Restart

by Gordon Korman

Among the most widely assigned — 15 curriculum lists · 14 states

On reading-award lists:Maud Hart Lovelace Book AwardIowa Children's Choice Award (ICCA)William Allen White Children's Book AwardNēnē Award (Hawai'i)+11 more

Restart by Gordon Korman is assigned in US schools at grades 5–8, with a Lexile measure of 730L. It appears across 15 curriculum references and 14 states, sourced from state DOE pages and AP/IB/Common Core syllabi. Every citation below links to the primary source.

This page shows where Restart is assigned in US schools — curricula, states, grades, and the primary-source citations behind each placement. Not a summary or study guide.

Audible trial: new members only. As an Amazon Associate, ReadingList earns from qualifying purchases and membership trials at no extra cost to you.

Lexile
730L
Grade range
Grades 5–8
Difficulty for grade
Below the grade 4–5 band (740–1010L)
Age range
Ages 10–13
Pages
256
Reading time
about 4h 40m (est.)
First published
2017
Genre
Middle Grade Fiction
ISBN-13
9781338246032

Reading difficulty: At 730L, Restart reads below the typical 740–1010L text-complexity range for 5th grade (Common Core Appendix A). It is an accessible read for the grade — often assigned for its themes and discussion value rather than for reading challenge.

Reading below grade level? Kids who struggle with the print version often finish the assigned book by listening — try the audiobook free with a 30-day Audible trial. Affiliate link · trial for new members.

New to these terms? What is a Lexile level? · Reading levels by grade

More formats & details

Other formats on Amazon: Kindle · Audiobook

As an Amazon Associate, ReadingList earns from qualifying purchases and membership trials at no extra cost to you. Pricing, Prime, and trial terms shown on Amazon.

About this book

Chase falls off a roof, loses his memory, and discovers he used to be the school bully — giving him the rare chance to decide who he wants to be now. Told from rotating viewpoints, Gordon Korman's novel about identity, accountability, and second chances is a common grades 5-8 read.

Similar grade-level books

See all books like Restart→ — matched on theme + reading level.

Why widely assigned

This Middle Grade Fiction title, reads at middle-grade prose complexity, typically at grades 5–8. Written in the 2010s; pairs with curriculum units on identity and bullying; cited across 15 curriculum frameworks.

Themes

identity · bullying · memory · redemption

Content notes

bullying

Where this book is assigned

Show 9 more awards & assignments

Was this page helpful?

Common questions

What grade level is Restart?
Restart is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 5–8, with a Lexile measure of 730L. Specific grade placement varies by curriculum — AP Literature and IB English Literature typically use it in grades 11-12.
What is the Lexile level of Restart?
Restart has a Lexile measure of 730L according to MetaMetrics. Lexile measures text complexity, not content maturity — check the grade range and content notes separately for age-appropriateness.
How long does it take to read Restart?
It takes about 4h 40m to read Restart (256 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 280 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.
Is Restart hard to read for 5th grade?
At 730L, Restart reads below the typical 740–1010L text-complexity range for 5th grade (Common Core Appendix A). It is an accessible read for the grade — often assigned for its themes and discussion value rather than for reading challenge. Lexile measures text complexity, not thematic maturity — check the content notes for age-appropriateness separately.
What curricula assign Restart?
Restart appears on reading lists for Buckeye Children's & Teen Book Award, California Young Reader Medal, Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award, and 11 others. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.

Why this book is on this list

How we classify

Each dimension below is sourced from a public reference. The full framework is documented on the classification standard page.

Lexile measure
730L — sourced from MetaMetrics’ Lexile Hub.
Grade band
Grades 5–8 — drawn from state ELA frameworks and AP/IB syllabi citing this book.
Curriculum alignment
Cited in 15 curricula on this site (see “Where assigned” above for primary-source links).
State-level evidence
Cited in 14 states ELA frameworks or DOE list (see citations above).
Removal / banning records
No tracked removal or challenge records in cited sources.
Seasonal / contextual tags
Tagged for: award-winner, book-club.

Keep browsing