Gordon Korman has another crowd pleaser with his book, Operation Do-Over! Thanks toNetGalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

This story about friendships and relationships and the complicated nature of them all rings true for anyone who’s lived through middle school. The protagonists are interested in time travel and the idea that we have agency to change our own destiny is at the heart of this story. Most of the characters are portrayed as complex and nuanced (appreciating sports and science, redeeming their bad behavior with friendship, fitting in with a variety of cliques). There were a few characters who were more one-dimensional and I would have liked to see them more fleshed out but for a middle grades book, this was fun well-written and adventurous. I highly recommend!

#99 in the ever-lengthening list of Gordon Korman titles is another middle grade winner! Mason and Ty, best friends forever, have an intense and forever blow up over the new girl. The 12 year olds move on, separately, into year 17 when a horrific car accident hurled Mason back in time to before the girl in question moves to town. The best friends are back on track and Mason is determined to keep it that way. Terrific pacing in this time travel-school drama-do over and the characters will feel authentic to readers in grades 4-8. There are the science nerds, the jocks, a bully, the popular crowd, an annoying sibling and a beloved dog. For those who might read the title and the publisher summary and worry that this book might be a rehash of Korman’s Restart, don’t. There are really no significant similarities, just solid fun and some time travel paradoxes thrown in for good measure. Bring on #100, Mr. Korman! I can’t wait to see what else you can give me and my library kiddos!

Mason and Ty are the very best of friends- until Ava moves to town. Suddenly, they realize that agreeing on everything includes crushing on the same girl! When one of the breaks their No-Ava pact, their friendship is doomed.

Fast-forward five years- Mason and Ty haven't been friends in a long time. So when they encounter each other in the stairwell, their stand-off leads to one problem after another. In what seems to be snowballing issues, Mason ends up in a car accident. When he wakes up he isn't in his car or the hospital- he's 12 again! It doesn't take him long to realize that if this isn't a hallucination or dream, this could be his chance to make things right with Ty and reclaim their friendship.

I really enjoyed this book. Korman's writing follows his typical style- engaging for target audience and for adults! I appreciate his take on how time-travel could impact Mason and his friends and family. It was nice that these concepts were also kept pretty simple while acknowledging some of the principles of the space/time continuum.

Operation Do-Over is a cute Groundhog Day story about a boy who gets the chance to redo 5 years of his life and change events that altered the course of his school year and friendships. My 4th graders enjoy Gordon Korman books so I am sure they would like this one too.

Gordon Korman is one of the popular fiction writers for the 4th and 5th graders in my elementary school. This book will be a fun addition to the Korman shelf in my school library. Mason and Ty are the best of friends from diapers till 7th grade when Ava starts at their school. Five years later they still are hardly speaking after "the incident". Through a fluke, Mason gets sent back five years and gets a chance for a do over. But can he really change the future by making different choices?

This is a fun and easy read that will delight 4th-8th graders. It is more fantasy that sci-fi only because the time jump is never explained. When in the past I wish there was a way for Mason to change himself other than going out for football. Sports isn't the only way to be cool. Also it would have been nice to come up with some explanation for the time jumps but I don't think kids are going to be bothered by those small quibbles. I'm happy to have a new book recommendation for older students. Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books for an ARC ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Mason and Ty have been best friends forever, that is until seventh grade brings new student Ava. When something happens between Mason and Ty because of Ava, the two stop talking. When Mason is in an accident, Mason is back in 7th grade. Is it possible he went back in time? He sees his dog is still around, and his parents aren’t divorced. He realizes he has a chance at a do-over and can make things right between he and Ty. Is that possible? Can he get back to his regular life, if it even existed. He realizes given a second chance he might get it right this time. Being a science nerd, he’s always believed if you can go back in time and do things differently, you can change the future.

Another fantastic book by Gordon Korman! I really enjoyed Operation Do-Over. Perfect length book... not too long, not too short. Fun, time travel story, easy for students to read. Korman never has a dull moment in his books which is very important for middle grade books. I will definitely be purchasing this book for my elementary library.