Drums, Girls and Dangerous Pie by Jordan Sonnenblick Date of Publication: 2004 ISBN: 0-439-75520-4 Number of Pages: 273

REQUIRED READING ABILITY: Junior: High Intermediate: Average
GENRES: Realism
THEMES : Life versus Death - Sacrifice and Redemption – Family - Loyalty - Coming of Age

SUMMARY:
Steven is your typical grade 8 student with the obligatory crush on the prettiest girl in school (who doesn't know he's alive) and an enormous talent on the drums. His brother, Jeffrey, is 5 and is “toooo cute,” which annoys Steven no end.

His year begins in the normal fashion but takes a nose-dive in October when his kid brother is diagnosed with a leukemia. Steven has a rollercoaster of a year dealing with school, his love of music, his desire for the girl of his dreams, helping with his brother, surviving the family dynamics, dealing with his own fears and normal teen angst, a lack of family finances, and a father who isn't coping. He is helped along the way by his best friend, Annette, and some wonderful, caring teachers.

WHO WOULD LOVE THIS BOOK? A kid who...
- absolutely loves drums and drumming
- is into music and bands
- has an irritating younger sibling
- has dealt with serious family illness and/or death

WHAT ELSE?
Even though it is a serious topic, the book is quite funny at times, just as it is quite a tear jerker at other times.