Tag Archives: Bullying

Comprehension Questions – Restart

Restart

by Gordon Korman

Grades 5-9; Genre - Fiction; GRL W; AR pts. 9.0

Chase Ambrose forgets everything after falling off a roof and losing consciousness. He forgets his name & his parents. He forgets what he was doing on that roof. And he forgets he's the biggest bully at Hiawassee Middle School. Book has violence.

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. Describe the introduction to this story. Chase Ambrose wakes up in a hospital not remembering anything about himself, his family or his past; his mom takes him home and he wonders who he is as he looks at the picture of himself and his two friends on his phone p.1
  2. Using the text, what are two clues to help you know what kind of person Chase is? Little kids fear him; his mom makes up an excuse about why the beam is cracked in their house; he’s holding a bat with a pumpkin on the end of it in the picture p.1

Chapter 2

  1. Whose point of view are we reading in this chapter? Describe her relationship with Chase. Shoshanna Weber; twin to Joel whom Chase incessantly bullied; Shosh hates Chase because his actions have hurt her brother physically and emotionally; her parents had to send her brother away to a music school to keep him safe p.13

Chapter 3

  1. Why is the school principal encouraging Chase to see the amnesia as a rare opportunity, a blank canvas? Because Chase previously made decisions that hurt other people in the past, the amnesia presents an opportunity to change and become a better person. He can choose to be kind and a good friend instead of a bully p.27

Chapter 4

  1. Why was this encounter Brendon had with Chase important and telling to who Chase is right now? Brendon saw Chase as a polite, respectful, grateful, and humble person. It was hard to believe, but he had proof captured on his camera p.29

Chapter 5

  1. Chase is in a circumstance where he doesn’t know what to believe or who to trust. Have you ever been in a situation like this? Explain. What did you do about it?
  2. If you were Chase, what would you do? Who would you talk to? Listen to your child’s answer p.43

Chapter 6

  1. Give two reasons why Chase was drawn to Brendon? He feels comfortable around him; Brendon is honest with him; Brendon doesn’t seem to judge Chase or act strange around him p.44

Chapter 7

  1. On page 59, Shoshanna says, “Amnesia can wipe out the details of your past, but it can’t change the kind of person you are.” Do you agree with her? Why, or why not? Listen to your child’s answer

Chapter 8

  1. What did Chase remember during the game? He ripped the head off Helene’s teddy bear p.66
  2. Is this a big deal? Do you think Helene forgot about it? Is this something Chase should take more seriously? Listen to your child’s answer

Chapter 9

  1. Compare Chase’s behavior to Bear and Aaron’s while doing community service. Chase is polite, respectful, taking the initiative to see how he can help and serve the residents of the senior citizen center; his friends are rude, eating the snacks, don’t care about the residents, ignoring them and saying rude things to them p.72

Chapter 10

  1. What significant event happened in this chapter? Chase stood up to Joel and the football team for Brendon with the consequences being making his old friends his enemies p.82

Chapter 11

  1. What did you find out in this chapter about Aaron and his relationship with Chase? He’s upset that Chase isn’t acting like his old self; Chase has something valuable that must have been stolen or retrieved illegally, but he doesn’t know he has it and Aaron doesn’t want to bring it up since Chase could turn them in to the police; Aaron feels betrayed that Chase is hanging out with the video club p.87

Chapter 12

  1. How is Chase’s relationship with Mr. Solway helping them both? Chase can open up and talk to him; Mr.Solway is honest and says things that may be hard to hear, but that are important; Mr. Solway has a friend and visitor in Chase where he can share his past; they are good friends to each other p.95

Chapter 13

  1. What do you think will soften Shoshanna and help her realize Chase isn’t pretending? Listen to your child’s answer p.107

Chapter 14

  1. Do you agree with Chase’s conclusion… that Bear and Aaron might have stolen the medal? Why or why not? Listen to your child’s answer p.120

Chapter 15

  1. Describe why Brendon likes Kimberly more at the end of the chapter than at the beginning. Her reaction to Brendon’s stunt is endearing p.127

Chapter 16

  1. What hard conversation did Shoshanna have with her parents? That Chase has changed and that he is her friend; Joel can come home since Chase has changed p.134

Chapter 17

  1. Summarize this chapter. Joel comes home and attends his old school; he’s surprised that Chase doesn’t recognize him; in video club Chase apologizes to him; he realizes Chase has changed, but he still hates him p.137
  2. Chase has apologized to Joel. Is it ok that Joel still harbors hard feelings towards him? Why or why not? Listen to your child’s answer

Chapter 18

  1. Explain why Chase got emotional at the end of the chapter. Shoshanna invited him into her house for the first time; her mom and brother paused for a moment but went back to what they were doing. They didn’t kick him out of their home. They are beginning to accept him p.154

Chapter 19

  1. Bear acts like he and Aaron are being picked on for doing community service. Do you agree that Bear and Aaron are victims in this story? Why or why not? Listen to your child’s answer p.157

Chapter 20

  1. Do you think that Chase was part of the stunt in the music room? Why or why not? Listen to your child’s answer p.165

Chapter 21

  1. What does Chase want? To be a part of the video club; to not be his old self p.178
  2. Is it too late? What can Chase do to stop being pulled into his old life? Tell the truth

Chapter 22

  1. Is it evidence or just assumption that makes Brendon think that Chase is not in on the prank? Assumption p.180
  2. Give two examples of why Brendon might feel that way. He stood up for him to the football players before; his overall behavior is inconsistent with the old Chase until that incident
  3. Why is everyone cheering Joel on page 183? He is standing up for himself and showing courage

Chapter 23

  1. Why did “hot tears of shame” stream down Chase’s face in this chapter? He realized he is the one who stole the Medal of Honor from Mr. Solway and he’s ashamed of himself; he’s upset he at himself for stealing the medal and at Bear and Aaron because they won’t let him return it to Mr. Solway p.189

Chapter 24

  1. What convinced Brendon that his assumption about Chase was right? He watched the footage from the camera and saw Chase’s reactions and behavior p.196

Chapter 25

  1. How did the little girl in the painting help Chase in this chapter? She was the only thing he remembered from before his accident; she helped him find the Medal of Honor and helped him remember how and why he fell from the roof p.201
  2. Do you agree with Chase that he needed to visit Mr. Solway and not meet his friends? Why or why not? Listen to your child’s answer p.206

Chapter 26

  1. Using the text for evidence, find and read the paragraph out loud that shows that Shoshanna understands that Chase is innocent. “Shosh’s cheeks are bright read as she digests the truth. My sister…” p.213

Chapter 27

  1. Summarize how Chase got past Bear and Aaron. He dropped the Medal of Honor and let the vacuum suck it up, then he ran at the two boys and bowled them over with the vacuum and ran past them p.217

Chapter 28

  1. How did the video club prove to Chase they were his friends? They stood up for him and helped him when Bear and Aaron attacked him p.221
  2. Choose a word to describe Chase’s behavior in this chapter. Explain. Listen to your child’s answer; Example: Courageous-for being honest even when there would be strong consequences p.223

Chapter 29

  1. On page 235, Chase states, “And in that instance, I understand that being true to myself is more important than fooling the judge with the power to send me to juvie.” What does this mean? Living in a way that aligns with your own personal core beliefs instead of conforming to please others.
  2. Have you ever experienced this? Explain. How did it make you feel? Listen to your child’s answer

Chapter 30

  1. What is a theme found throughout this book? Example: Friendship & Forgiveness; redemption and personal growth
  2. What did you like about this story? Listen to your child’s answer