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3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
Not as good as Drums, Girls and Dangerous Pie but I enjoyed it. Good lesson.
This is a good book about learning lessons and growing up.
The first book i'm reading after a tremendous reading slump and it got me choked up a few many times... i have a soft spot for grumpy old fellows with a big heart ❤
I thought it was a great book. I cried at the end though, but I laughed at the same time. I want to learn how to play the guitar even more now after reading this book.
(My reviews are intended for my own info as a language arts teacher: they serve as notes and reflections for teaching and recommending to students. Therefore, spoilers may be present but will be hidden.)
SUMMARY: I was in between rating Notes from the Midnight Driver a 3 or 4 but ended up with a 'like' minus the 'really' for a few reasons I'll detail. In Notes, Jordan Sonnenblick starts right in the action with protagonist Alex Gregory getting plowed and plowing into (pardon the pun) a neighbor's yard in his mom's car. His original intention, fueled by liquid courage, had been to disrupt his dad's date with his third grade teacher. Of course, the plan backfires and he ends up being sentenced to 100 hours of community service in the form of visiting nursing home resident, Sol Lewis.
Sol is, at first anyway, as derisive as Alex is sarcastic, and the two don't get along. He particularly enjoys playing pranks on fellow nursing home attendants and Alex, and insulting anyone within earshot in Yiddish. As could be predicted, however, the sixteen-year-old boy and old man start to look forward to Alex's visits. They bond over music; Alex plays guitar in his school's jazz band and Sol had been a semi-famous guitar player. Sol enjoys giving Alex relationship advice when Alex brings in his best friend, Laurie.
Character development and growth are Sonnenblick's strengths, and readers can see Alex realistically beginning to take responsibility for his earlier actions and pursuing his guitar playing more seriously. Sol, too, has a softer side that becomes increasingly visible as the book goes along. He tells Alex the sad story of his poor relationship with his daughter, and Alex both realizes that his actions have probably hurt his parents and that drunk driving can have some pretty tragic consequences. In the end,
For some reason, the book had a slow start for me. Arguably, the beginning contains the most action and suspense, but I enjoyed the character building much more. It also took me awhile to appreciate Alex's character. He was sometimes too witty to be believable or likable (I pictured Sonnenblick assembling some of his students' best zingers). But...at times he is downright funny. My biggest problem with the book is the treatment of Alex's parents' relationship. With jokes, they gloss right over how their divorce might impact their son. Even worse, Alex is the only one doing any apologizing! I have little to no experience with divorce, other than what I hear from my friends or students, but this seems totally unrealistic AND a real missed opportunity for Sonnenblick. On the flip side, I think the dangers of drunk driving were dealt with in the right way.
READABILITY: I think most of my male and female students would really like this one. The lexile is something like 930, but it would be an easy, quick read for most readers. Students would absolutely need to be familiar with sarcasm, and how to recognize this verbal irony in text, though.
SUMMARY: I was in between rating Notes from the Midnight Driver a 3 or 4 but ended up with a 'like' minus the 'really' for a few reasons I'll detail. In Notes, Jordan Sonnenblick starts right in the action with protagonist Alex Gregory getting plowed and plowing into (pardon the pun) a neighbor's yard in his mom's car. His original intention, fueled by liquid courage, had been to disrupt his dad's date with his third grade teacher. Of course, the plan backfires and he ends up being sentenced to 100 hours of community service in the form of visiting nursing home resident, Sol Lewis.
Sol is, at first anyway, as derisive as Alex is sarcastic, and the two don't get along. He particularly enjoys playing pranks on fellow nursing home attendants and Alex, and insulting anyone within earshot in Yiddish. As could be predicted, however, the sixteen-year-old boy and old man start to look forward to Alex's visits. They bond over music; Alex plays guitar in his school's jazz band and Sol had been a semi-famous guitar player. Sol enjoys giving Alex relationship advice when Alex brings in his best friend, Laurie.
Character development and growth are Sonnenblick's strengths, and readers can see Alex realistically beginning to take responsibility for his earlier actions and pursuing his guitar playing more seriously.
Spoiler
He plans and plays a concert for the nursing home residents with Steven and Annette (characters from Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie).Spoiler
Sol's daughter re-enters his life (the judge in Alex's case - good twist, Sonnenblick!) and he is surrounded by people who care about him when his emphysema finally gets the best of him. A very sad ending, but the right one.For some reason, the book had a slow start for me. Arguably, the beginning contains the most action and suspense, but I enjoyed the character building much more. It also took me awhile to appreciate Alex's character. He was sometimes too witty to be believable or likable (I pictured Sonnenblick assembling some of his students' best zingers). But...at times he is downright funny. My biggest problem with the book is the treatment of Alex's parents' relationship. With jokes, they gloss right over how their divorce
Spoiler
and later rekindlingREADABILITY: I think most of my male and female students would really like this one. The lexile is something like 930, but it would be an easy, quick read for most readers. Students would absolutely need to be familiar with sarcasm, and how to recognize this verbal irony in text, though.
Spoiler
Girls hoping for a relationship to develop between Alex and Laurie will be disappointed. :)
"Notes from the Midnight Driver" is a great book. Jordan Sonnenblick does a wonderful job writing about difficult subjects using humor and heart. The book seems to be about your typical teen screw up, but the books quickly switches gears when Alex starts his court mandated community service. Alex wants to quit because Solomon is too difficult, but we know that isn't what will happen.
This book isn't just about a teen who discovers there is more to himself than goofing off. Music plays a large roll in this book. At first I didn't think this would happen, but I was pleasantly surprised that it did. Relationships, of all kinds play a major roll in "Notes form the Midnight Driver". Alex's parents are divorced and he is struggling to have a healthy relationship with them. He is angry with them and blames his father for their separation. Alex is also struggling to understand his feelings for his best friend Laurie. This is all on top of having to deal with Sol.
While most of the plot was predictable, the book was such a delight to read I didn't mind that there were no "OH SNAP!" moments. I simply enjoyed the story and laughing out loud at the situations Alex found himself. I would recommend this book to John Green fans.
This book isn't just about a teen who discovers there is more to himself than goofing off. Music plays a large roll in this book. At first I didn't think this would happen, but I was pleasantly surprised that it did. Relationships, of all kinds play a major roll in "Notes form the Midnight Driver". Alex's parents are divorced and he is struggling to have a healthy relationship with them. He is angry with them and blames his father for their separation. Alex is also struggling to understand his feelings for his best friend Laurie. This is all on top of having to deal with Sol.
While most of the plot was predictable, the book was such a delight to read I didn't mind that there were no "OH SNAP!" moments. I simply enjoyed the story and laughing out loud at the situations Alex found himself. I would recommend this book to John Green fans.
The cover of this book is deceptive. I expected it to be silly (it is at times) but I was frankly surprised at the levels of joy and sadness it stirs together. Called a "Tuesdays with Morrie" for teens in the description, I feel like that doesn't do it justice. I am 13 years past my teens and this hit me like a ton of bricks.
I was told in advance by my girlfriend that this book made her laugh and cry, I thought,"yeah I'm sure I'll chuckle, I may get a bit choked up." Long story short, she was right. I had belly laughs, I cried so much she asked if I needed to be alone for a minute. The catch, I knew what was going to happen, from the beginning. I knew who the secret character was from early on, I KNEW but it still got to me. These fictional characters felt real and their emotions passed to me. I sobbed through the final pages unable to remind myself that none of this was real, and yet it felt like it was.
A quick read for a Sunday afternoon in pajamas, but fair warning, have tissues close at hand or your t-shirt is going to have a wet spot on the arm, from the dust that got in your eyes.. yeah, dust.
I was told in advance by my girlfriend that this book made her laugh and cry, I thought,"yeah I'm sure I'll chuckle, I may get a bit choked up." Long story short, she was right. I had belly laughs, I cried so much she asked if I needed to be alone for a minute. The catch, I knew what was going to happen, from the beginning. I knew who the secret character was from early on, I KNEW but it still got to me. These fictional characters felt real and their emotions passed to me. I sobbed through the final pages unable to remind myself that none of this was real, and yet it felt like it was.
A quick read for a Sunday afternoon in pajamas, but fair warning, have tissues close at hand or your t-shirt is going to have a wet spot on the arm, from the dust that got in your eyes.. yeah, dust.
Alex Gregory has made a huge mistake. During one night of desperate anger at his parents' divorce, he drunkenly crashes his dad's new car into a neighbor's lawn, decapitating her lawn gnome. As punishment, Alex is assigned to do community service at a nursing home. In particular, he's assigned to spend time with the King of Crotchety Old Men, Solomon Lewis. At first, Alex hates Sol more than he can adequately express, but his pleas to be reassigned are diverted and Alex slowly comes to realize that there's more to the old man than meets the eye. Throw in some guitar playing, a possible crush on his best (girl) friend, and a cameo by some of the characters from Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie and you have yourself one hell of a novel.
Laugh out loud funny and utterly heartbreaking (sometimes at the same time), I loved this second novel by Jordan Sonnenblick. It's got a slightly different tone than his first book and I think it's aimed at a slightly older audience. I was literally laughing out loud in the lunchroom at work. And I was literally reaching for the tissues when I finished it at home. Highly recommended.
Laugh out loud funny and utterly heartbreaking (sometimes at the same time), I loved this second novel by Jordan Sonnenblick. It's got a slightly different tone than his first book and I think it's aimed at a slightly older audience. I was literally laughing out loud in the lunchroom at work. And I was literally reaching for the tissues when I finished it at home. Highly recommended.
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes