Pivot Point by Kasie West

Published Febuary 12th 2013 by HarperTeen 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.

Rating: 5/5

Review:

Pivot Point has a touch of several different elements: paranormal, mystery, and romance.  Kasie West weaves these elements and Addie's two paths into one cohesive, high-stakes story.

Addie has grown up in a secret compound for people with paranormal powers.  Addie has a form of clairvoyance which allows her to see how her choices will affect her life.  Her best friend, Laila, can erase memories, her mother has the power of persuasion, and her father can tell when people are lying.  The compound also has advanced technology, though I wasn't quite certain how that worked.  I can't see how their special abilities would translate into a technological advantage.

When her parents get divorced, Addie searches to see who she should live with.  The two choices are shown side by side in this book.  Similar events occur in both versions, but they play out differently based on Addie's choice. I liked seeing the similarities because it showed that one person's choices can't change everything about the future.

The choice Addie has to make at the end is difficult and sad, but I was left knowing that she'd done the right thing.