Chase's memory just went out the window. Chase doesn't remember falling off the roof. He doesn't remember hitting his head. He doesn't, in fact, remember anything. He wakes up in a hospital room and suddenly has to learn his whole life all over again . . . starting with his own name. He knows he's Chase. But who is Chase? When he gets back to school, he sees that different kids have very different reactions to his return. Some kids treat him like a hero. Some kids are clearly afraid of him. One girl in particular is so angry with him that she pours her frozen yogurt on his head the first chance she gets. Pretty soon, it's not only a question of who Chase is--it's a question of who he was . . . and who he's going to be. From the #1 bestselling author of Swindle and Slacker, Restart is the spectacular story of a kid with a messy past who has to figure out what it means to get a clean start.
Restart
Author(s)
Publisher
Age Range
9+
Release Date
March 27, 2018
ISBN
B01M5J6AN3
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Editor reviews
2 reviews
Personality Do-Over
Overall rating
4.0
Plot
N/A
Characters
N/A
Writing Style
N/A
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
N/A
Middle grade mystery with an amnesic twist—a friendship-centric tale of lost-and-found.
Readers are introduced to a cruel boy who sustains brain trauma and loses his memory; a bitter girl who’s missing her twin brother after he was run out of town; and a sassy old veteran with a misplaced Medal of Honor. Chase Ambrose isn’t far into recovery when he realizes his former self was at the center of a lot of things he can’t remember, and frankly, isn’t sure he wants to know. But facing who and what he used to be may be the only way to rebuild his life into something his new self can be proud of.
The book alternates between a wide range of first-person present-tense POVs. Readers are given the distinct perspective of nearly every middle school character mentioned in the story at some point (the adult characters are excluded, but this feels in keeping with the needs of the target audience.) On the upside, this gave lots of breathing room between less interesting viewpoints along with a wider range of empathy potential. (i.e. Brandan Espinoza is a huge highlight and welcome bit of comedy relief.) On the downside, some characters seemed underrepresented, and less multi-dimensional. (i.e. Kimberly Tooley comes off as little more than a shallow, lovesick airhead.)
It was nice to see that losing his personal memories didn’t completely alter everything about Chase. He quickly discovers he’s retained his knowledge of football, and an innate love for its physical and competitive aspects. He may not remember being a star player, but he understands why his former self enjoyed the game.
My biggest complaint would have to be concerning Chase’s father. From the very beginning, it’s easy to see how the man’s narrow-minded selfishness must have a lot to do with why Chase was such a conscience-free terror before his head injury. He is volatile, entitled, pompous, and has no regard for even his own son’s health. But while his noxious behavior is consistent nearly until the end, there’s curiously little reflection on Chase’s part over how much his dad’s dysfunction must have influenced his former self. And close to the conclusion of the story, there’s a sudden attempt to salvage his father into something redeemable—which felt entirely too forced. I sincerely wish there’d been more organic development in that regard.
Ultimately though, this reader sees plenty of value in this tale of bullying, understanding, loyalty, and redemption. And with no objectionable words or material, I’d be comfortable recommending it for kids as young as 9.
Readers are introduced to a cruel boy who sustains brain trauma and loses his memory; a bitter girl who’s missing her twin brother after he was run out of town; and a sassy old veteran with a misplaced Medal of Honor. Chase Ambrose isn’t far into recovery when he realizes his former self was at the center of a lot of things he can’t remember, and frankly, isn’t sure he wants to know. But facing who and what he used to be may be the only way to rebuild his life into something his new self can be proud of.
The book alternates between a wide range of first-person present-tense POVs. Readers are given the distinct perspective of nearly every middle school character mentioned in the story at some point (the adult characters are excluded, but this feels in keeping with the needs of the target audience.) On the upside, this gave lots of breathing room between less interesting viewpoints along with a wider range of empathy potential. (i.e. Brandan Espinoza is a huge highlight and welcome bit of comedy relief.) On the downside, some characters seemed underrepresented, and less multi-dimensional. (i.e. Kimberly Tooley comes off as little more than a shallow, lovesick airhead.)
It was nice to see that losing his personal memories didn’t completely alter everything about Chase. He quickly discovers he’s retained his knowledge of football, and an innate love for its physical and competitive aspects. He may not remember being a star player, but he understands why his former self enjoyed the game.
My biggest complaint would have to be concerning Chase’s father. From the very beginning, it’s easy to see how the man’s narrow-minded selfishness must have a lot to do with why Chase was such a conscience-free terror before his head injury. He is volatile, entitled, pompous, and has no regard for even his own son’s health. But while his noxious behavior is consistent nearly until the end, there’s curiously little reflection on Chase’s part over how much his dad’s dysfunction must have influenced his former self. And close to the conclusion of the story, there’s a sudden attempt to salvage his father into something redeemable—which felt entirely too forced. I sincerely wish there’d been more organic development in that regard.
Ultimately though, this reader sees plenty of value in this tale of bullying, understanding, loyalty, and redemption. And with no objectionable words or material, I’d be comfortable recommending it for kids as young as 9.
User reviews
Restart is a great book!
Overall rating
5.0
Plot
5.0
Characters
5.0
Writing Style
5.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
N/A
Restart might be one of the best books I have ever read in my life. The way that Gordan described the different characters and the controversy is pretty cool.
Chase's story line about trying to find who he is a finally becoming a good person is really fun, particularly when he's attached at the hip with Bear and Aaron.
Shoshanna's story line of trying to protect Joel and figuring out that Chase is different and has changed is also really fun to read.
My favorite point of view was probably Brendan. The videos he makes makes me laugh out loud even when I haven't even seen a video of them. The things he will do to win Kimberly Tooley over is funny.
If there was one thing I had to critique about the whole thing though, it was the lack of past story about Chase, Bear, and Aaron. After hearing how far they would go with Joel, (willing to throw a hockey stick at his bicycle so he ends up with a sprained wrist and black eye,) I'd like to the thinking and why they decide to do that. It's unclear why they want to bully and injure people so much, so I wish there was more about that. Overall a great book and a great read though.
Chase's story line about trying to find who he is a finally becoming a good person is really fun, particularly when he's attached at the hip with Bear and Aaron.
Shoshanna's story line of trying to protect Joel and figuring out that Chase is different and has changed is also really fun to read.
My favorite point of view was probably Brendan. The videos he makes makes me laugh out loud even when I haven't even seen a video of them. The things he will do to win Kimberly Tooley over is funny.
If there was one thing I had to critique about the whole thing though, it was the lack of past story about Chase, Bear, and Aaron. After hearing how far they would go with Joel, (willing to throw a hockey stick at his bicycle so he ends up with a sprained wrist and black eye,) I'd like to the thinking and why they decide to do that. It's unclear why they want to bully and injure people so much, so I wish there was more about that. Overall a great book and a great read though.
Lose your memory, find your life!
Overall rating
5.0
Plot
5.0
Characters
5.0
Writing Style
5.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
N/A
I give this book five out of five stars.
Good Points
Restart is an outstanding tale about a boy whose future could go one of two ways.
In this well-written story about a boy who is caught between two very different peer groups, the prolific author Gordan Korman depicts the life of a boy who has to find – and choose which life he wants to live.
Korman opens the book with the main character, the feared bully Chase Ambrose, lying in a hospital bed, not knowing who he is or what he looks like or any other detail of his previous life that he can place.Overtime,however, Chase collects clues of what he was like, such as from the scared looks on people's faces when he encounters them, or the way the hallways clear when he approaches.
When Chase gets an invitation to join the video club, though, whose members are kids he picked on more then there are stars in the sky, he jumps on it, and thus begins a new life. He meets new friends and builds up a special relationship with an old Medal Of Honor Recipent. The old Chase seems totally gone, but his old pals don't like it. So they cook up a scheme to destroy Chase's new social life.
This book has so many twists and turns that are fun to read, but would need a spoiler alert to be describe them here.But as the plot progresses, Korman skillfully illustrates his characters' development and growth.
Restart weighs right and wrong and paint a picture of forgiveness.Furthermore, it emphasizes that friendship is better then popularity.
In this well-written story about a boy who is caught between two very different peer groups, the prolific author Gordan Korman depicts the life of a boy who has to find – and choose which life he wants to live.
Korman opens the book with the main character, the feared bully Chase Ambrose, lying in a hospital bed, not knowing who he is or what he looks like or any other detail of his previous life that he can place.Overtime,however, Chase collects clues of what he was like, such as from the scared looks on people's faces when he encounters them, or the way the hallways clear when he approaches.
When Chase gets an invitation to join the video club, though, whose members are kids he picked on more then there are stars in the sky, he jumps on it, and thus begins a new life. He meets new friends and builds up a special relationship with an old Medal Of Honor Recipent. The old Chase seems totally gone, but his old pals don't like it. So they cook up a scheme to destroy Chase's new social life.
This book has so many twists and turns that are fun to read, but would need a spoiler alert to be describe them here.But as the plot progresses, Korman skillfully illustrates his characters' development and growth.
Restart weighs right and wrong and paint a picture of forgiveness.Furthermore, it emphasizes that friendship is better then popularity.
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