Summary
Chase, Aaron and Bear rule the school. Championship football players. Bullies. And Chase is the leader of the pack.
But Chase fell off his roof and hit his head. After being in a coma for several days, Chase is awake but he has no memory of who he is. He doesn’t even recognize his own mother.
Brendan, Shosh’anna, Joel and other kids know exactly who Chase is. He’s a tormentor. He’s arrogant. He feels entitled to do whatever he wants. He doesn’t even care that Joel had to go away to boarding school because of the bullying. He’s resentful about having community service because of the stunt he pulled on Joel.
At least, that’s the OLD Chase. The new Chase is different. He befriends Brendan. He joins the video club. Chase goes to the nursing home to help even though he’s been excused from community service. He connects with the grumpiest guy there. New Chase seems great – but can he be trusted?
Review
Wow, this is a great story!! At its core is the question of where character comes from. And that’s not really answered, but this book will make you think about it.
I love the characters. The reactions to new Chase are mistrustful and hesitant. And they should be! And Chase questions his own transformation. He wonders if the old Chase is still inside him somewhere. There are no easy, quick solutions which is something else that makes this awesome.
I love that every person in orbit around Chase has to examine his/her perception of him. Some want the old Chase back. Some want to run the old Chase through a wood chipper! The journey to see how it all works out was terrific!
A great book on bullying to read at home or at school. Joel’s description in the story of being bullied is worth discussing at length with kids. So well done!