Notes from the Midnight Driver by Jordan Sonnenblick

Pages: 265

Intended Audience: Teens

Genre: Contemporary

Notes for Parents: Contains some mature scenes.

 

The Back Cover

“Alex Peter Gregory, you are a moron!” Laurie slammed her palms down on my desk and stomped her foot. I get a lot of that.

One car crash.

One measly little car crash. And suddenly, I’m some kind of convicted felon.

My parents are getting divorced, my dad is shacking up with my third-grade teacher, I might be in love with a girl who could kill me with one finger, and now I’m sentenced to baby-sit some insane old guy.

What else could possibly go wrong?

 

What the cover doesn’t tell you:

This book was a South Carolina Young Adult Book Award nominee (2009), Rhode Island Teen Book Award Nominee (2008), Iowa Teen Award Nominee (2011), Missouri Gateway Readers Award Nominee (2009), and a Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award Nominee (2011)

 

What’s good?

Alex is assigned to be a companion to an elderly gentleman at a local nursing home as punishment for killing a garden gnome while drinking and driving. The premise is serious, but the story is a lot of fun. The simple plot is punched up by Sol’s stinging wit and Alex’s funny narration. With Jewish terminology, musical references, and a blossoming friendship, this is a comical yet sentimental story about a dying man who teaches a teen how to live.

Best Part: The chapter called “Coda.”

 

What isn’t good?

The romance, while sweet, was totally predictable. And there was no action. Nevertheless, the strong characters and engaging narration prevailed.

Worst part: There was nothing terrible.

 

Recommendation ☺☺☺☺(4/5)

I can see this story as a movie. The visual setting and comical dialogue would translate well onto the screen. Definitely recommended.

Sonnenblick, Jordan. Notes from the Midnight Driver. New York: Scholastic, 2006.