decision. It sounds like it would be confusing, but West’s writing easily flowed with no awkwardness.
Each chapter also began with a word and it’s definition. Every word held emotion and was a glimpse to what may lie ahead in the chapter. This was one of my favorite aspects of the novel, to see that West took her time in finding the right word to integrate to each chapter with clarity and depth.
Addie Coleman was an interesting female MC. I really liked her and at times, found that I related to her.
When I read, I feel emotion all on my own. Emotion no living person is making me feel. To me, it almost seems more real; because I know those characters can’t influence me with any power.
I think any person who is a lover of books can relate to the above ^^ I know I did. Addie is also sort of sassy and her own person. She doesn’t let anyone dictate her life, and even when they do she speaks up. She alone has the power to make a decision, and sometimes that is hard, especially when she has to decide to live out a bad possibility to steer clear of a worse one. Lastly, I really love how she is kind of quiet and witty. All in all, I really loved Addie and found her character refreshing and enticing! Her voice is what drives the story and it’s what essentially made me love this book.
Pivot Point also holds two possible love interests in Duke and Trevor. I loved them both (at first) but in the end only one boy completely wins my heart, err Addie’s heart. Duke is the quarterback for Lincoln High. He’s also the most popular guy in school. Trevor used to be a star football player until an injury put him on the bench permanently. Between the alternate futures, we (the reader) see how her relationship with both Duke and Trevor blossoms. I really loved how both guys were pivotal in some way in each of Addie’s possible futures. Their purpose wasn’t just as a “love interest” but offered more to the story. They fueled lies, startling revelations, and danger.
Last but certainly not least, are the side characters. They were fan-tab-olous! I loved Addie’s best friend Lalia and even Rowan. There was something cute and endearing about him even though Addie thought he was a total creep in the beginning. Lalia, on the other hand, is a force to be reckoned with, but I liked her nonetheless. Much like Trevor and Duke, Lalia and Rowan offered a further drive in Addie’s story, making it steadily progress into heart-pounding revelations and action.
Pivot Point was and is possibly one of my favorite reads this month thus far. I read it in 3 sittings and found myself devouring the pages with interest and intrigue. A gripping new voice in young adult fiction – Kasie West delivers a fresh and riveting fantasy story that will leave you wanting more. I highly recommend this book to all you bookish lovers! It is a new series that you’ll thoroughly enjoy! And maybe just like me, you’ll be dying to have the sequel in your hands the next second!
Kasie West has also gained a new fan in me! I have her newly released contemporary novel, The Distance Between Us, thanks to my friend Crystal! I can’t wait to sink into it! :D
P.S. Pivot Point is on sale on Amazon for only 1.99! Definite e-book bargain! !!
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I'll admit that I honestly found it boring. First of all the cover put me off (don't ask why) and then the first few chapters were really mundane and hard to understand.
But then, the magic happens.
The book took me on a journey. I started understanding where it was going. Also, I didn't get the dictionary references at the start of the chapter until like halfway into the story
But then, the magic happens.
The book took me on a journey. I started understanding where it was going. Also, I didn't get the dictionary references at the start of the chapter until like halfway into the story