Do-Over

by Christine Hurley Deriso

Imagine having the power to turn back time. Not 100 years—just 10 seconds. Enough to take back those embarrassing missteps and wrong answers.

Elsa’s mom died suddenly one year ago, but she appears one night to grant Elsa do-over power. Elsa thinks she dreamt it until she utters the words the next morning and watches her whole world rewind 10 seconds.

Elsa needs the do-over power to become cool at her new school. It’s fun taking people’s answers and being a star student one day, and gossip queen the next. Even the ultra-popular Slice Girls want to be her friend now. Elsa can re-do anything until she gets it right. So why doesn’t her new life feel so perfect?

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Grief, Fiction, Death, Middle Grade

192 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

“Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart.”—William Wordsworth

One thing that strikes me about my writing is that the process has changed very little since I first started jotting down stories around age six. An idea fills my head and whines, cajoles, begs or bullies until I pay attention. Sometimes the ideas are so charming that I scoop them up in a hug. Other times, they’re so annoying that I snap, “What?” at their insistence. But either way, I can no more walk away from one than I could walk away from a child in need.

The ideas originate in my head, but they seem to have a mind, an essence, an existence of their own. I feel more like a vessel than an owner. Succumbing to these ideas’ insistence to flow through me is profoundly joyful, but also utterly involuntary. And that hasn’t changed since I was six.

What has changed, I hope, is my wisdom, my insight, my courage . . . my head’s ability to make enough sense of these ideas to shape them into something meaningful, even the ones that scare me. Especially the ones that scare me.

I’m guessing you’ll glean from my books that I love all words, any words.

Whether I’m writing for a young child, a tween, a young adult or a Ph.D., I try hard to move my reader . . . to make his world a little bigger or his heart a little fuller. Hopefully both.

So there you have it: I love words and I love ideas, and if I didn’t love them, they’d badger me anyhow.

Thanks for sharing the experience with me.

Reviews

[Bella and the Bookstack · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.3 out of 5 stars

I'm re-reading this book 12 years(give or take) after I originally read it. I remember the majority of the plot, yet I couldn't seem to re-call the title or author.

Thankfully I was able to find a copy, and re-live a book from my elementary years.

Loved that I could read this book again! While it's definitely not the best book ever, it holds a lot of sentimental value. I've caught myself many times thinking how nice it would be sometimes, if I had the power to re-do the past 10 seconds in my own life. Wouldn't we all like a second chance every now and again?

~~
Elsa's mom has passed away. For a twelve year old girl, discovering what it means to be true to herself: life's rough. Not to mention, they are moving in the middle of seventh grade

When her dead mom visits her one night, Elsa is given a chance to do-over the past 10 seconds.

She's given a chance to fix all her mistakes and finally can blend in (or stand out.)

Elsa then begins to navigate her new role in school. Will she be insanely smart? Extremely popular? As she learns how to manipulate the power of the magical necklace, Elsa must learn that the best gift is to be true to herself.

[Jeniya · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about this girl named Elsa,her mom died and came back to visit her. Hen she came back she gave her a special gift. The power to turn back time . But she can only turn back time ten seconds. I think this is a very good book. This book is part sad and part funny

[Jennifer Wardrip · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reviewed by Me for TeensReadToo.com

There have been many times in my life when I've said or done something so incredibly stupid that all I wish is that I could go back in time and do it differently. In my case, and most everyone else's, going back and fixing our mistakes isn't a possibility. For thirteen-year old, Elsa Alden, however, the same rules don't apply. Sure, her life isn't perfect; after all, her mother is still dead, her father is still moving her away to Harbin Springs, South Carolina in the middle of seventh grade, and she'll be leaving her best friend, Lani, behind. But things are about to start looking up.

First, she finds an old silver heart locket on a chain in her mom's old dresser at her grandmother's house. Her first day of school at Harbin Springs Middle School aren't as great as she had hoped, though. There's Queen Darcy, the most popular girl in the school, who seems to have already targeted Elsa as her next victim. Thankfully, her mother comes to her rescue by appearing to her in a dream and imparting the wisdom of that old locket, which just happens to have do-over power. Elsa can now turn back time--not years or even days, but by ten seconds. Which just happens to be enough time to redo whatever stupid thing she's just said or done.

Elsa knows just what she'll use her new do-over powers for--instant popularity. Sure, Darcy and her gang are shallow and fake, but they are the epitome of what it means to be popular. Plus, she can look extremely intelligent to her teachers, or show that she knows what she's doing when it comes to makeup (even if her Dad would kill her for wearing it), or even just appear to know all the juicy school gossip before anyone else. Need to go back and make yourself look good? Simply touch the locket, utter the words "do-over," and time goes back to ten seconds before.

Of course, Elsa's do-over ability causes some serious side effects that she hadn't planned on. Sure, there are some advantages to looking smart, and being popular, but there are also downfalls that she'd never imagined. As Elsa learns that do-over magic might not be as wonderful as she'd originally thought, she does learn about friendship, family loyalty, and dealing with the loss of her mother.

DO-OVER is a great book that teens will definitely enjoy, especially when they think about what they could do with their own powers to turn back time. Funny, imaginative dialogue and interesting characters make this a truly enjoyable read.

[Sophie]

Have you ever had an embarassing moment where you wish you could turn back time? Well Elsa has just the trick when her DEAD mom comes to give her a necklace that grants her do-over powers!
Elsa's mom died last year and it is hard for her to recover. The loss of her mom has greatly impacted her life. Then her dad gets a new job and they move in with her grandma to a new town. Elsa has to leave her best friend behind. . . and make some new ones. The first day of school was AWFUL for Elsa. But the next few days are quite a treat with her ability to turn back time 10 seconds. She starts stealing people's answers to sound like a genious and is becoming the gossip queen. Even if she is the smartest and most popular person in her school. . . why is she less happy then before?
At the end of the book, Elsa learns that pretending to be someone you aren't to be popular isn't worth it. Living a lie isn't going to make you happy. So the lesson is that you shouldn't try to change so you can fit in or be more popular because there is a reason you are who you are.

The book Do-Over is very easy to relate to. Any girl in junior high would understand all of the troubles that Elsa goes through. Most likely everyone has been in a situation where you are trying to fit in and be the best person that you can but that's not always going to work in junior high. So you just have to be who you are and you will shine more than pretending to be someone you aren't. So that is why I recommend this book to all the girls who have ever felt this way.

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Throughout my life I have done stuff that I would LOVE to redo!
In this book a girl name Elsa, goes through a tough time... in her new school. With girls like the Slice Girls! The even worse girls.. To be more specific Darcy, Carter, Jen and Jade! Elsa...is given a power by her Mom that had came to visit the night before. Her Mom said, I will give you this necklace to wear. Whenever you feel like you would like to redo something just say do-over. The whole world rewinds for 10 seconds! Her Mom also said you only have this power until your 13th birthday! Elsa listened very closely. Elsa started wearing the necklace. She did not believe in this special Power. She decided to try it out by running in the sprinklers! Before it was to late she rubbed her necklace and the world went back ten seconds. Elsa, ended up perfect and dry. She was very happy that this power was actually true! Do-over! Elsa, ended up perfect and dry. She was very happy that this power was actually true. As you can tell that is mainly how this book is. Elsa getting all the re-do's she wants. But remember ONLY until her 13th birthday. No matter who you are you should defiantly read this book. It has good character and is perfect for anyone that would love to have a special power. Now get your-self up and start READING!!

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I imagine that the pre-tween set will enjoy this book, since it has a cute premise and a nice message despite its lack of depth. Elsa is a seventh grader who's granted the power of being able to turn back time by 10 seconds, long enough to re-do a particular moment and make the impression she wants. Since she's just moved to a new school, she wants to fit in and be liked by the popular crowd, so she tailors her personality to their liking and, if they don't like something she's said or done, she quickly re-does it in a different way. Fun.

Even though I thought the idea was cute, the story really lacks much depth past that. The characters are pretty shallow (of course, the book isn't very long) and while it touched on interesting issues, it didn't go much further than that. Still, I think the underlying theme of the book of how you can be true to yourself is a nice one.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a pretty cute book. I will admit, it's been sitting on my shelf for a good 8 or so years. Today, a miserable rainy day with nothing better to do, I dusted it off and read it.

I will also admit, I probably would have enjoyed the book more if I had read it when I first received it, rather than waiting 8 years. However, the story line was cute and you couldn't help but love it. The main character was realistic and well - developed and used a dry humour that is similar to my own. The kids in the novel we realistic and you just couldn't help but hate Darcy for her stupidness.

Overall, it's a quick read and decent story. One that I know I have dreamt about in the past, wishing I could have do over power myself. It was a pleasure to read, and it was a great way to spend my afternoon.

Overall 8.5/10.

[Kai Yi · Rating 4 out of 5]

have you ever though of someone who you love that have pass away but still help you? impossible right. elsa, a girl who her mom died a year ago, but one night she came back to her and gave her the "do-over" power. this help elsa get out of embarrassing moments and get revenge on people. this will make elsa be one of the "popular" kids at school like the slice girls, but they will be just using her, for their own benefit

will her new power help her or bring her into trouble. having something that doesn't really belong to you, doesn't helps you at all, maybe it just leaves you with more problems.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elsa always thought of herself as any ordinary girl. But to her surprise, she had the gift of do-over by repeating the words a few times. She couldn't go back in the years but just a few seconds. However, Elsa didn't always have this power, she found out through a dream from her dead mother and the gold locket that kept appearing. Elsa had the time to make every embarrassing moment go away. This was her chance to make her life perfect.

[Yanmei · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elsa's mom just died, so she and her dad moved to a new town. There, she found her mom's spirit in her room. Her mom gave her the power to rewind ten seconds of what just happened un her life. Elsa uses the power to make her reputation in school as a smart girl. She got what she wants but she did not get any friends, instead she became the most unpoplar person in school?

[Loubna El]

Do-Over is an awesome book. I enjoyed this book. What I liked most about the book was the plot, I never read anything that was like this. What I liked about the authors style of writing is that it's very chill.This book made me think differently about divorced parents and how the child feels.

[Mia]

The book was very good but, I think the writing lacked something. I still can't believe she told Martin about the do-overs. I am pretty sure Martin likes Elsa. My favorite quote in the boom was, "Believe it or not, as wondrously brilliant and mature you are, you're still learning, too."

[Sanam · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really like this book so far. It is one of those chiche books where the main character is a pathetic geek with popular girls, but it really has a twist with the do over thing. :)

[Kennedie · Rating 5 out of 5]

if only this book was reality...

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the best book I have ever read :D

[Carol Hahn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Light, humorous book about being a seventh grader and the drama of everyday life in junior high.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been looking for this book to reread for years. I really enjoyed it. It's simple but a good read, especially for a pre-teen