Dare County Library Book Club Information and Resource Center

Restart by Gordon Korman

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.

1. If you could completely restart your life without any knowledge of your past, how do you think you would be different?
2. What does Chase's amnesia reveal about the connection between memory and identity?
3. Does Chase truly become a different person, or is he simply rediscovering his true self after the accident? 
4. What causes people to bully others, and what lessons about bullying can be found in Restart?
5. Does Chase's apology to Joel make a difference, and is it enough to address his past actions
6. What does it take for someone to act bravely or courageously in the context of the book, and who are the most courageous characters?
7. How do different characters' opinions of Chase change after his accident, and why do you think they view him differently?
8. Why does Shoshanna initially want nothing to do with Chase, and what eventually changes her mind about him?
9. How does the interaction between Chase and Mr. Solway highlight the importance of empathy and second chances? 
10. Why do you think Gordon Korman chose to tell the story from multiple perspectives, and what does that choice add to the novel?
11. What is the overall purpose of punishment in the story, and how is it depicted in Chase's life?