Pivot Point
by Kasie West
There have been so many times in my life when a decision has been placed before me, and I have to decide, go right, or go left. I know that I can't go back and fix it if I make the wrong choice, and that the decision will change my life. So, as a true fan of Rory Gilmore, I come up with a pro/con list, and then forge ahead.
What if there was an ability that allowed you to play through the decision, and see it to completion, or at least weeks after to see what happened? A way to glimpse the future and then decide which decision to make? I know right?
Well I knew I had to read the story when that thought crossed my mind. I would totally love to see what a person's life looked like if she had the ability to see what would come of her decisions.
Story Overview
Pivot Point*
by Kasie West is a wonderfully fun science fiction young adult book. Addison Coleman lives in a special subset of society where the population has special powers, specifically extra abilities of their minds, think X-men. Addie specifically has the ability to look into the future and play out both scenarios when she is faced with an either-or decision.
This book follows Addie's futures when she has to Search her life as she is faced with a difficult decision. Her parents are getting divorced, and she must decide who to live with. While that decision leads her down two very different paths, Addie finds love, and danger.
Addie's life is consumed with high school and social circles, but she soon realizes there is so much more to the world than she thought. Many of the high schoolers are simply trying to find their place in society and control their powers, while others are causing some major issues, and not just within their little bubble.
by Kasie West is a wonderfully fun science fiction young adult book. Addison Coleman lives in a special subset of society where the population has special powers, specifically extra abilities of their minds, think X-men. Addie specifically has the ability to look into the future and play out both scenarios when she is faced with an either-or decision.This book follows Addie's futures when she has to Search her life as she is faced with a difficult decision. Her parents are getting divorced, and she must decide who to live with. While that decision leads her down two very different paths, Addie finds love, and danger.
Addie's life is consumed with high school and social circles, but she soon realizes there is so much more to the world than she thought. Many of the high schoolers are simply trying to find their place in society and control their powers, while others are causing some major issues, and not just within their little bubble.
Personal Likes
I personally enjoyed how the parents were portrayed in this book (series, actually). The parents have a real role. Addie's parents have actual feelings, and they aren't the only parents mentioned. Let's be honest, most mainstream stories just get rid of parents, ignore their existence, or make them sound like idiots. This book allows the teen perspective to see parents in a healthy light: as people, who make mistakes, but still have feelings and mostly want the best for their kids.
I also appreciated that the boys and girls, while there are some romantic feelings, they also simply want to be friends. There are many scenes that focus on creative talents, and sharing that with the opposite sex, instead of focused on hormonal urges. The boys were also strong characters, with morals and dreams, not just jocks or stereotypes. The girls were calm, while wanting to be strong and independent they were also simply learning to be themselves. It was a nice balance, and more realistic than many stories I've picked up.
Personal Dislikes
This book took a little more focus than I would have thought since the setting switches back and forth between Addie's two possible futures. It quickly becomes confusing, where she is in reality and time. I had to stop and flip back a few times to keep track of where I was in her timeline.
Also this is one of those books that really demands you suspend belief and agree to the world of the book. And there are times when I started to feel like I was reading a simply fiction, then something sci-fi would happen and I'd have to re-enter the world of the book or lose the whole story. That could have been the adult in me though...
Also this is one of those books that really demands you suspend belief and agree to the world of the book. And there are times when I started to feel like I was reading a simply fiction, then something sci-fi would happen and I'd have to re-enter the world of the book or lose the whole story. That could have been the adult in me though...
Reasons to Read
This was a really fun read, when I was allowing the world to be, and not question it. The characters were portrayed as very normal teenagers. It felt like they were kids I went to school with. So for those of you who aren't really big sci-fi readers, but like YA lit, this might be a good pick.
Plus, this book is mostly a look into a girl's life as she tries to live her life and deal with her parent's decision to divorce all while being a friend and figuring out love.
Plus, this book is mostly a look into a girl's life as she tries to live her life and deal with her parent's decision to divorce all while being a friend and figuring out love.
Reading List Rating
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My Suggested Audience
I suggest this book would be a great hit with teens who are science fiction fans. While I would probably say fifteen and up, as there are many scenes that are more mature in nature that look into the evil side of power and control, but overall it's a clean read.
Also, for those fans of the classic coming of age story line, this is a great read. The science fiction isn't as overwhelming as some popular books out now.
Also, for those fans of the classic coming of age story line, this is a great read. The science fiction isn't as overwhelming as some popular books out now.
I can totally see adults getting into this book. It's just a fun read.
If you could have a super power, a super brain, what would it be? The ability to see the future? The ability to influence what others thought, saw, wanted, etc? The ability to heal the brain of others? Something else?
I'd love to hear from you, please leave me a little note!
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There are times when I pick up a book simply because I've heard the title so many times. The media has gotten their claws on it and they are filling corners with a certain title. To be honest, this persuasion usually leads to a horrible read, leaving me upset and frustrated over the wasted time. I always tell myself I won't be sucked into that phenomenon again, but alas, I have yet to truly learn my lesson. That all being said when I sat down with the popular If I Stay... novel by Gayle Forman, I was pleasantly surprised.
They style of If I Stay... is completely different than any book I've picked up since I as in school and it was a pleasant change of pace because of that. This piece of fiction takes a look into a world that many people fear and most of us have no clue as to how it would work. Forman has crafted a story that looks at the choice to stay alive or to leave this world, and we aren't talking about suicide at all.
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They style of If I Stay... is completely different than any book I've picked up since I as in school and it was a pleasant change of pace because of that. This piece of fiction takes a look into a world that many people fear and most of us have no clue as to how it would work. Forman has crafted a story that looks at the choice to stay alive or to leave this world, and we aren't talking about suicide at all.
Story Overview
If I Stay is a young adult novel that follows Mia as she is forced to decide between living and following her family into the world after life. Mia and her family are in a horrific crash that takes the lives of her mother, father and brother. The story comes in a series of thoughts and flashbacks as Mia struggles with the choice to open her eyes and join the world again or let go and follow her family. As Gayle Forman says, even those this is a book dealing with death on almost every page, love is at the heart of the story. Somehow that love keeps such a heavy subject matter from crushing the reader.
Personal Likes
I really enjoyed the point of view and voice that Mia gives us in this book. She is in a coma in a hospital throughout the book. There isn't a ton of action, with the exception of the car crash that kicks of the events of this story, and yet the voice keeps pulling us forward waiting to see what Mia decides.
There are so many books about death, about giving up and wishing for a quick escape. And yet the idea that death separates us from the world, meaning we will have to leave some of this world behind no matter what is on the other side of life (granted I do believe that heaven is waiting for those of us who know Jesus, and therefore that side will be amazing...) doesn't seem to be in those stories ever. That is not the case in If I Stay. In fact Mia wrestles over that exact point through the entire book - is it better to try to live with those people still alive, to make an impact on the world, or is it better to let go and find the unknown beyond life.
This book explores the idea that our will is powerful. Ultimately it suggests, that we can will ourselves to live through anything. So on that concept, it is easy to ponder just how significant it is to let go of our human will and bend into God's will - what a gift to the One who created and sacrificed to show us love.
Personal Dislikes
My main dislike on this book was that with the subject of death as the focus, I felt like heaven and God should have found a way in, naturally. Yes I know that this is a secular book, but it seems that no matter what a person claims to believe during the mundane routine of life, when death is staring him in the face God, heaven and faith always creep in. And that was missing in this book completely.
Also, this was obviously a young adult novel - the phrases were one hundred percent directed to the current young adult audience. It made me realize that I am certainly past that stage of life, and while this might not be a bad thing, I felt like the author missed out on allowing her book to speak to generations. But that is the thing about writing, we get to pick our audiences and we can write to them alone if we so choose. So this is a minor drawback.
Also, this was obviously a young adult novel - the phrases were one hundred percent directed to the current young adult audience. It made me realize that I am certainly past that stage of life, and while this might not be a bad thing, I felt like the author missed out on allowing her book to speak to generations. But that is the thing about writing, we get to pick our audiences and we can write to them alone if we so choose. So this is a minor drawback.
Reasons to Read
As a Christian, this might not be at the top of your to read list. It deals with a subject that we are not as afraid of, at least I would hope you have found security in your faith... However, it is a popular book, in fact it's a movie (I haven't seen the movie as of yet...) now! So there is a chance that if you have a teenager this might sneak into her to read list. And that is why you should at least be willing to read this one.
This book allows us the chance to discuss death with some of the crushing emotion that is inevitable. As parents we should be interested in our children's thoughts and feelings on death and the afterlife. And there is no denying that this book opens up that discussion.
Besides, it is a fun read, and quick. Who knows, maybe you'll be confronted with your own fears over death....
Reading List Rating
Overall, I did like this book. There were some good ideas explored, and for teenagers it opened up thought on a subject that many ignore! But there were many times where the memories, flashbacks and thoughts seemed extremely disjointed, so I have to give this a rating of three hearts.
My Suggested Audience
This is a young adult fiction piece according to the publishers, and I can totally agree with young adult, and not really preteen lit. The topics of death and afterlife, love and family are explored with the depth that will sit better with a mature reader. While the scenes are fairly clean and there is little in the way of sexual or violent scenes. However the tone and the subject matter can sit heavy on a young mind and heart, so I recommend readers that are at least 14 years old in maturity.
While the subject of death is one that impacts all of us, I do think that many adults could gain a ton from this book. Fair warning though, that Mia is a young girl and her voice is young...
While the subject of death is one that impacts all of us, I do think that many adults could gain a ton from this book. Fair warning though, that Mia is a young girl and her voice is young...
Have you discussed with your kids death and heaven? Did they surprise you with their thoughts? Do you think books that explore heavy topics, like death, are necessary for teenagers to read?
I'd love to hear from you, please leave me a little note!
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***If you're interested in writing a book review on Reading List, please message me on the Facebook page! If you're curious about a book, ask me... I love to hear from you!
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