Pivot Point by Kasie West

 

 

Published: February 12, 2013

Publisher: Harper Teen

Pages: 320

Copy: Publisher through Edelweiss

Summary: Goodreads

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.

In one potential future, Addie is adjusting to life outside the Compound as the new girl in a Norm high school where she meets Trevor, a cute, sensitive artist who understands her. In the other path, Addie is being pursued by the hottest guy in school—but she never wanted to be a quarterback’s girlfriend. When Addie’s father is asked to consult on a murder in the Compound, she’s unwittingly drawn into a dangerous game that threatens everything she holds dear. With love and loss in both lives, it all comes down to which reality she’s willing to live through . . . and who she can’t live without.

Pivot Point was a fun, yet slightly mysterious read about options, or choices.  How much is our life affected by the choices we make and does it really make a difference?  Is the end result going to be the same?  Pivot Point tries to answer those questions.

It was a fairly quick read for me that I enjoyed, but the whole time I was reading it I kept thinking - Sliding Doors -  have you watched that movie?  If you haven't you should, it's a wonderful movie, and this book reminded me of it very much. Although in this book, Addie can consciously look into her divergent future and make a definitive decision based on what she 'searches'.  Sounds great right? Well Ms. West manages to convey quite nicely that it is not  nearly as great, or as easy as we might think. 

It was rather interesting watching the same scenario play out from two different directions and the way that the characters handle themselves.  I liked Addie, loved Laila, adored Trevor and was so so about Duke.  I particularly loved the fact that Addie's Mum could 'persuade' her to do things and her Dad was a human lie detector - a teenagers worst nightmare for parents.

At the end of it all, I found myself thinking I'm quite glad I have no abilities - I'm not sure I could handle the responsibilites.  A fun, quick read for contemporary paranormal fans.