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We are-two crazy teenagers-Raven and Beez and on this blog we hope to enlighten you with our hilarious comments on the countless books we have read ;)

Monday, September 9, 2013

Raven + Beez:  Pivot Point 
Kasie West


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.

When you start this book, let me warn you that you are in for a lot of surprises. 
But it will leave you aching(or craving or coveting or yearning) for more.
This book is about a teenager who is one of the psychologically advanced- Addison(somehow I like Addison better). She has a power to look into the future where two choices are concerned. Her power reminds me of the power Nicholas Cage had in the movie in which he could make copies of himself and let them go in various directions to see what would happen(I googled the name its-Next; and apparently his power is different than what I thought, after all I only saw the ending). Addie's talent is suited for the people who prefer to stay on the safe side. And because Addie has grown up with this ability she always does prefer to choose the safe side. 
Then her parents break the news to her- they're separating. For Addie it's like a surprise and I also didn't see that coming. But there's more, now Addie is faced with the decision whether to go with her dad to the norm world or stay with her life in the Compound. With her ability a choice for Addie can't be too hard right?

I don't now what but I was expecting something different when I started reading this book. After reading The distance between us and falling in love with it, I defiantly wanted to read this book but I didn't immediately because when an author makes you fall head over heels for a book of hers there is a huge possibility that her second read might disappoint. But I remember reading the summary and keeping it in my to-read list. I might have misread the summary because it left me with a feeling like it would be something like the alchemists from Bloodlines. But I was in for a shocker.

In many ways this book is the story of a normal teenager, struggling with normal problems. The ability is just a bonus. Even though given the choice I would choose a cooler ability but Addie's ability is actually quite nice. If I honestly admit I have quite the hard time deciding even simple things like what should I wear or which chocolate to buy. But I have a feeling if I ever had this ability I would never be able to live with a choice without Searching it. Well that's just me.

The whole of this book is a Search of 6 weeks. On one hand she chooses to stay home and on the other she moves to somewhere new. 
I liked the latter(I have always wanted to use this word) option better. When she moves she meets Trevor, who's cute and shy.The line I associate with Trevor is "the quietest people have the loudest minds". Trevor stays within his thoughts most of the time. Mostly because no one quite understands him. At least till Addie came along. Addie and Trevor immediately connect. Trevor is very much the Addie type. Addie herself is shy and a book worm. Addie loves reading classics but Trevor doesn't(like me). But Trevor likes comics and writes his own. He draws pretty amazing. Trevor and Addie even beep beep beep. Sorry i wasn't supposed to say that. So anyways i loved Trevor he was so cute and .....

Duke on the other hand who lives in the compound, i never liked. I've read way to many books and seen too many movies about jocks falling for the social recluse girl. And for the start it was fun. How she felt fire in his touch. But its kind of obvious that Addie's feeling changed so fast so i had an inkling of sorts. And after i came to know about Trevor and his injury i did't like him more. And i craved Trevor so much that my dislike further grew.
The one character i was surprised by was Bobby. At first when he keeps irritating her and pestering he i felt that he was just another insignificant part of the story. Just like i felt about the real murderer in Never bite a boy on the first date. Then when Bobby starts giving lessons to Laila i still did not think he was bad. Because come on who wouldn't want to expand their power? 
Well, he turned out to be a bad apple.

All in all the book was pretty impressive. It was different. At first it was kind of dull but still manages to hold our attention because of the stuff about the powers and super advanced life, but then when the mysteries appear it gets so exciting. And i love the twist with the different chapters from different worlds, it leaves you hanging and agape. Kasie West has done a brilliant job. And now i can hardly wait for Split Second. its like every cell in my body desperately needs to know. What happens?? What happens to Trevor?? Will he remember???
I am dying to know.

Breathless-ly  yours
Beez.


I and Beez began reading this book only because it was Kasie West's debut novel. And after having read "The distance between us" I wanted to know if the author really was that good... And she was. She has blown my mind away.

Addie or Addison lives in a world where people are mentally advanced. Her mom has the "persuasion" and her dad is a human lie detector. I don't even want to imagine being in Addie's situation, mainly because I think teenage life is all about lying and persuading your parents (I agree that's not good but anyone would be fooling themselves if they disagreed with me) not the other way around.

Addie herself has the "Clairvoyance" "Divergence" which helps her choose the safest decision if she ever comes across a pivot point in her life.  Her best friend Laila has the "memory" and she can wipe out anyone's memory. That is soooo cool. 

I really liked how the book begins with Addie being smacked on the head with a football by Duke. I have never read a book with such a great opening (which makes you laugh so hard  before even knowing the name of the character). Duke is the school quarterback/hottie who has the "Telekinesis" (Oh boy! I wanna tell you guys something but I can't cause it will give away the plot but just know that with this character you just don't know what to expect!)

Addie had a perfectly normal... I mean 'great' life (of course she is not normal, she has a mental power for god sake!) until her parents decide to split up and even worse, her daddy decides to live in the norm world and now she has to choose whom to live with- Her mom? inside the compound and her perfectly great life? or her dad? outside the compound? finding new friends?

This is where her six week search begins. We are given a chapter with her mom and a chapter with her dad, so we know what would be happening if she was with her mom or her dad.

She meets Trevor in her search. A beautifully awesome character who is a born artist and also has a great sense of humor. Who also happens to be a quarterback. Trevor is the perfect type for Addie (even though he plays football and Addie hates it). For once we get to see a girl fall for a guy who is sweet and not a jerk-badass. (Not that she doesn't fall for the latter either)

Now here there is a great mystery. Addie finds out things so horrible that she fervently wishes were not true (and so did I). The things that are revealed will make you feel sorry for Trevor and Addie. But, oh well! Nobody said everyone's perfect.

I love how Kasie West has unfolded the story. I love how she has given her character the brain to reason and find out every possible option unlike other books where even if the girl can cut the ropes herself she will wait for the guy to come along and save her. I love how even though none of us could probably imagine the ending, she was able to end it just perfectly. No loopholes or doubts whatsoever!

With this book I have to warn you that your expectations from the characters or the ending will not be touched because it will surpass it. It is beyond imagination. I love everything about this book and can't wait for the second book (Split second) which is said to come out next year February. 

I rate this book a 4.5 and it loses its 0.5 only because the book became more interesting after a few chapters... and also because since I am done with Harry Potter, none of the books seem to reach it's peak point. What can I say? I am just a huge potterhead.

Lots of love and Pasta
Raven