Restart

Restart, Gordon Korman Book Review by Taylor B. Can you tell me why this book is so entertaining in so many different ways? Gordon Korman did such a great job on this book and I can barely explain how much I am in love with it. The name Restart fits so well with the book's theme and main idea that it’s just music to my ears. After I finished the book, the theme of this book that I really thought fit was that people can change. Some people think that others will always be the same, and will always be a bully forever. But after reading Restart anyone could prove it isn’t true. The story takes place on a very special day where Chase Ambrose has no idea that he is going to be visiting the hospital later that day. As Chase and his brother are on their roof, Chase takes a big fall right onto his head. While his brother is in shock runs to get his mom and runs to the hospital. A few days pass and Chase has to revisit his school and relearn his last 13 years of his life. At this point everyone knows about Chase's fall and everyone is still scared of him. People start to give in and think that he actually lost his memory. Chase then begins to make real friends and have people trust him. In the next couple days Chase starts to find out more and more about what he did in his previous life. Fast forward to the middle of the year where a huge incident happens in the band room with a fire estinguisher and a couple teenagers. After getting sent to the princapals office Aaron and Bear (his old friends) tell him that he stole Mr. Solways medal. Chase then trys to return it without Aaron and Bear finding out. But after successfully returning the medal Chase gets sent to court for committing a crime. After that let’s just say that Chase makes it out but there are no spoilers here. In my opinion, I think my sister would have the best time reading this book. It's like right up her alley, her whole book collection is filled with these types of books. Maybe not from Gordon but they can be. Gordon Korman did such an amazing job making it feel like I was in the book and these major events were happening to me in real life. He also did a great job on making the book really good in detail. It was able to have me visulize all the events that were happening, I felt like I could see in the book. But there were a few times the book got a bit boring and I just wanted to stop reading it all at that moment. This book all together is an amazing book and I feel like anyone would have a fun time reading this book. Gordon Korman overal made an outstanding book and a very fun experience to read. While reading I did find some “What is gonna happen next” moments so if you are the type of person that would like that, Restart is a great choice for you. Restart is also a great book for people to learn that it is possible for people to change.

Korman is a GREAT writer, and I've been using his books with my students for years. However, I have avoided Restart because I, much like the main character of this book, have retrograde amnesia. I have no memories of the first 28 years of my life due to a traumatic brain injury. Teaching a book that so directly parallels my situation - or reading this book with my 9-year-old - worried me a little in case it was inaccurate to the realities of amnesia and TBIs. But Korman did his homework for the most part, and Chase's amnesia stays mostly true to how amnesia is in real life. Chase does have some breakthrough memories, which can happen, and I didn't mind that. Aside from the amnesia, this is an excellent book about a 13-year-old trying to learn how to be a "good" person in a world that has deemed him as anything but, and it speaks clearly to the dangers and consequences of bullying. I love that each chapter has a different point of view, and my 9-year-old hasn't had any issues following along with the story line. With amnesia, you DO restart your life. Korman captures that so well - the confusion, the "why am I looking at someone I'm supposed to know but don't recognize them?" horror, and the "how do I reclaim a past I no longer remember - and may not even want?" feeling. This is excellent in the classroom, at home, and for anyone who wants to know how difficult life is with amnesia - but that it's possible to move on and live a better, more fulfilling life. Five stars, and then some, for not making this a sob story or a soap opera, but an actual, realistic portrayal about teenage life, bullying, friendships, and amnesia.

I read this book with my 5th grade daughter. We both enjoyed how each chapter had the perspective of a different character. It really helped to open up conversations about school, friends, bullying, connection, and what happened with her at school. The book was an easy and fun read for the both of us. We look forward to finding more books by this author in the future.

A little less action than many of Gordon Korman’s other books but has an interesting premise and a was fun read.

14-year-old Chase wakes up in the hospital with no memory of the other people in the room. Chase had fallen from the roof of his home and ended up in a coma for 4 days. The concussion he got from his fall has caused his amnesia, and he doesn't remember anything about who he is. Returning to school and seeing how the other students react to him, he begins to realize that he might not have been a very good person and that his friends might not be good friends or good people either. Now Chase has the chance to start fresh. But, will Chase be able to change, or will he fall back to his old ways? This was such a good book. I really liked the differing POVs, as they allowed for a much fuller view of what's happening than if we only had Chase's POV. The introspection and character growth that most of the characters went through were really nice to see. The fact that not all of the characters changed for the better made the book even better because it's much more realistic. For a middle grades book, this story deals with some tough topics - bullying, friendship, integrity - but does so in a way that is not condescending. To read this book, I listened to the audiobook. Narrated by a full cast, with each major chapter being narrated by a different person - Jonathan Todd Ross, Laura Knight Keating, Ramon de Ocampo, Andy Paris, Suzy Jackson, Graham Halstead, John Kroft - I was surprised at how well it worked. The different narrators made it easy to follow whose POV we were currently in and added more to the story as a result. Even though I also own the ebook, I would choose to listen to the audiobook when I read the book again. Whichever method of consumption you choose, I am confident that you will enjoy this book.

Bought this book for my 10 year old! I started reading the first few chapters with them and it's such a great read. Helping young children build their identities. Also it lets them know it's okay to start over.

This book is really good for my eleven year old daughter

What a very well written book. There were many lessons learned. It definitely kept me glued till the very end.

What a great novel, everything from characters, to plot twists, to redemption. Loved it and I know my 6th graders will too.

無事届きました。 ありがとうございました。

Restart is a delightful book! Well written, with perfect changes on point of view, and an amazing way to show the reads that miracles do happen!

Ameno, fácil de leer y refleja una realidad con posibilidad de cambiarla. Me ha gustado como narra la misma historia a través de personajes muy dispares.

Libro carino molto piaciuto