Common Sense Media Review
By Kate Pavao
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Fast-paced tale of teen girl with mind powers.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
In the secret Compound where Addie lives, everyone has a special mind power, which they work on developing during their teen years. Some, like her mother, can persuade others to do what they want, while her best friend can erase memories in other people's minds. Addie's power allows her to look into possible futures whenever a choice is presented to her. For example, when her parents get divorced, she Searches to see what will happen if she lives with her mom , vs. what life will be like with her dad, who's moving out of their society to live with "Norms" in nearby Dallas, Texas. Through alternating chapters, Addie describes both tracks -- each of which leads her to romance, mystery, and violence. Ultimately, she must make a painful decision about which future she will live through in reality.
Is It Any Good?
This is sort of a mixed bag: Teens will have fun thinking about which of the mind powers they would most want, and will also think about the philosophical issues raised here, like Addie does. (Would you want to live in a world where you were never sure what was real and what was a manipulation? Or, if she sees someone do something bad when she is Searching the future, can she hold that against that person?) Readers may be less enthralled by the actual subplots, which involve some football players using their powers to get ahead, and a very one-dimensional drug dealer named Poison, who may be murdering teen girls.
This is a fast-moving book, and author Kasie West cleverly manages to create two different storylines that run on well-timed parallel tracks. In the end, it's the author's imagined world, not what happens there, that will make the biggest impression on readers.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about superpowers. If you could have a mind power, such as the ability to erase people's memories, move objects or walk through walls, which would you choose?
If you could see your possible futures, like Addie can, would you want to be able to?
PIVOT POINT has a sequel, Split Second. What do you think will happen in that book?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Science Fiction
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures , School ( High School )
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : HarperTeen
- Publication date : February 12, 2013
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 13 - 17
- Number of pages : 352
- Available on : Paperback, Nook, Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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