Korman, Gordon. Restart.

Korman, Gordon.  Restart.  Scholastic  2017  243p.  $16.99  ISBN 978-1-338-05377-7  ms/jr  Conflict  VG-BN

In this novel a young man named Chase, the biggest bully at school, has a concussion that gives him amnesia and changes his personality as well.  He cannot remember much about his life before the accident that caused the concussion, and has to rely on other people to tell him what was going on in his life back then.  Although the action of the novel seems to drag a bit in the middle chapters, it becomes very engaging toward the end when Chase is faced with making some decisions about his life and who he wants to be. A nice touch is that Korman is making the point that kids can be both athletes and intellectuals, and that being athletes does not have to mean they are bullies. An interesting take on bullying and victimization as well. If readers can get through the slow-paced middle they will be rewarded with some hilarious and exciting action at the end of the story.

Summary: When Chase wakes up from a coma, he discovers he has lost large parts of his memory, including the fact that he was the world’s biggest bully!

Bullying-Fiction, Humor-Fiction                                      --Carol Kennedy

Showoff

Korman, Gordon    Showoff      

Scholastic/Grolier/Childrens Press/Watts  2012 248p   $16.99      978-0-545-32059-7       elm/ms            Realistic fiction

Luthor, Savannah Drysdale’s Doberman, goes berserk at a mall dog show and is accused of ruining the current three-time national champion Electra’s career. Savannah, a pet-lover, is forced to give up her beloved Luthor and place him in the dog pound as the family is sued for seven million dollars for the mall incident.

Her good friends Ben and Griffin, "the Man with the Plan", are determined to help Savannah get her precious pet back and clear his name.  They take Luthor from the pound and begin to "teach him new tricks" so that he will become the new champion.  The "Plan" involves a trip to New York City, a saboteur, and a dog-trainer that has left the business. The two friends are up to their old antics as they carry out the plan.

Gordon Korman has brought back Griffin Bing and his friends that have entertained readers in his previous books Swindle, Zoobreak and Framed.  This time Griffin and Ben, a narcoleptic aided by a work-ferret, amuse readers as they try to tame and show an unruly Doberman.  Laughs abound as they prepare Luthor to be champion.

Typically of author Gordon Korman, the lively presentation and humor will entertain and delight young and reluctant readers, who will find the plot hilarious and believable.  However, anyone with any knowledge of competitive dog shows will find the story absurd as it lacks accuracy as to the protocol, methods, and rules of showing.

G     Virginia McGarvey       Dog stories, Humor