Cover Image: Operation Do-Over

Operation Do-Over

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Member Reviews

I really liked this book! The plot was sweet and I liked the way we got to see the "do-over" that happened. It's a great book.

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If you ever wondered, if you went back in time what would you do differently, then this is the book for you. Mason and Ty are best friends until Ava enters the picture. They both have a crush on her and she eventually tears their friendship apart. But when Mason is in an accident and is knocked back to the year that Ava entered their lives, would Mason try to change the outcome to save his friendship or is history doomed to repeat itself?

A great book about navigating relationships, rethinking choices, and filled with humor!

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I have always enjoyed reading Gordan Korman's books and Operation Do-Over is no exception. This book combined humor with life lessons and some nerdiness. Mason and Ty have been best friends forever and are "two nerdy sides of the same coin" until a girl comes between them in seventh grade. When Mason is seventeen, he time travels back to seventh grade is determined not repeat the same mistake. This book alternates chapters as between Mason as a seventh grader and Mason as a seventeen-year-old.

At the beginning of the book, so many life events happen to Mason: he loses Ty as a friend, he gets expelled from school as a 7th grader, he gets the girl, and we find out his parents divorce and his beloved dog is killed between 7th grade and seventeen. Mason works so hard after he time travels back to seventh grade to change these events. You are chomping at the bit to find out how his life plays out. Because as we have seen in the movies, there are always ripple effects and Mason will find out, you can't always change fate.

Thanks to Net Galley for this ARC!

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I loved this story about evolving friendships and how to come back from the mistakes we all make with those we love. With a 'Back to the Future' esque plot, Mason and Ty are the best of friends - the kind that complete each other's nerdy thoughts and sentences - until Ava shows up in 7th grade. The biggest problem is that she's great. She loves science as much as they do, is nice, interesting, and pretty. She's so great that they make a pact to not "like" like her. But...when Mason violates that pact, their friendship is ruined forever. When 17-year-old, high school senior Mason is given a chance to go back in time and make a different choice, he does. But, will it change the future? Read to find out. A very compelling read with excellent, relatable characters that are typical of the beloved author Gordon Korman. Highly recommend this book for fans of stories that tackle real kid issues with a touch of sci-fi.

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Operation Do-Over will keep readers turning the pages because they will be so invested in finding out what the results of Mason’s do-over will be! Who hasn’t wanted to find out if things would have gone differently if you had just chosen a over b or did this instead of that? This book allows readers to explore that particular curiosity a bit. The plot is intriguing and makes you wonder. The concepts will encourage conversations about the hypothetical, what’s possible, and the consequences. The ending will warrant discussion. Because it is a book with the potential to spark lots of conversations, it would work well for a book club or lit circle. Like Korman has done time and time again, the characters are written in such a way that they are so interesting and they pull you into their world. I’ll definitely be adding it to our collection. I predict our copies will be just as work out and well-loved from high circulation as some of Korman’s other titles that fly off our shelves like Restart, Masterminds, and Slacker.

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Gordon Korman writes expertly again with a tale that draws the reader in to the “what if.” What would you do if you got a “do-over?” Readers of Restart will enjoy this different story of getting another chance of making life right.
Mason and Ty are best friends until, you guessed it, a girl enters the picture. So starts the decline of their relationship. Fast forward five years and Ty and Mason are still on the outs and the girl that caused the rift tries to stay friends with both of them. It’s obvious that that won’t happen and when they both choose the same type of science fair project, disaster happens with devastating consequences for Mason.
This sets up the “do-over” for Mason. Can decisions his new 12 year old self makes salvage his relationship with Ty so they can remain best friends? It’s hard to put down this book once you start reading—you want to find out how it all turns out!

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Lately I’ve been binging all of Korman’s books and LOVING them. They are all different and unique, yet teach young readers lessons about their own lives. This book was no different. Mason and Ty struggle with day to day middle&high school lives, but with a time traveling twist.

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Full review on goodreads. Fun, quick read perfect for middle grade. Likable characters (if a bit immature, even in their 17 year old years), cute storyline. Defiantly has some Restart vibes, so kids like mine who liked that title should like this one,

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Korman is one of the most "in demand" in my Media Center. This latest addition to his collection has all the trademarks of success. The story of Mason and Ty, friends from toddler exercise classes, is one that his fans will relate to once again.
Time travel fascinates elementary school readers and his incorporation of this theme into the book is right on. When Mason experiences time travel. he is confronted by issues that will make young readers ponder. The idea that, perhaps, life can be altered is so thought-provoking. Bullying, friendship, and romance, are examined and described so well that it is hard to put the book down. Korman is masterful at pacing and the story gains momentum until the end. Great read!

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Mason and Ty have had a special connection since their Gymboree days--the lasting, loyal, deeply connected kind of friendship most of us dream of having. Everything changes in the 7th grade when a new girl, the most awesome girl ever, moves to town and both boys are enamored. Five years later, their friendship in tatters, the consequences of that long-ago falling out spiral to destroy Mason's life. When he suffers an accident and finds himself back in the 7th grade, can he avoid making the same mistakes?

As with every Gordon Korman book, this is funny, brisk, and compellingly readable. I've never read anything of his that wasn't absolutely absorbing and this is no exception. This is such an interesting meditation on friendship, fate, confidence, and how much control we really do (and should) have over our worlds. While the basic premise is familiar, the execution is unique--there were several beats and turns I had not anticipated. In the end, the reader is left with much to ponder, which is the mark of a great book!

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review!

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Mason and Ty were destined to be best friends. From a very young age, they shared many interests and character traits. They were constantly together, and their families supported them; Mason's keeping nut free snacks for Ty and Ty's stocking the kind of chips that didn't irritate Mason. When "the most awesome girl who ever lived" moves to town, both boys are smitten. Their nerdy hearts thrill to her love of science and time travel, and she's just a nice person. Even though the sporty bullies Dominic and Miggy try to claim her, she decides to hang out with the friends, as well as Clarissa. Mason and Ty realize that they both are interesteed in Ava, so they form a treaty, just like the Klingons and Romulans. Neither will pursue her. Unfortunately, this doesn't work very well, since Ava really likes Mason. He tries to avoid her, but when the two end up at the Harvest Festival together during a horrible pop up storm, they are caught kissing on camera. Ty sees the photo and that's the end of the friendship. Fast forward five years: Mason is a senior, and a lot has happened in his life. His parents have divorced, his beloved dog Rufus was killed while chasing a Roto-Rooter truck, and he and Ty are not friends. After a fracas at school that ended in his favorite teacher being injured, Mason is expelled, and soon after is in a car accident.

When he wakes up, he's 12 again, and at a school sleepover to watch a meteor shower. He is confused, but retains his memories of the intervening years. He knows, for example, that Mason and Ty were the ones who snuck into the sleepover and poured hydrogen peroxide on some students. Once he realizes he's stuck in the past, he tries to fix things. He starts cleaning up after his father, training Rufus to ignore trucks, and steers clear of Ava as much as he can. He even stands up to Dominic, flattening him with a tackle when he snatches Ty's back pack, and tries out for the football team in order to change his destiny. It works for a while, but Ty becomes irritated at how mean Mason is to Ava. After meeting Madame Zeynab, a local fortune teller, while out with the football team, Mason tries to find her again to eleaborate on why she thinks he has "two futures". The one event he tries desperately to avoid is the Harvest Fair, but he doesn't manage. The events unfold too closely to the way they did the first time, despite all of his efforts. Will he be able to salvage his relationship with Ty the second time around?

This novel struck a chord in me, and is probably my favorite Korman title so far. If I could go back to 8th grade and get a second chance, I would change just about everything about my entire life. I identified very strongly with Clarissa, who is another smart girl, but one whom the boys don't like. Her conversation with Mason in his second twirl through being 12 was heartbreaking, but I loved how Mason encouraged her to try out for the track team, and how her adversarial relationship with Ty shook out. I also found it endearing and very realistic that Mason not only tried out for the football team in his second chance, but stayed on it into high school, despite his childhood clutziness. Middle schoolers often explore different identities, but also often feel that they can't make any changes, so this was just interesting to see. Ava was a fantastic characters who was smart, funny, and extremely kind. It was hard to watch Mason be mean to her, even though his motives were clear.

There aren't as many books about boys' friendships as there should be, and it was heartwarming to see Ty and Mason's relationship. Bonding over shared interests, they supported each other in school, and created their own safe space, away from the Dominics and Miggys of the world. I loved seeing them in high school after Mason's trip to the past, but I don't want to ruin the ending!

Korman always crafts intriguing, original stories with moments of humor and more realistic middle grade concerns. Seeing Mason use his older perspective to try to deal with his friendship with Ty, parents' relationship problems and the loss of his beloved pet was fascinating, and addresses concerns that many children have. Hand this to avid fans of this author's work, and to readers who enjoy Jordan Sonnenblick, Paul Acampora, and Dan Richards.

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I’m a huge fan of Gordon Korman and Operation Do Over did not disappoint. Many equate this title to previous novel Restart but I didn't read that so this subject was brand new for me.

The thoughtful premise of this novel is the time travel narrative that examines the long-term impact of one’s actions.

Mason Rolle has shared a “two-brain hive mind” with Tyrus Ehrlich since elementary school. They share the same sports phobia and a deep love of science and time travel.

Big changes occur when new girl Ava Petrakis arrives from New York City and both boys develop crushes. The guys make a pact to a “non-Ava treaty” to maintain their friendship. But a terrible falling-out happens between them when Mason and Ava are caught in a photograph that ends up on the 7th grade chat.

Narration alternates between Mason at ages 12 and 17, until an incident sends 17-year-old Mason back to his 12-year-old body and life. Given this opportunity for a do-over, he seeks to right wrongs as well as try new things that maybe could alter the bad things that happened during his middle school years.

I found the story engaging from start to finish. It is filled with warmth and middle grade humor. All my questions didn’t get answered but hey that’s ok since the book was so good. I kind of feel that Korman left it open for a part two book in the lives of these friends. Ages 8–12

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Here is another fantastic book my a beloved author!
First, thank you NetGalley for providing me with this galley. Thank you Gordon Korman for writing this.

Without giving spoilers, I would recommend this to all middle schoolers and anyone who loves Korman's books, especially Restart. I like that there is the play between is this really a sci-fi book, or realistic? Similar to Restart, the main character gets an opportunity for a do-over of past events. While in Restart, the opportunity is in "current-time", this time the main character is somehow transported back to his 12-year-old. What would you do if you could redo the biggest mistake of your life five years ago? CAN you stop it, or is it fated to happen?

My favorite quote from the book is "Good things happen when you get out of your comfort zone and try stuff." I feel like this is a great nugget that explains one of the themes in the book. Of course, there are several other relatable themes of friendship, bullies, and more.

I hope to see this nominated for more awards as it is released!

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I was able to listen to this audiobook as an ARC from NetGalley. Mason is a seventeen year old who has had a falling out with his best friend, Ty, over a girl. One day he wakes up after a car wreck and is 12 again. He has a chance to make things right with his best friend, but will his pull to the girl still be an obstacle? This delightful book is a fun read with great messages about friendship and fitting in. I would strongly recommend this for any middle or high school.

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[this review has been slightly edited from the original to remove content formatting that may not work properly on this site]

I've never read Gordon Korman before. The kids I work with have all read at least one of his books and he's a fairly popular author, so I figured I'd give his new one a shot. I was not disappointed!

Time travel is not a theme I jive with usually, but I decided to play along and see how this did its thing. It was a bit trippy at the beginning -I felt tugged in 2 different directions as Mason's life ticked down to both the Incident and Accident at the same time. I get it, but I don't know if all those chapters were completely necessary to lead into him careening back in time for the foreseeable future (haha the worst pun). Once in the past, we 'watch' Mason go through with his painstaking -sometimes literally- Stay Away From Ava Plan. You'll have to read to experience his frustrations and triumphs.

Getting into theme: Needless to say, Mason does things quite differently. Some might say that him finding a new confidence in himself via sports is a push to get geeky/nerdy kids to "get out of their comfort zone", "get a backbone" and move up the social ladder; but I disagree. As far as the story is concerned, it was an escape tactic that he decided to make the most of and started to enjoy. Would I want a geeky/nerdy kid to choose sports for this line of reasoning? I'd question their sanity. However, I do think that all kids need a taste of sports (not PE) for experience points. Mason found a confidence in himself that he didn't know he had the first time around thanks to football. Personally: I played soccer from age 6, had no social confidence or friends, but I was a decent enough player that gave me a love for it and a confidence in myself that was lacking everywhere else. Mason and Clarisse found the sports kids weren't that bad, they were stronger than they thought, their friends supported them, and team camaraderie a fun experience -I think a lot of geeky/nerdy kids would, too:)

The ending was... It wasn't bad, but it wasn't exactly the best. I would've preferred a different time-warp outcome. I'd explain further, but that means telling you how it ends.

You're probably like, "she sounds like she was disappointed". I actually really enjoyed the writing style, storytelling voice, characters, and humor. I think kids will really enjoy this crazy -literal- ride down memory lane, complete with detours lol. This has been ordered for my collection.

*Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for this eARC. All opinions expressed are my own.*

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Students will love the antics throughout the story! Also, the time travel to another time when friends were close, sweating the small things may change and perhaps the future can be changed.

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After the acclaimed book, "Restart," where the protagonist's amnesia allows him to reevaluate and rectify past mistakes, Gordon Korman dips into science fiction (well, a science fiction trope by way of an unexplained magical occurrence) where his protagonist, Mason, gets to reevaluate and rectify his past mistakes...by actually time traveling into the past.

Five years ago, an unspoken love triangle became a wedge that separated Mason and his best friend since preK, Ty, to which they never recovered. So when Mason's life spirals out of orbit and he lands back into his twelve year old body, he has the chance to make a second run at fixing his biggest regrets.

I compared this to "Restart" as a compliment. While loving his more antic filled stories, the standouts manage to balance a deeper dive into his character's flaws along with comedic digressions. For example, the cover's shaggy dog plays a significant role in Mason's journey and is both touching and hilarious. There is also a great subplot on how some things can't be fixed even with hindsight and that isn't a bad thing. I would say the side plots were actually stronger than the main one, as Mason's seventeen year old mindset strains to connect with the past version of Ty. I also want to point out that the writing is very sensitive and sidesteps time traveler Mason having a crush on the girl he was besotted with at twelve., because that kind of complicated relationship would completely overshadow what is otherwise a light story of self-discovery.

The part that Mason has the option to either relive his life as Path A and diverges so totally into Path B could be very refreshing but also a case of surprised expectations. In terms of finding the right audience I would point out the focus on romance, even if it's mostly through strenuous attempts to avoid it, may not make it an instant read from younger kids who prefer their middle grade strictly platonic. And, despite the main characters all being deeply invested science nerds, a lot of Mason's second attempt at improving his life focuses on sports instead of astronomy, so there are some great scientific observations sprinkled throughout the book but it is not a STEM heavy title.

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Gordon Korman has done it again! In a first person narrative and his masterful middle grade voice, the story of friendship and infinite possibilities unfolds.

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Five years after Mason and Ty ruin their friendshipOver a girl, Mason is transported back in time and has the chance for a do-over. This book is another great middle grade read by Gordon Korman. They are always so engaging, with relatable characters and a good pacing. It's sure to fly off the shelves like the rest of them. Thank you to NetGalley for a free eARC of the book in exchange for my honest opinion.

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Similar to Restart, a young man is given an opportunity to go back and right a wrong he caused. This time, he travels back in time and attempts to fix it himself. Who wouldn’t love to return to middle school and try a few things again? The reason for the time travel is never explained (this is a middle school book, after all) but it really isn’t needed; as a reader, for this story, I’m willing to engage in suspension of disbelief. The back and forth between the younger Mason and the older and wiser Mason is well done, and the plot is clever. With the typical middle school bully throwing a wrench into the works, and the pretty, smart new girl creating the conflict, this is bound to be a staple of school libraries.

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