Restart Characters

Chase Ambrose is a middle-school football star who falls from his roof and sustains a concussion, giving him amnesia. Possessing almost no memories, he can’t even recognize his mother, Tina, or his brother, Johnny… read analysis of Chase Ambrose

Shoshanna Weber is an outspoken, proudly nerdy girl and the most ambitious member of her middle school’s video club. When the novel begins, Shoshanna hates her classmates Chase, Aaron Hakimian, and Bear Bratsky for… read analysis of Shoshanna Weber

Brendan Espinoza, the president of his middle school’s video club, is a bullying victim of Chase Ambrose, Aaron Hakimian, and Bear Bratsky, friend of fellow video club members Shoshanna Weber and Joel… read analysis of Brendan Espinoza

Mr. Solway is a sarcastic, lonely Korean War veteran who won a Medal of Honor for opening an enemy tank and killing the enemy soldiers inside with a grenade. He lives in the assisted living… read analysis of Mr. Solway

Joel Weber is Shoshanna’s brother and the frequent target of football players Chase Ambrose, Aaron Hakimian, and Bear Bratsky’s bullying. A video-club member and a talented pianist, he is sent away… read analysis of Joel Weber

Frank is father to Chase, Johnny, and Helene, ex-husband to Tina, and current husband to Corinne. A former middle-school football star, Frank peaked in adolescence and remains obsessed with maintaining… read analysis of Frank Ambrose

A middle-school football player and unrepentant bully, Bear Bratsky is best friends with fellow football bullies Chase Ambrose and Aaron Hakimian. Yet unlike Chase or even Aaron, Bear demonstrates little capacity for deep thought… read analysis of Bear Bratsky

Kimberly Tooley is a peppy middle-school girl who loves football because she thinks boys look good in uniforms. She has a crush on her classmate, football star Chase Ambrose. After Chase suffers a concussion… read analysis of Kimberly Tooley

A dark-haired woman with glasses, Tina is mother to Chase and Johnny and ex-wife to Frank. Tina loves and supports Chase, believing him to be a good person “deep down.” However, she had difficulty… read analysis of Tina (Chase’s Mom)

Helene is Chase and Johnny’s four-year-old half-sister, daughter of Frank and Frank’s second wife, Corinne. When the novel begins, Helene fears Chase, who bullied her by tearing the head off her beloved teddy… read analysis of Helene

Corinne is second wife to Frank, mother to four-year-old Helene, and stepmother to Chase and Johnny. After Chase’s amnesia-causing accident, he notices Corinne’s cold attitude toward him, not realizing that he bullied… read analysis of Corinne

Johnny Ambrose is Chase’s older brother. Johnny has a tense relationship with his father, Frank, who openly claims that his mother’s softer parenting style made him a “wimp.” Johnny is very caring toward… read analysis of Johnny Ambrose

Dr. Fitzwallace is principal of Hiawassee Middle School, which Chase Ambrose and many of Restart’s other main characters attend. He tries but largely fails to punish Chase and his friends Aaron Hakimian and Bear… read analysis of Dr. Fitzwallace

Nurse Duncan is the head nurse at Portland Assisted Living Residence, the assisted living facility where Mr. Solway lives and where middle-school bullies Chase Ambrose, Aaron Hakimian, and Bear Bratsky are doing court-ordered… read analysis of Nurse Duncan