Drums, Girls & Dangerous Pie (Drums, Girls & Dangerous Pie #1)

Reader reviewed by Brenda

13 year old Steven is just a normal kid who likes to play the drums, and hes pretty good at it. He has a girl he has a major crush on and another girl whos just a friend. Then, his 5-year-old brother gets sick. His parents are completely absorbed by dealing with his brothers illness, and Steven pretty much has to fend for himself a lot of the time.

This book will make you cry, and not because any of the main characters die. Its touching because of the way Steven and his parents find themselves in the midst of the chaos caused by life-threatening illness.

Reader reviewed by Amanda

If my boss hadn't recommended this book, I never would have read it and therefore would never have had the amazing reading experience that I did last night. I know that I will rave about this book for years and years to come and will forever be recommending it to children and adults.


Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie was written by Jordan Sonnenblick and follows Steven Alper, a young man that loves playing the drums, loves looking at pretty girls (especially Renee), and really dislikes having a younger brother. 7 year old Jeffrey is almost half Steven's age, yet gets into twice as much trouble and is definitely twice as annoying. When Jeffrey is diagnosed with leukemia and proceeds to get very sick, Steven's entire life is turned upside down. His days are no longer filled with simple drum practices, homework, or girl chasing. They are filled with a sick little brother that loves him more than anything and expects him to be the brave one.


As the reader learns more about Jeffrey and Steven, we learn what a brotherly bond is truly about. We learn what true friendships are and what really matters in life. If this book had been written this year, it would be my number one choice for middle grade fiction. Unfortunately it was originally published in 2004, making it a few years too late! However long ago it was written, this was an amazing story, one that I would recommend over and over again to adults and children alike. It was funny, sad, and so real. If you're like me and are just being introduced to this book, RUN out and get it from a bookstore or a library. If you've read it before, go back and enjoy it again. You won't regret it.

Reader reviewed by Leah



This book was a book about cancer, but it wasn't just sad sad sad, it was funny too. That's not somethign common, its not like the Lurlene McDaniel books where all you do is sob through the whole thing. Steven, the narrator has just found out that his little brother has ALL- a very serious form of Lukemia. The disease affects everyone in the family, his dad struggles to pay the medical bills, his mom quit her job for the many appointments, and Steven finds a safe haven on the drum set. With two good friends beside, and a very lonely cancer patient, Steven learns that its more important to love your family before anything else because frankly, they're all you've got.

Reader reviewed by Infolady

This book reveals the emotional struggle of an eighth-grade boy who has found out that his younger brother has leukemia, this novel paints an honest and moving picture of how adolescents deal with tough issues. Written by a middle school teacher from the perspective of a 13-year-old boy. This was a really good book!! I liked it a lot and it kept me reading it. The reader really enjoys getting to know the characters and the many situations that arise in the story.