What would you do differently if given a second chance at life? This is the premise of Restart, though less on ruinous life choices and more on interrelationships between middle school students. Our protagonist is offered this chance by the universe after a tragic accident leaves him with acute retrograde amnesia. In this case, Chase now has a blank slate to right his wrongs however the damage is already done, and has to constantly prove himself. Through acts of service to his former victims, he attempts to redeem himself even though he only has an idea of the extent of his former behaviors. With every instance, Chase understands the gravity of his cruelty on others by assessing the impact or the hatred he receives.
The story veers from the main motif of bullying and second chances into questions about identity and loyalty. Towards the path of becoming a better person his affiliation with the former jock friends withers as he develops new friendships. In the video club, he proves himself to be reliable but his actions are taken with a pinch of salt particularly by Shoshanna. She knows the full extent of Chase’s malice since her brother Joel was a victim of his antics to the point of changing schools. As such, the story shifts its point of view from character to character to offer a full glimpse of the dynamics of bullying. The novel taps into the mindset of middle schoolers who belong in either social group to give a full scope of their experience.
Though Chase is portrayed as a former oppressor trying to amend his past ways, he is also a victim of an overbearing parent. Not only does he have his fair share of pressure from the football team but also from his father who demands perfection. As he embraces his new self, Chase has to deal with even more tough dilemmas involving his past friends and mistakes. He is on a quest to uncover and comprehend his past which is juxtaposed with Mr. Solway’s experiences in the war. Their interactions reach a climactic point when Chase discovers a final truth about himself and the event that led to his accident.
