Author: Kasie West
Age Range: YA
Source/Format: Borrowed From Library,
HardbackPublisher/Publication Date Harper Teen/ February 12, 2013
My Thoughts:
As we go through life, we all have to
make decisions in which we have to contemplate which choice will have the
better outcome. Now just imagine if you had the power of divergence that allows
you to have insight regarding the outcome of each choice. Would you make the
decision that was most beneficial to you personally or those around you? In
Pivot Point by Kasie West, Addison Coleman (Addie), who has the power of
divergence, is faced with a major life decision. She must decide whether she
wants to remain in the paranormal community with her mother or relocate to a
norm community with her father after her parents get a divorce. So she uses her
power to examine what each path has to offer.
The plot was well developed as West
presents Addie’s life in a paranormal versus normal society. The twists in the plot never ceased and at
times I was unsure of what decision Addie should make. Addie had a love
interest in each society. First, there was Trevor who was such an amiable
character that I wanted to be on Team Norm. Then there was Duke who seemed a
little self-centered, but could be just as charming, so I also wanted to root
for Team Paranormal. It was hard to decide because I just couldn’t get the
following statement by Mrs. Stockbridge, Addie’s teacher, out of my mind:
“Sometimes perfection reveals the lie, Addie, not the truth” (57). Addie’s
love interests in both societies had imperfections and there were well
developed conflicts in both. Considering that some of the paranormal characters
had the ability to persuade and affect emotions, it was hard to decipher who
Addie could trust. Her friends Laila and Duke appeared to be self-centered;
whereas, Trevor simply seemed to be hiding something. As such, the complexity of the problems
presented left me contemplating Addie’s best course of action. Just when I
thought that I knew how the story would end, there was a slight twist that left
me pleasantly surprised.
I really liked it. I would recommend it.
