Drums, Girls, And Dangerous Pie
by Jordan Sonnenblick
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Book Summary Information
Author: Jordan SonnenblickBrand: Scholastic
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2006-09-01
ISBN: 0439755204
Number of pages: 273
Publisher: Scholastic Paperbacks
Book Reviews of Drums, Girls, And Dangerous Pie
Book Review: Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie book review by : kevin eguiluz
Summary: 5 Stars
Kevin Eguiluz
Pickett 1st period
Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie
What do you do if you're a thirteen year old boy (Steven), passionate about the drums, struggling with girls, and then your five year old over compulsive younger brother Jeffrey is diagnosed with cancer? What you do is: you pass through numerous stages of rebellion and denial, before coming to terms with your place in the situation. Throughout the book Steven's voice is realistic and consistent and achingly real.
Steven's family isn't perfect (especially his father who is completely out of it). But his mother drops everything else in her life to become Steven's champ, as I know real mothers do when the situation (miserably) arises. Jeffrey is an amazing character, too. Annoying yet brave, whiny where any kid would be annoying, and head over heels crazy about his much older brother. I did find the introduction of Samantha, a sick girl whose older sister isn't there for her, a bit unlike reality. Steven Alper sits on stage at his graduation from eighth grade and reflects on the year. His five-year-old brother was diagnosed with leukemia in October and him and his family's world was turned upside down. His mother resigned her teaching job to care for Jeffrey, his father retreated into silence and Steven receded into his drumming and did little or no school work, except journaling in English class but turning down the pages so his teacher wouldn't know about his brother's cancer. For example Steven pretended to seem as if all was well until his crush since 3rd grade named Renee, whom everyone in the school had a crush on, was informed by her mom about the leukemia and the girl decided to go to their school's counselor and tell her. The part that bothered Steven most was the nerve the girl had to tell the counselor all the things she did and let their school find out about Steven's secret. Soon after the girl had told the counselor and his teachers found out as well and recognized why Steven's grades had been dropping. People give him sympathy and denial and this is exactly the opposite of what Steven wanted. He never wanted dozens of people going up to him and saying that they knew what he was going through; for no one really did. Anyways Steven's mom has a life shrouded with problems and doesn't know what to do next because of the torment she already gets from taking Jeffrey to Pennsylvania to get blood test to see how he is doing. After several months of the whole taking Jeffrey to get blood test his parents receive the hospital bills and get the news that this treatment for Jeff will cost the a large cost of 24,000 dollars and Jeffrey still has many months to go. Word gets out in his school and his fellow classmates try to think of ways to get this large some of money. Fortunately, there will be an All City concert with many people attending and Steven himself is in it along with a girl named Annette who had always seemed to like Steven through good and bad. Anyhow since Annette and Renee both feel bad for what Steven is going through they both begin thinking of how the concert itself could help raise money for Stevens's family to pay these bills. During one of the many bus rides Steven, Annette, Renee have they come up with the different promotion schemes they can come up with to sell more. Mainly Annette and Renee did all the needed thinking to give Steven a break from life. After many weeks and many tickets sold Steven's concert finally arrives and almost everyone goes in his town to help the family in need. Even after playing so much because of Stevens's concern from his brother he has made that time he had worthwhile and shows it at the concert and makes is an enjoyable concert. In only the halftime of the concert the family had already earned 20,000 dollars easy from all the proceeds. Sadly, Jeffrey gets a fever and the family is forced to take him to the hospital because even as Jeffrey is well, his defenses are very low so they don't take any chances. Even after Steven's big night is literally ruined he and his brother still show that they love each other dearly even after all the things that happened to their family that same year. In the end everyone is happy and Steven is considered to be a very popular and courageous kid at his school. Everyone is happy and Annette and Steven end up going out reluctantly after some time. Steven's family's income returns to normal after the big concert that got them total of $23,489.70. This had obviously taken a lot of worries off the family and helped then get financial recuperation. At the end you do notice that instead of looking for things you can't change look for those things you can change. That is the moral of this great story.
Summary of Drums, Girls, And Dangerous Pie
From first-time novelist Jordan Sonnenblick, a brave and beautiful story that will make readers laugh and break their hearts at the same time.
Thirteen-year-old Steven has a totally normal life: he plays drums in the All-Star Jazz band, has a crush on the hottest girl in the school, and is constantly annoyed by his five-year-old brother, Jeffrey. But when Jeffrey is diagnosed with leukemia, Steven's world is turned upside down. He is forced to deal with his brother's illness and his parents' attempts to keep the family in one piece. Salted with humor and peppered with devastating realities, DRUMS, GIRLS, AND DANGEROUS PIE is a heartwarming journey through a year in the life of a family in crisis.
Thirteen-year-old Steven has a totally normal life: he plays drums in the All-Star Jazz band, has a crush on the hottest girl in the school, and is constantly annoyed by his five-year-old brother, Jeffrey. But when Jeffrey is diagnosed with leukemia, Steven's world is turned upside down. He is forced to deal with his brother's illness and his parents' attempts to keep the family in one piece. Salted with humor and peppered with devastating realities, DRUMS, GIRLS, AND DANGEROUS PIE is a heartwarming journey through a year in the life of a family in crisis.
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