The Fork In The Road

"When I read, I feel emotion all on my own.

Emotion no living person is making me feel.

To me, it almost seems more real..."

--Kasie West, Pivot Point

Genre: YA Science Fiction, Paranormal

Publisher: Harper Teen, 352 pages

Publication Date: February 12th, 2013

Source: Borrowed from Library

Goodreads

Goodreads Description

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.

My Thoughts

Oh my gosh...oh my gosh....oh.my.gosh. I loooooved this book!! I could NOT put this book down. I read it during my work week and I would legitimately be counting down the hours until I was off so that I could continue to read this book. It just sucks you in and digs its claws into you and refuses to let go. Pivot Point revolves around Addison who lives in the Compound which is a community of people with exceptional mind capabilities. Everyone has a different power and they are kept secret from the rest of the world. Addie's power is that she can see two alternate futures depending on a single choice she makes. So when her parents divorce and she has to decide who to live with, she sees two possible futures depending on which choice she chooses.

The book is told in alternating chapters, the life she lives if she chooses her mom and the life she lives if she chooses her dad. This was brilliant. I loved reading about each story and this is part of why this book was IMPOSSIBLE to put down because I couldn't wait to see what happened next in each life. And what else was so clever? That there were constants in both situations and when they would reference one another in both lives it was just so eerie and amazing and weird all at once. The difference in outcomes based on the choice she makes is just too good.

Addie, our main girl, is a pretty cool chick. Loves to read...ALWAYS a bonus in a character. And she likes to read comic books...hello, badass nerd girl. Love love love. Laila is the best friend and I liked her. She was very funny and pushed Addie in mostly good ways. In the life she chooses with Mom, she has the resident hottie and quarterback Duke all up in her business. He is pretty swoony and def has some very adorable moments. He is super charming and has a lot of right moves but...but...you haven't seen the boy she meets when she chooses a life with Dad. 

Trevor. Oh Trevor. Be still my heart. You are so totally one of my new favorite book boyfriends. He is totally the type of guy I hope to fall for someday. Confident, quiet, understated, and thoughtful, Trevor had it all for me. He is just so...*sigh*. Just sigh-worthy. He is just too adorable for words and I was swooning the entire time for him. There was only one choice for me in the battle of the boys and it was a resounding cheer for Trevor. The two of them together was giving me the feels something fierce. My heart just broke for him at some points and I wanted to snug the crap out of him. There is a particular moment when my booksih heart fell fully in love with him. You guys have to read this book if only to experience the Trevor.

The plot twists several times and you know that all the pieces are going to fit together eventually you just don't know when...and you definitely don't see what is coming. I was floored. I was so torn between both lives and I completely felt Addie's conflicting emotions about the choice she had to make. You might think I was 100% sold one way but not is all as it seems in either possible reality. The whole concept of her gift was just so freakin' cool. I got a total X-Men feel to this story but it was so unique as well. It was also kinda scary to think how influenced we are by other people. This story takes this to the extreme but it is alarming to think of the Compound and how you could be Persuaded into doing something and think it is your own choice. And you would never know it was not your initial reaction or decision. Eep, it is for serious scary! I would hate to be constantly second guessing everything and if I really had the power of my own life or is there was another influence to factor in. The power of choice and the consequences of each decision is incredible. There also aren't ever any easy choices or answers. Life is too messy for that. 

Should You Read This? YES! Yes yes yes yes!!! The idea is amazingly fresh and unique. The characters are extremely likable. The plot and idea of the story is just bizarre, mind-twisting, and totally amazing. And Trevor...have I mentioned Trevor?