What Are The Key Conflicts In 'Restart' And How Are They Resolved?

The key conflicts in 'Restart' revolve around Chase Ambrose's struggle with identity after a traumatic brain injury wipes his memory. The main external conflict pits him against his former bully persona - he discovers he was the school's most feared jerk, but now can't reconcile that with his blank slate personality. His internal conflict stems from not recognizing the person everyone describes, creating tension as he tries to rebuild relationships from scratch. The resolution comes through his gradual self-discovery and conscious choice to be better. By joining the video club and helping the kids he once tormented, Chase creates a new path that rejects his old ways. The football team conflict resolves when he quits, realizing sports fueled his aggression. The most touching resolution comes with his former victim Joel - their shared love of film editing becomes the bridge to forgiveness.

In 'Restart', the conflicts operate on three compelling levels that make this middle-grade novel surprisingly deep. The primary battle is Chase's psychological warfare with himself - waking up with no memory means he's literally confronting a stranger in the mirror every morning. The author brilliantly shows how terrifying it is to take others' word about who you were, especially when that person was a monster.

The school social hierarchy forms the secondary conflict. Chase's old friend Bear keeps trying to drag him back into bullying, creating intense peer pressure scenes. The turning point comes when Chase protects video club member Shoshanna from Bear's harassment, publicly breaking ranks with his former crew. This scene's resolution carries weight because it shows change requires bold action, not just good intentions.

Family dynamics add another layer. Chase's football-coach father struggles to accept his son's new gentle nature, leading to heartbreaking scenes where parental expectations clash with personal growth. Their reconciliation feels earned when the dad finally attends a video club screening instead of a game. Korman wraps these conflicts neatly by showing personal change isn't linear - Chase still slips up, but his conscious efforts prove anyone can 'restart' if they choose to.

What makes 'Restart' special is how it frames conflicts through the lens of second chances. Chase's amnesia becomes a metaphor for redemption - the ultimate clean slate. His biggest adversary isn't other characters, but the ghost of his former self. The resolution cleverly avoids fairytale fixes; some classmates never fully trust him, and that realism makes the story resonate.

The video club becomes Chase's sanctuary, symbolizing his new identity. When he helps edit Joel's film project about bullying, it's not just plot resolution - it's visual proof of transformation. The old Chase would have destroyed the footage; the new one helps polish it into something beautiful. Korman doesn't take easy outs - Chase's football skills briefly tempt him back to arrogance, showing change requires constant vigilance.

Small resolutions accumulate into powerful change. Shoshanna's gradual acceptance mirrors the reader's journey - we start suspicious of Chase, just like her, but end up rooting for him. The book's genius lies in making us experience the same doubts and hopes as the characters. By the finale, Chase hasn't magically fixed everything, but he's planted seeds for a better future.