Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie Audio CD – CD, February 20, 2011

Jordan Sonnenblick masterfully weaves together humor, heart, and profound themes in this coming-of-age story. The protagonist, Steven, navigates the challenges of adolescence and family dynamics with authenticity and relatability. The incorporation of music and the unique narrative style make it a standout in young adult literature. Sonnenblick tackles difficult topics with sensitivity, leaving readers both laughing and teary-eyed. This book is a rollercoaster of emotions, proving that even in the face of adversity, there can be moments of joy and resilience.

I had the opportunity to hear Jordan Sonnenblick speak to a group of middle school students last week when I was substitute teaching. I had already read After Ever After, the sequel to the book Drums, Girls & Dangerous Pie, but had not read anything else he had written. I was impressed by what Jordan shared with the kids. He used to be an 8th grade English teacher and he knows how to talk to middle school kids. He told the story behind the book Drums, Girls, & Dangerous Pie, which was very interesting and I decided to read this book.This book is about an 8th grade boy whose 4 year old brother gets Leukemia and how that affects him and his family. Jordan wrote this book because when he was teaching 8th grade, he had a student whose younger brother had cancer and he looked for a book for her about a middle school student with a sibling who had cancer and he could not find any. The book tells how when Jordan's brother was diagnosed with cancer, it threw his family into crisis mode, he stopped doing schoolwork, played the drums more, and how his parents and family life were affected. He did a good job of telling the story and I think that this book can help middle school kids to understand how cancer can affect a family. It is also just a really good story.I enjoyed this book and it's sequel and look forward to reading his other books.Mr. Sonnenblick's newest book, Curveball: The Year I Lost My Grip , is coming out on March 1 of this year and he says that if people pre-order it, he can be on the New York Times Best Seller List and his mother will be proud of him.

My kids liked this book

It was such a great book. Even in the darkest moments The main character always made me laugh. And I don't laugh in a lot of books. I also kinda cried a little in this book and I don't cry a lot either. I do recommend reading this if you're in like 7th or higher because there's so many things you may not understand. This book is actually the second book in my life that I actually enjoyed. So you should go and read it yourself.

The media could not be loaded. I wasn’t expecting this to be so thick but when I opened the book I saw that the content was larger print than I expected too. My son has been able to get through this book and actually enjoys the story! Thank goodness!!! I say it’s a win!!

The book was delivered the next day! It was in perfect condition.

I'm not normally a big fan of realistic fiction, but I picked this book up after it was recommended to me by some friends. I put it off for about three years before I broke down and bought the book. Thankfully it did not disappoint.Steven is a normal eighth grade boy. He's in band and has a crush on a girl way out of his league. He lives with his brother (Jeffery) and two parents. His life is fairly stable. One of the biggest problems he has is a brother about eight years younger than him who finds pleasure in making his older brother miserable. When a nose bleed turns bad, he finds himself living in his brothers shadow. He begins to wish that his little brother could be like he was before October, when he had the life changing nose bleed. This book deals with the topic of childhood cancer with a new angle. Trust me when I say that people tend to forget about the brothers and sisters of those diagnosed. They see it all. The book goes at the topic in a way that not many books do. The characters seemed real. Several times I wanted to talk with Steven so badly it hurt.This book seemed to get a little close to home. I know a girl whose younger brother was diagnosed with cancer when he was three. She was in middle school like Steven and many of the things I saw her go through, Steven went through as well. So many of the small things added up. When Steven called Jeffy buddy boy reminded me of all the times I've called my own brother that. Steven's world is real, and this book crafted it perfectly.

I purchased this book after finding out that my son (7th grade) was reading it in his LA class. My husband passed 3 years ago after a difficult 9 month battle with T-PLL (very aggressive form of leukemia) and I was concerned the story-line would be difficult for my son to not only read but openly discuss with his peers. Although he assured me he was "fine with it" I had to read it for myself "just in case" and in "just in case." I laughed, cried, and relived difficult moments but most of all realized that my son needed to read this story. In fact, he couldn't put it down. I believe the protagonist offers insight into what can be a very lonely and isolating experience for children dealing with a parent or siblings diagnosis and that this is not only relatable but healing. The protagonist is burdened by fear, guilt, resentment as well as typical teenage angst - this I believe is the most important lesson taken from the story. Despite the horrors, Steven is still Steven - touching on what is important to remember when interacting with kids going through this - they don't want to be defined by how cancer effected them regardless of how much it has. For a multitude of reasons DRUMS, GIRLS, and DANGEROUS PIE should be required reading.

My youngest child had leukemia, and his siblings loved this book. It is a beautiful, accurate look at trauma, childhood cancer, told with sensitivity and humour. Great book.

This is seriously a book full of emotions. You would be crying & laughing at the same time

For 273 pages, I cried. Sometimes I was just a wee bit choked up, other times it was gut-wrenching sobs. For the several hours it took me to read this one Sunday afternoon a few weeks ago, nothing else existed. It pulled me in and didn't let me go.Told from the POV of Steven, this is both a tear-jerker and laugh out loud funny. The narration is genuinely amusing and Steven's voice comes across as sarcastic and witty. The story is not exaggerated, it is fantastically simple and to the point, and there is none of the emotional manipulation that I hate in books and films. It's both sad and funny because Steven pops out of the page fully formed, he's likable but flawed, and that's where the emotional impact of the book comes from. Steven is realistic and could be someone I went to school with. He could be me, my best friend, my elder brother. Upon Jeffrey's diagnosis, he retreats into himself. Drumming becomes his whole focus, schoolwork forgotten. He begins to unravel further when he thinks no one even notices his lack of interest in anything. He begins pointless bargaining: if he doesn't brush his teeth, Jeffrey will get better. But someone notices and informs the school counsellor, which is where he begins to turn everything back around and deal with Jeffrey's illness. He gets annoyed at being patronised by his friends and teachers, resents Jeffrey because he is the sole focus of their parents and craves some attention which is not linked to his brother's cancer. But, in the end, he is there for the most important person in his life. He is there for Jeffrey.Jeffrey is another amazing character in a book full of them. He just accepts his illness in a way that children seem to do. He deals with the consequences and side-effects of his treatments far better than anyone else in his family. He's sweet, funny and annoying and if I had a little brother, he wouldn't be a bad one to have.Their parents are also well drawn out. Their mother is virtually the sole carer for Jeffrey as their father is coping even less well than Steven. Watching their father's emotions through Steven's eyes is particularly tough but also necessary as it is the point where Steven realises he is not the only one who can't cope.The writing was brilliant, Steven really did sound like a snarky thirteen year old (I have experience, I was one myself) and I felt like it read like personal diary of someone who had genuinely experienced this sort of thing.I honestly can't pick a fault with this book. It was the perfect length and I'm glad it wasn't longer as I don't think I could have handled any more heartache. If you get the chance, pick up this book. You won't regret it.

Amazing

Good read. My kids love it