Restart
Written by Gordon Korman

Publisher’s Summary:
Chase does not remember falling off the roof, in fact he does not remember anything about himself, and when he gets back to middle school he begins to learn who he was through the reactions of the other kids–trouble is, he really is not sure he likes the Chase that is being revealed, but can he take the opportunity amnesia has provided and restart his life?

Primary Source Pairing:
Chase doesn’t remember a lot about his life before the fall, but when he is volunteering at the Portland Street Assisted Living Residence and notices a black and white photograph of resident Mr. Solway and President Truman, he remembers enough to realize that receiving the Medal of Honor is a really big deal. Not only does the relationship with Mr. Solway create a new version of Chase as he is rebuilding himself, but it also helps him remember some of his past, even if it is undesirable and incredibly disappointing. For this primary source pairing, invite students to study a photograph of the Medal of Honor. Encourage students to learn more about this special distinction and discuss the role of the Medal of Honor in Chase’s recovery in the book Restart.

Questions for Discussion:

• Describe what you see.
• What do you notice first?
• How much of the text can you read? What does it say?
• What do you see that looks strange or unfamiliar?
• How are the words arranged?
• Find something small but interesting.
• Why is the Medal of Honor an important part of Chase’s recovery in the book Restart?

Credits:
Book Cover and Summary: Follett
Medal Of Honor photograph: Wikimedia Commons