Operation Do-Over (Paperback)
Staff Reviews
I loved this middle-grade story about a second chance to save a friendship that crashed and burned during middle school. Mason and Ty are seniors in high school when the story starts. They don’t speak to each other - EVER! The reason? Her name is Ava. She’s smart, independent, and funny, and back in seventh grade, she chose slightly nerdy science geeks Mason and Ty to be her best friends. After a couple of serious crushes split the group up everyone went their own way, and Mason never really got over his lost friendships. When a twist of fate gives Mason a chance to live seventh grade over again, with all the memories of his seventeen-year-old self, he’s determined to stay out of Ava’s way. Gordon Korman has a wonderful knack for telling an emotionally wrenching story in a way that makes us laugh ourselves silly. He weaves the time travel aspect into the book by making it the subject of a science project that ties everything together - but can we change the future by redoing the past? That’s what keeps the pages turning. Middle grade fans should move this delightful book to the top of their 2022 reading list.
— Jenny ChouDescription
From the New York Times bestselling author of The Unteachables, Gordon Korman, comes a hilarious new high-concept friendship story in the vein of Back to the Future. Perfect for fans of Korman’s Restart.
Mason and Ty were once the very best of friends, like two nerdy sides of the same coin . . . until seventh grade, when Ava Petrakis came along. Now Mason can trace everything bad in his life to that terrible fight they had over the new girl. The one thing he’d give anything for is a do-over. But that can’t happen in real life—can it?
As a science kid, Mason knows do-overs are impossible, so he can’t believe it when he wakes up from a freak accident and finds himself magically transported back to seventh grade. His parents aren’t yet divorced and his beloved sheepdog is still alive. Best of all, he and Ty haven’t had their falling-out yet.
It makes no logical sense, but Mason is determined to use this second chance to not only save his friendship (and his dog!) but do other things differently—like trying out for the football team and giving new friends a chance. There’s just one person he’ll be avoiding at all costs: Ava. But despite his best efforts, will he be able to stop the chain of events that made his previous life implode?
About the Author
Gordon Korman published his first book at age fourteen and since then has written more than ninety middle grade and teen novels. Favorites include the New York Times bestselling Ungifted, Supergifted, The Unteachables, Pop, Schooled, and the Masterminds series. Gordon lives with his family on Long Island, New York. You can visit him online at www.gordonkorman.com.
Praise For…
“Korman brings smart plotting to an absorbing time travel narrative that examines the long-term impact of actions….Given [the] opportunity for a do-over, [Mason] seeks to right wrongs as well as try new things, leading to a climax in which both he and readers see what, if anything, has changed. Full of warmth and middle-grade humor." — Publishers Weekly
“Watching Mason learn from mistakes and explore new aspects of himself (especially with a 17-year-old consciousness trapped in a preteen body) is vicariously satisfying, and the sheer fascination of his predicament will keep readers turning pages, anxious to find out if he succeeds.” — Kirkus Reviews
"Korman’s signature blend of comedy, drama, and middle grade angst will leave readers with a warm fuzzy feeling.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
“Just plain fun from start to finish, this story will appeal to Korman’s many fans and others who enjoy humorous fiction.” — School Library Journal
“A rewarding time-slip story.” — Booklist
“Korman brings his usual humor and heart to this well-plotted mystery… that sensitively explores themes of friendship and family.” — Publishers Weekly
