Restart by Gordon Korman

Chase Ambrose is the star football player in the eighth grade. He’s also the biggest bully. That’s until he falls off his roof and gets amnesia. He doesn’t remember any of what he’s done, and as he’s beginning to understand the person he was, he doesn’t like any of it. Can amnesia give you a new personality? Is this Chase’s chance to start over? Is he really a different person?

Reading Level: 10-12
Read Aloud Age: 10+

This middle-grade title is a page turning, humor laden read that leaves kids asking the question, can people be totally transformed? This is a completely secular novel, but I do think it’s a powerful story of redemption. The transformation doesn’t happen because of Christ, but this book could be a fantastic springboard for conversations about forgiveness, redemption, justice, and more.

That being said, there is a fair amount of language of which to be aware. This might not be a book you want to hand to your younger child to read independently, but a teen would likely be able to handle it alone. This would probably be best as a read aloud so you can edit on the fly and discuss the big topics after reading. Clearly, the author isn’t viewing these things through a Biblical worldview, so discussion will need to be had. Overall, while there are definitely some things you’ll want to know about, this could be a very impactful read for the right family/child.

Language:
The following words are used frequently: wimp, loser, stupid, idiot, jerk, dumb, moron, shut up, nerd, punk, hate, goon
There is one instance of “Oh my God,” and one of “God, no.”
There are many examples of kids expressing their hatred of Chase, calling him “Alpha Rat,” saying he’s the worst person in the world, a few times saying darker things like they are “sorry he’s still alive,” and he should be “fed to a woodchipper.”
The bully characters refer to the not popular kids as “nobodies,” and to elderly residents as “mummies,” “Dumbledore/Dumbledora,” “crotchey,” and “old bat.”
A boy “ripped one” in an elderly resident’s room.

Questionable Behaviors:
Bullying is a large part of the storyline. It’s never condoned, quite the contrary, but there are many examples including putting dog poop in a locker, dumping ice cream on someone’s head, ripping a head off a teddy bear, spraying kids with a fire extinguisher, and more.
Students take money from an old lady with dementia. (It is made right.)
There are a few instances of lying, although they are never condoned- if fact they are all made right eventually.
Chase’s dad often models poor behavior and speech. (He later says he wishes he would have hit his head as a teenager if it would have made him different like Chase.)
One boy will do anything for a viral video, so he tries a couple of stunts like driving through the car wash on a tricycle and covering himself in maple syrup and rollerblading into a pile of leaves.

Sexual Content:
There are a few crushes that turn into dating, with one boy proclaiming “love at first sight.” This is very minor and not much time is spent on it.

Other Things to Know:
The parents of Joel (the student who was bullied) say that Chase can never be forgiven. (They do not stick to this as the book progresses.)
Joel says that a perk of living with your family is getting to argue with them.
A neighbor is practicing yoga.
There is a time or when being a “good person” is referenced and if Chase could be one.
Once the tables have turned for good at the end of the book, it is said about the bullies, “Who cares about them?”

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