Pivot Point

Pivot Point
by Kasie West

From the publisher:
"Knowing the outcome doesn’t always make a choice easier . . .

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."

I LOVED this book!  What a unique plot with 2 very compelling stories.  I loved the main character, Addie; I loved Trevor; and Laila and Duke had me going back and forth until the very end.  And the ending!  What a horrible decision to have to make! I can't wait for the sequel to come out next February.   

This book is a little bit paranormal and a little bit dystopian, but not too much of either.  So if you don't like paranormal or dystopian books, don't let that stop you from reading this one.  It felt more like a contemporary YA book than anything else.  I appreciated that the teenagers were snarky, sarcastic, believable teenagers without displaying obnoxious behaviour or language.  I highly recommend this one!

Areas of concern:  I think the worst word that was used was "prick", and the main character made a point of saying she was surprised that the other person used that word.  There is some general talk of a couple of murders, and a girl being traumatized because a guy was trying to go too far with her, but she knee-ed him and ran off.   There is some sweet kissing between boyfriend and girlfriend.

Suggested ages:

Booklist - Grades 7-10

Kirkus Reviews - Ages 13+
*Mrs. Duke can never figure out where these ratings come from.  Kirkus Reviews says that The Hunger Games is recommended for ages 11+, and it has all sorts of horrible violence in it.  So why this one says 13 and up when it is a very clean read, I'm not sure. *