Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie

I title this selection "A Brief Conversation Between Me and Steven Alper":

ME: Steven, why does your narrative voice sound like a forty year old trying to sound like a thirteen year old?

STEVEN: Uh...

ME: And while we're on the subject of voice, your sarcasm is grating and unoriginal.

STEVEN: Well, my brother has Leukemia. The least I can do is talk about myself and my own teenage problems!

ME: I suppose that explains your incessant narcissism. Another question- how do you suddenly become enlightened after visiting the hospital just once? I mean, HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN?! You had been a whiny brat for the majority of the book, and then something profound changed within the cold, dark barrens of your heavy teenage soul?

STEVEN: Somewhere in the show more last quarter of the book the author decided to give it that signature cliché happy ending of poorly-written young adult fiction- lest there actually be a realistic book about cancer- so he had to turn around my little sad-sap whining pretty quickly.

ME: That's what I thought. Oh, and also, why does Jeffrey talk like he's a med school graduate? The kid's FIVE!

STEVEN: I think we've already established that Jordan Sonnenblick is especially handicapped at dialogue.

ME: Don't get snappy with me, Alper. After all, you're a product of this man's piss-poor writing, so I don't think you have any leg to stand on here.

STEVEN: *Starts to complain*

ME: *Backhands Steven across the face* (In a low, intense action movie hero voice) I think we can all agree that this was a better ending than the book's.

(Scene ends with me standing over Steven's unconscious body, victorious)

As if it's any surprise, I was forced to read this in my English class, the same English class that forced me to read The Giver (catch my review of that here). And after reading that and this piece of crap, I have more faith then ever in my school's ability to unceasingly assign books that make me want to die.

The fact that this book has a 4.27 average rating is completely baffling. The narrative is, as I said above, piss-poor, and the "hilarious poignancy" that all of the other readers seem to have loved was not present- anywhere. Steven was, quite frankly, a whiny and self-centred brat. Sonnenblick failed utterly in trying to make Steven funny and witty, as instead he was overly sarcastic and selfish. Christ, I must have been reading a COMPLETELY different book than the one that other goodreaders described as "funny, wise, and touching"!

Perhaps the author, if he was trying to write a funny yet touching story of adolescence, should have taken a few notes from Ned Vizzini's It's Kind of a Funny Story, or David Levithan's The Realm of Possibility. They speak with realistic, poignant teenage voices without completely degrading adolescents as whiny brats. I have met six-year-olds that are more mature than Steven Alper.

I understand how authors use cancer as a plot device, but when it is misused as horridly as this cheap shot, I find it inexcusable. I should know how real people react to relatives with cancer- my grandfather died from it. And I can say for sure that I didn't act anything like Steven did- not even remotely the same- even though I was the same age (a year younger, even) than he was

And Steven's dialog isn't the only lacking one. The writing was not only confused, but horrifically clichéd: I could predict plot events, and they were major plot events, hundreds of pages in advance.
And a book that is that predictable, that heavy handed, is surely not a book that neither I nor anyone else should be reading.

This one will go down in history as one of the most stereotypical teen novels I've ever read. It will also live forever in infamy on my fictional list of awful mandatory books entitled, The Horrors of Eighth Grade English Class. show less

Recommended by Aimee Villet.

I read this too quickly to mark any quotes, but I loved this book. Every emotion and reaction Steven has feels entirely true and authentic. Just because his adorable, annoying little brother Jeffrey has leukemia doesn't mean everything else in Steven's life comes to a halt; he still has to deal with (or avoid) homework, he still has a crush on Renee, Annette still pesters and lectures him (but man, is she something on the piano), and he still has to eat - despite the fact that his mom is always at the hospital with Jeffrey and his dad doesn't cook, or even seem to realize that Steven is there...

DGaDP, more than almost any other book centered on a school-age character I've read, shows all aspects of his life show more in a balanced way: school, home, band, hospital, friends, parents, grandparents. Steven is aware of his parents' emotional and financial struggle, and he is aware of Jeffrey's fear and pain - he does his best to be a big older brother - but when even the grownups can't hope, how can he? Sometimes he disappears, and sometimes he stands up for himself and demands attention. Even without his parents' attention, however, Steven finds support from his friends, teachers, school counselor, band director, and even another cancer patient.

At thirteen, Steven is pretty self-centered, but he is also increasingly aware of other people; he is considerate and develops the ability to empathize. Mixed in with all the serious drama, there are laugh-out-loud moments, mostly from Steven's internal dialogue and thoughts.

Comp: The Wednesday Wars, Counting By 7s, TFIOS? show less

This is my son's required summer reading and I decided to read along. Book is about a young teenage boy, Steven, who goes through the typical rigors of 8th grade: girls, school, friendships and other teen angst. Then you throw in the devastating illnesses of his 7 year old brother, Jeffrey, and how the family copes with the medical bills, the constant uncertainty of his illness and how it affects Steven. I am hoping my son connects with the story as he is the same age as the main character and he has a younger brother too.

I am a softee and this book brought me to tears, made me laugh, made me want to hug on my boys hard.

I saw another review of this book that used the gif from Disney's Beauty and the Beast where Belle takes a book out of her basket, hugs it and says, "I just read the most WONDERFUL story". That is how I felt when I finished this book. I laughed, I cried, I hugged. I have so many students at my middle school who ask if we have The Fault in Our Stars , and I always tell them we don't have it because it is a high school book. Drums, Girls and Dangerous Pie is the book I will start steering them towards. It is a beautiful story of a family fighting cancer. The only raging teenage hormones in this story belong to our main character, Steven, who is madly crushing on the "hottest girl in 8th grade" and she doesn't really even know he's alive. show more It is a lovely coming-of-age story and besides hugging the book, I wish I could hug the author.

I loved the characters in this book! They were all so well drawn and I felt like they were all my friends. I cried for some and cheered for others. These were real people going through a horrific experience. Steven is a normal 8th grade boy with a little brother who bugs him. When that little brother gets cancer, it turns Steven's world upside-down. The stages of grief he went through were valid and normal. Was he perfect? No, he was an every day kid. I found that so refreshing. I particularly loved the chapter "Take Me!". In this chapter, Steven starts bargaining with God to save his brother. I think we all do the bargain-with-God thing when we are in those circumstances. Steven's bargains involved Ring Dings, never hitting his brother again, never having impure thoughts about the hottest girl in school again... A favorite quote:

"But let's face it - I am a thirteen-year-old American male. I have no willpower. So every night I'd go to bed totally convinced that I was going to gain twenty pounds and be a fat, violent pervert forever and that my little brother was doomed."

He attempts many other bargains throughout the course of that chapter, and the end of the chapter is hysterical. I read it out loud to my 6th graders when I book-talked this book. Read it and see. And yet we are never allowed to forget that behind all of the funny things that go on, there is the black cloud of cancer hanging over all their heads. This was so well done.

Another thing I loved about this book is the family dynamic. Once again, they are not perfect - they are normal. The dad is overburdened and worried about the mounting bills. The mom is naturally focusing most of her efforts on her 5 year old with cancer. They have problems, they have issues, but they remain a family and grow together throughout the process. Another favorite quote:

"Since when do you wear cologne to learn math? Oh, my son is growing up right in front of my very eyes. Maybe I should get out the video camera.

Maybe you should tie me to a stake, douse me in kerosene, and torch me right on our front lawn.

I won't need any kerosene, Steven - I'm sure the cologne will go up pretty fast!

Ha-ha, Mom. "

I have also discovered, through my vast experience of reading middle grade and Young Adult books, that if you want a true picture of how schools and teachers really are, read a book written by a teacher. So often in books the teachers are portrayed as total idiots or uncaring jerks. I appreciated the care and attention the teachers and counselors gave to Steven in this book. STEVEN doesn't always appreciate it, however (another case of real and normal).

One last thing - I'm a percussionist, so I thoroughly enjoyed all the drumming references. I can't remember the last time I heard the word "paradiddle". The band teacher, Mr. Watras, reminded me very much of my own Jr. High band teacher, Mr. Art Lies, who cared about us tremendously, but wasn't above chucking his baton at our heads when we weren't listening or playing correctly.

I can't recommend this book highly enough. I will definitely be reading more by Jordan Sonnenblick and continuing to book talk his books.

Areas of concern:
I don't think there are any concerns for parents in this one. Things that might have been a concern were handled so beautifully that they weren't a concern anymore.

http://read-me-maybe.blogspot.com show less

I listened to the audiobook version of this at night on a holiday, and it nearly broke my heart. Steven and Jeffrey are wonderful characters, their family is very well drawn, and Steven's friends are splendid. I laughed and laughed, and had horrible flashbacks to high school band preshow greenroom jitters. Steven's year is a string of disasters, family breakdowns, and unexpected hilarity, all deftly described.

“Will you just leave me alone!” You slam the door in your little brother’s face. Taking deep breaths, you close your eyes and try to calm down. But you just can’t when you open your eyes and see the destruction he’s caused. You hear your brother start to cry and run downstairs to mommy. Ugh, what an annoying little twerp. Your whole room is trashed… and I mean everything. Purple paint is splattered on your walls, your books are all torn in half with pages scattering the floor, and most of all, your drumsticks are broken in half and tossed on the floor! He touched your precious drumsticks! You can’t contain your rage as you scream into your pillow, letting it all out. You don’t know how long it’s been, but later your show more mom walks in and says through her tears, “Honey, your brother has cancer.” Suddenly, the world spins…

Steven Alper knows exactly how this feels. His little brother, Jeffrey is the MOST annoying little boy on planet Earth. He does everything possible to bother and irritate Steven, and yet Steven is always the one who gets in trouble for everything. After all, Jeffrey is only five years old. And what’s worse, not only is Jeffrey adorable, but he also adores Steven. The only problem is that in the process he destroys everything. But how can you stay mad at a cute little boy like Jeffrey?

Steven not only has Jeffrey to deal with, but as an eighth grader he has school, girl issues, and playing the drums to focus on. Life can be rough at times, and extremely hectic, but Steven’s life is about to be turned upside down. It was just a normal morning at home, but after a sudden nose bleed, Jeffrey was rushed to the hospital. Who knew that something was wrong, how could there have been a way to know? Jeffrey was diagnosed with cancer, at only five years old. What will this mean for Steven, and how will Jeffrey take it? Where’s that annoying little brother when Steven needs him the most? All is revealed in Jordan Sonnenblick’s heart-wrenching, yet laugh out loud story of one boy’s journey learning to cope and deal with the impossible in, Drums, Girls, & Dangerous Pie!

This book is an absolute must-read for anyone looking for a fun read that touches on serious and deep issues. Drums, Girls, & Dangerous Pie made me feel raw emotion, and I was surprised at how easily I could shift from crying with tears dripping onto the page, to suddenly smiling through the tears and chuckling along. Jordan Sonnenblick’s writing had this magical affect on me, and I was able to feel everything that he was trying to get across the page. A fantastic read for pre-teens and teens alike with its heart-warming story.

I think one of the main reasons why I enjoyed this book so much was the fact that the writing felt very easy-going and it was as if a boy in the eighth grade was truly talking to me right then and there. The writing in Drums, Girls, & Dangerous Pie made me laugh, it made me cry, it made me mad and it made me hopeful. It was extremely humorous to read about Steven’s retellings of many of Jeffrey’s crazy incidents. It was also very cute to read the parts of the dialogue that were Jeffrey’s. His five-year-old cuteness was evident, and there was nothing to do but smile.

The story behind Drums, Girls, & Dangerous Pie was very real as well. I was able to relate extremely well with Steven and what he was going through. My own grandpa was diagnosed with cancer, and within a couple of months he passed away. I really felt like I had a connection with Steven, like how suddenly the news was thrust upon me, and who knew how it would all turn out. Also, during the story Steven is in the eighth grade, just as I am. It was a cinch connecting with the stresses of junior high that Steven experienced. I’m sure many readers can relate to Steven and Jeffrey’s own story.

I would actually have enjoyed to have seen this book be a bit longer though. I felt like my journey with Steven and Jeffrey was over much too soon. I can’t wait to read some more of Jordan Sonnenblick’s other books such as, Notes from the Midnight Driver.

To sum it all up, Drums, Girls, & Dangerous Pie is a powerful book that will have you feeling an array of emotions. With a lighthearted take on everything, this read will be sure to have you laughing along even in the most saddening of times. Join Steven as he learns what really matters in life and just how important family is in, Drums, Girls, & Dangerous Pie!

-This is T.B. with Another Book Back on the Shelf…
Until Next Time, Keep Reading! show less

Reviewed by Christian C. for TeensReadToo.com

"The most annoying thing in the world is...My little brother, Jeffrey." That's what thirteen-year-old Steven Alper had written in his journal for his English class. But on October 7th, everything changed. Jeffrey had a small accident in the kitchen, was taken to the emergency room, and was diagnosed with leukemia.

Steven's life turns upside down, and just when he needs his parents the most, his mom has to spend most of her days at the hospital taking care of his brother, and his dad is mostly keeping to himself, too worried about the bills to spend time with or even talk to his oldest son. Steven wants to believe that everything will just go back to normal, and tries to release his anger, show more anxiety, and fears by playing the drums. But his brother doesn't seem to be getting any better, and Steven has a hard time concentrating at school, he's not turning in his homework, and his grades are starting to fall behind. To make things worse, he doesn't want anyone to find out what is going on--but somehow his best friend, Annette, the school counselor, and even Renee Albert, the hottest girl in the eighth grade, all seem to know that something is not right.

This unforgettable novel took me on an incredibly moving ride. And when I felt I was all the way down on this emotional roller coaster, and found myself struggling to see the words through my tears, Sonnenblick lifted me up gently, word by word, page by page, and put a grin on my face that eventually turned into a big smile and then an out-loud laugh. The author's great voice shows real characters with real feelings, and the true struggle of a teenager trying to understand the unfairness of a deadly disease, and how to cope with the fear of losing his beloved little brother.

So you think your little brother is a pest? You will think again after reading this touching story.

Tissues are highly recommended.

The paperback edition of DRUMS, GIRLS, & DANGEROUS PIE also includes a section with an interview, information about the author, tips on writing, and a preview of Jordan Sonnenblick's next novel, NOTES FROM THE MIDNIGHT DRIVER. show less