Chase Ambrose is a star in his town.
After all, he’s the best football player that’s lived there since his father
was in high school. Everyone knows Chase; some love him and admire his skills,
some fear him and hate his guts. He has buddies that would do anything for him.
So when Chase wakes up with no memory of who he is or what his life has been
like, it’s a shocker. He also can’t play football because of the traumatic
brain injury he sustained- at least for now. Chase has to navigate school where everyone is new, and he doesn’t know who they are or what their
relationship was like in the past. But he soon finds out after ice cream gets
dumped on his head and kids scatter whenever he walks by. Chase is concerned
about who he used to be. The friends he's making are not in the same crowd he ran with before. His best friends on
the football team still want him to be the same old Chase, but is he? If only
he could remember what caused the accident? And what did he do to get in so
much trouble that he has hours of community service? All Chase knows is
that he has to be who he feels he is now—no matter who's happy about it and
who resents it. Will he ever get his memory back? Is the new Chase really “Chase”?
You’ll have to read this book to find out.
Restart
by Gordon Korman is a book you don’t
want to miss. It’s told from multiple characters’ points of view, but
predominately Chase’s. When I heard Gordon Korman talk about it at The CT
Children’s Book Festival, I knew I had to pick up the book. And I was not
disappointed. It was fascinating to follow along with a character who doesn’t
remember who they were, and to see what other characters thought about them then
and now. It really makes you wonder if people can change and shows how
things can shift in the blink of an eye. I would recommend this book
to kids in fourth grade and up. It’s realistic fiction and spotlights bullying,
friendship, and change. I’ve read a lot of books by Gordon Korman, and I look
forward to reading many more!
Has anyone else read Restart? Or have you read a book by
Gordon Korman? We’d love to hear your thoughts!
Happy reading!
~L