From hot new talent Jordan Sonnenblick, a "Tuesdays with Morrie" for teens.16-year-old Alex decides to get even. His parents are separated, his fat...
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Nov 09, 2010
karen
rated it: 
"okay, can you show me on the dolly where the book touched you?"
this wasn't supposed to happen.
i mean, ugh - teen humor week?? i was expecting beavis and butthead, or the kind of stuff my high school boyfriend found funny, which is best left in the archives. i was only going to read one book from the list; the bare minimum, to give the old overachiever knob a rest, but i ended up reading three, and two of them were actually really good! but with each of More...
this wasn't supposed to happen.
i mean, ugh - teen humor week?? i was expecting beavis and butthead, or the kind of stuff my high school boyfriend found funny, which is best left in the archives. i was only going to read one book from the list; the bare minimum, to give the old overachiever knob a rest, but i ended up reading three, and two of them were actually really good! but with each of More...
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May 08, 2008
Jenny
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Notes From the Midnight Driver is such a laugh-out-loud-until-your-sides-hurt type of funny. This book is about a sixteen-year-old boy named Alex who gets sentenced to volunteer at an old peoples’ home because he was drunk while driving. Once he starts volunteering at the home, he really hates it. The man he must visit with, Mr. Solomon Lewis, is an irritable, stubborn Yiddish man who constantly insults Alex in the foreign language. Alex and Sol (Mr. Lewis) start to build a bridge through Jazz m
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Jan 11, 2009
Jaemi
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For Alex, the fun ended when his brilliant plan went awry and landed him on a neighbor's lawn, crushed lawn gnome under tire, puking his guts out on an officer's shoes. Though if you asked him, it's nothing to get in a tizzy over. Just a lawn gnome. So what if he intended to drive across down and didn't make it to the end of the road? No way does he need to pay for it by spending his time with someone as old, unpleasant, and abusive as Sol Lewis. No way. Too bad Judge Trent and his mother don't
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Feb 04, 2012
Karen
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Great first line! "It seemed like a good idea at the time." Alex, angry at his divorcing parents, decides to drink some of his dad's old vodka, take his mom's car keys, and drive over to his dad's and tell him off for breaking up the family. Unfortunately, he instead ends up driving up onto a neighbor's lawn, decapitating a concrete lawn gnome, mouthing off to the cop who shows up, and then vomiting all over the same cop's shoes. The judge sentences Alex to 100 hours of community s
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Jul 01, 2011
Category: YA
Author: Jorndan Sonnenblick
Title: Notes from the Midnight Driver
Publisher: 2006 by Scholastic Press
ISBN: 0439757797 (ISBN13: 9780439757799)
Genre: fiction
Reading level: middle school and high school
Awards: Rebecca Caudill Young Reader's Book Award Nominee (2011), South Carolina Book Award Nominee for Young Adult Book Award (2009), Iowa Teen Award Nominee (2011)
Alex is unhappy with his parents. His dad is having an affair with his More...
Author: Jorndan Sonnenblick
Title: Notes from the Midnight Driver
Publisher: 2006 by Scholastic Press
ISBN: 0439757797 (ISBN13: 9780439757799)
Genre: fiction
Reading level: middle school and high school
Awards: Rebecca Caudill Young Reader's Book Award Nominee (2011), South Carolina Book Award Nominee for Young Adult Book Award (2009), Iowa Teen Award Nominee (2011)
Alex is unhappy with his parents. His dad is having an affair with his More...
May 12, 2011
Josh
rated it:
The book is about a teenager named Alex who is furious at his father for cheating on his mother with his 3rd grade teacher. He gets drunk and then decides to drive to his father's house. He crashes into a neighbors garden nome and onto her yard and is then arrested for drunk driving. He gets sentenced to 100 hours of community service. He gets assigned to a grumpy, mean, and virtuos old guy at a nursing home named Sol. Sol is very mean to everyone but he begins to build a bond through Alex espec
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Apr 26, 2011
Nelvieee
rated it:
Here is a book filled with humor all throughout. Not the usual slapstick comedy routine, but the kind that is dripping with sarcasm. The humor comes from the narrator, 16-year old Alex, who will wait for two more years before he can get his driver's license. Why is that? One fateful Friday night, he just took his mom's car while she was on a date determined to pay his estranged father a not-so-friendly visit. That didn't sound so bad, but the fact that he drank Vodka from what was left of his fa
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Jan 05, 2011
Three Things that Don’t Mix, Alcohol, Cars and Yard Gnomes
Have you ever made a poor decision just because you were upset? Did you ever get punished for it even if you had a good reason for doing it? Notes From the Midnight Driver by Jordan Sonnenblick is a realistic fiction novel taken place in a suburb in present time. The main characters are Alex, Laurie, Solomon, Alex’s Mom and Dad. Alex is home alone and is still upset about his parents divorce he thing of a brilliant idea or at least More...
Have you ever made a poor decision just because you were upset? Did you ever get punished for it even if you had a good reason for doing it? Notes From the Midnight Driver by Jordan Sonnenblick is a realistic fiction novel taken place in a suburb in present time. The main characters are Alex, Laurie, Solomon, Alex’s Mom and Dad. Alex is home alone and is still upset about his parents divorce he thing of a brilliant idea or at least More...
Dec 14, 2010
Barky
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Nov 19, 2010
Ruhama
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Alex has done something stupid, and now he must do community service: he took his mom’s car and drove it right after consuming a bottle of vodka, and crashed into a lawn gnome. Alex doesn’t see why he has to ‘babysit’ one of the residents of the old folks’ home, as he didn’t hurt anyone, but he’s stuck with Sol, one of the most temperamental residents there. Eventually, the two become friends, and share a unique interest: the guitar.
This is a humorous book that tackles a few real-lif More...
This is a humorous book that tackles a few real-lif More...
Oct 24, 2010
Josh
rated it:
"Notes From the Midnight Driver" is a book that grabbed my attention from the beginning. This book focuses on the life of Alex Gregory after he gets a D.U.I while driving to his dad's house. His punishment is to serve 100 hours of community service at a retirement home, visiting a patient there named Solomon Lewis. Mr. Lewis is a witty old resident who has terminal emphysema that loves to prank all the other residents that live by him. Alex and Mr. Lewis don't get along at first, b
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Sep 05, 2010
Lj
rated it: 
This book starts out with a bang. In the opening scene, Alex Peter Gregory,the main character, gets arrested for drunk driving. Told from the perspective of an angry teen who's parents are divorcing, it's quite a funny sequence. Except for a lawn gnome and Alex's concussion and inevitable hangover, it's a minor accident. Alex gets probation, consisting of community service in the nursing home where his mom works as a shift nurse.
Enter Solomon Lewis, Alex's assigned patient, who has More...
Enter Solomon Lewis, Alex's assigned patient, who has More...
Mar 15, 2010
Julia
rated it:
This book starts with a scene of the main character, Alex, who was drunk driving. It's far from glamorous, and though the way he describes what he did can be funny - only because he didn't hurt anyone - it's also serious. (Example: he threw up on a cop's shoes after being arrested. Funnily described, but not treated as a joke in the story at all.) This opening, especially from a high school character, might lead people to believe it's not appropraite for middle school, but the rest of the bo
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Oct 13, 2009
Newport YA Librarians
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While his mother is out on a first date, 16-year-old Alex decides to get drunk, steal her car, and drive to his father's home, hoping to catch him romancing one of Alex's former teachers. His goal? Revenge. Reality? A damaged car, a decapitated gnome, a drunk driving charge, and community service. He is ordered to serve his 100 hours visiting Solomon Lewis, the meanest, crankiest resident at Egbert P. Johnson Memorial Home for the Aged. Alex discovers that Solomon is also witty, intelligent, and
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Aug 31, 2009
this book is about alex getting into a car driving drunk and crashing it.one messy little car crash and sudenly alex became some knd of convicted felon. his parents where getting divorsed his father is hooking up with his 3rd grade teacher.and he thinks he is inlove with a girl who can kill him with one finger. he doesnt know what can go wrong now until he got the car bill aperantly he is old enough to pay for the fixing of the cadilac 1989 antic. he pays for it but now he lost respect from sal
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Apr 17, 2009
Reading Sarah
rated it:
We all do stupid things. Alex did one of the stupidest. He got angry, got drunk, and decided that this was the perfect time to steal the car and yell at his dad for making him angry.
Luckily for Alex, he didn't get far and the only casualty was the neighbor's expensive* garden gnome.
Alex gets punished, super punished, by being forced to do community service at a retirement home. He's now company for one particular old man for three hours every Wednesday night until he wor More...
Luckily for Alex, he didn't get far and the only casualty was the neighbor's expensive* garden gnome.
Alex gets punished, super punished, by being forced to do community service at a retirement home. He's now company for one particular old man for three hours every Wednesday night until he wor More...
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Dec 31, 2010
Zara
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Notes From The Midnight Driver is hilarious, compassionate, and emotional tale that will have you sucked in. This is the story of a sixteen year old boy named Alex Gregory who tries to destroy his father's house by becoming drunk and driving straight into his dad's house. I mean what could go wrong right? It is a perfectly good plan for having nothing better to do on a Friday night right? Wrong. Alex ended up destroying a lawn gnome and getting caught by a local police officer who sends him to c
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Oct 15, 2011
Elisa
rated it:
***** Notes From the Midnight Driver was an enjoyable and entertaining read. Jordan Sonnenblick deals with serious issues in a way that is very realistic and at times humorous. Alex Gregory is a very believable character who has depth. I enjoyed Sonnenblick's writing style and will be reading more of his books in the future.
Alex Gregory is a fifteen year old boy who is having a hard time dealing with his parent’s recent divorce. While his mother is away on her first date post-divorce More...
Alex Gregory is a fifteen year old boy who is having a hard time dealing with his parent’s recent divorce. While his mother is away on her first date post-divorce More...
Apr 02, 2010
Ms. McKeon
rated it:
This story really reminded me of myself when I was a teenager--not that I ever tried underage drunk driving, but more the feeling of "wow, adults really don't know all I thought they did." Also, the scene where the narrator is driving to tell off his dad and his dad's new girlfriend brought back some VERY vivid memories for me! I also had some of my own experiences with the whole volunteering-in-a-nursing home scene, though mine was mom-ordered rather than court-ordered. I enjoyed S
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Mar 04, 2010
Kim
rated it:
I am not kidding when I say that this is probably one of the best books that I have ever read. I am however a little surprised about it.
First of all, this book more or less came into my hands out of nowhere. I mean, Jordan Sonnenblick did write some other semi-well-known books that straddle the line between middle grade and YA, but I haven't read a single one of them. Sure, it was picked as a Best Book for Young Adults, but so were "Twilight" and "The Curious Incident More...
First of all, this book more or less came into my hands out of nowhere. I mean, Jordan Sonnenblick did write some other semi-well-known books that straddle the line between middle grade and YA, but I haven't read a single one of them. Sure, it was picked as a Best Book for Young Adults, but so were "Twilight" and "The Curious Incident More...
Sep 08, 2009
Heather
rated it:
Notes from the Midnight Driver by Jordan Sonnenblick is an un-put-down-able book! Once you start reading it, you won't want to stop. You'll absolutely fall in love with the characters. I know I did!
First, there's Alex. He's a sixteen-year-old band-geek whose parents recently got divorced. His dad is now dating his former third grade teacher! Yikes! So one night, Alex gets the bright idea to "borrow" his mom's car and drive over to his dad's house to give the man a piece More...
First, there's Alex. He's a sixteen-year-old band-geek whose parents recently got divorced. His dad is now dating his former third grade teacher! Yikes! So one night, Alex gets the bright idea to "borrow" his mom's car and drive over to his dad's house to give the man a piece More...
Apr 25, 2010
Megan
rated it:
Alex has a bad idea one night. He decides to try drinking for the first time , take his mother's car without permission and drive to his father's house to confront him about his parents divorce.
The rest of the book follows the consequences of his bad idea. 100 hours of community service at a nursing home with a crabby older gentleman and being grounded for life.
The characters in the book were very likable. Alex has a very witty way of dealing with his pare More...
The rest of the book follows the consequences of his bad idea. 100 hours of community service at a nursing home with a crabby older gentleman and being grounded for life.
The characters in the book were very likable. Alex has a very witty way of dealing with his pare More...
Jul 27, 2010
Jill
rated it:
I really liked this book!!
Although it was quite predictable as far as the plot is concerned, the author did a great job of creating likeable/quirky characters, a realistic storyline, and he worked tons of little life lessons into the book. I am a sucker for life lessons... they just warm my heart. I also liked the letters that the main character and the judge wrote back and forth. It really showed character development in a unique and effective format.
I felt that the topi More...
Although it was quite predictable as far as the plot is concerned, the author did a great job of creating likeable/quirky characters, a realistic storyline, and he worked tons of little life lessons into the book. I am a sucker for life lessons... they just warm my heart. I also liked the letters that the main character and the judge wrote back and forth. It really showed character development in a unique and effective format.
I felt that the topi More...
Aug 05, 2009
Carrie
rated it:
Notes From the Midnight Driver is a funny book with some deep issues. Luckily though, the deeper issues are addressed in a way so they don't take away from the novel's humor.
Alex is a typical high school teen who is dealing with his parents' not-so-typical divorce (his dad left his mom for his third-grade teacher). I can just imagine some of my students reading this and stopping to remember their third-grade teacher- ha! Within the first chapter Alex is arrested when he drunkenly More...
Alex is a typical high school teen who is dealing with his parents' not-so-typical divorce (his dad left his mom for his third-grade teacher). I can just imagine some of my students reading this and stopping to remember their third-grade teacher- ha! Within the first chapter Alex is arrested when he drunkenly More...
Dec 15, 2008
Kristian
rated it:
this book was about a kid who gets drunk and decides to take out his mothers car. he drives it drunk and then he crashes whole he is throwing up a guy comes up and he is a officer Alex turns and trows up on his black shoes of corse Alex did not know what he was doing because he was wasted. he was taken to the hospital there he was sleeping and his mom was bugging out on him she was going crazy while his dad was chill and not bugging out on him. alex tried to fake a concusion and he shook his par
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Aug 09, 2009
Alex
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16-year old Alex, who was drunk, wanted to go yell at his father for leaving his[Alex's:]Mother. He took his mother's car, and next thing he knew, he was passed out in the car, that was on the front lawn of his neighbor. When he woke, he found the head of a lawn gnome, and a police officer standing in front of him. Alex was charged community service at a retirement home, to someone named Solomon Lewis. During his time, Alex learns some life lessons.
I connect this to some peop More...
I connect this to some peop More...
Jan 24, 2011
Olivia
rated it:
Notes from the Midnight Driver:
Learn Your Lesson
Have you ever made a mistake? What about gotten really drunk and stolen your mom’s car? Notes from the Midnight Driver by Jordan Sonnenblick is another fantastic realistic fiction book. Set in present day New Jersey, Alex’s mom is out, so one night he decides he will get extremely drunk and steal his mom’s car. His plan was to drive over to his dad’s house and catch him with the woman who caused his parents get divorced. (This woman hap More...
Learn Your Lesson
Have you ever made a mistake? What about gotten really drunk and stolen your mom’s car? Notes from the Midnight Driver by Jordan Sonnenblick is another fantastic realistic fiction book. Set in present day New Jersey, Alex’s mom is out, so one night he decides he will get extremely drunk and steal his mom’s car. His plan was to drive over to his dad’s house and catch him with the woman who caused his parents get divorced. (This woman hap More...
Nov 21, 2010
Cristy
rated it:
Ok, first off.. I don't know what it is, but I'm a sucker for a book with a GNOME on the cover. I don't know, just gives me the warm fuzzys.
Moving on, LOVED this book. Wow, Jordan Sonnenblick did such and excellent job blending the funny with the heart wrenching serious. I laughed hysterically, cried with my whole self and completely fell in love with Alex Gregory. The humor is so well balanced with the heavy emotions and serious topic matter, that the story never lags and keeps the reader More...
Moving on, LOVED this book. Wow, Jordan Sonnenblick did such and excellent job blending the funny with the heart wrenching serious. I laughed hysterically, cried with my whole self and completely fell in love with Alex Gregory. The humor is so well balanced with the heavy emotions and serious topic matter, that the story never lags and keeps the reader More...
Jul 05, 2009
Kelly
rated it:
16-year-old Alex Gregory makes some bad choices and then has to deal with the repercussions to his actions. Dealing with his parents divorce, he decides to get drunk and then drive over to his dad's new home to express his anger. He doesn't quite make it to his dad's as his drunken stupor leads him to kill a perfectly harmless lawn gnome.
Jordan Sonnenblick is very in touch with teens. The characters were so believable that I even imagined some of the students attending the school wh More...
Jordan Sonnenblick is very in touch with teens. The characters were so believable that I even imagined some of the students attending the school wh More...
Jun 26, 2011
Ms. McC
rated it:
Don't you sometimes just love a nice, good book! Squeaky clean without being preachy, driven by the story not the message...and it doesn't hurt when there is humor as well. Notes from a Midnight Driver hit the spot!
Alex drinks some vodka and decides to take the car to "tell off" his father who has left his mom. Not making it, he crashes the car (an a lawn gnome) instead and ends up with a requirement to do community service.
He is ordered to visit a crusty old ma More...
Alex drinks some vodka and decides to take the car to "tell off" his father who has left his mom. Not making it, he crashes the car (an a lawn gnome) instead and ends up with a requirement to do community service.
He is ordered to visit a crusty old ma More...
