Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie by Jordan Sonnenblick
Plot: 13-year-old Steven’s life is interrupted suddenly when his 5-year-old brother Jeffrey is diagnosed with cancer. Steven’s life changes at home and at school as he deals with his brother’s illness, his parents’ reaction to it, and the emotional and financial repercussions the family must face because of Jeffrey’s diagnosis. Sonnenblick’s writing is simple, but he understands young teens and perfectly captures Steven’s struggle with his own coming of age story while dealing with a family tragedy. This book is an excellent example of how illness affects everyone in a family, and would serve as an excellent resource for teens who are going through a difficult time (or any sort) with their family. I am interested in reading more of Sonnenblick’s writings, particularly the follow-up book to Drums, Girls & Dangerous Pie, which follows Jeffery’s story several years after his initial diagnosis.
Would you recommend this book? Yes.
4 stars
–Lisa