Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie by Jordan Sonnenblick
SUMMARY: Steven Alper is a typical eighth-grader--smarter than some, a better drummer than most, but with the usual girl problems and family trials. Then, on October 7, his five-year-old brother, Jeffrey, falls, has a nosebleed that doesn't stop, and is diagnosed with leukemia. All hell breaks loose. Mrs. Alper's days and nights revolve around getting Jeffrey to his chemotherapy treatments, and Mr. Alper retreats into a shell, coming out only occasionally to weep over the mounting medical bills. Steven becomes the forgotten son, who throws himself into drumming, even as he quits doing his homework and tries to keep his friends from finding out about Jeffrey's illness. Sonneblick shows that even in the midst of tragedy, life goes on, love can flower, and the one thing you can always change is yourself. (adapted from the Booklist review)
OPINION: The main character of the story is an 8th-grade boy, and there aren't too many 8th grade boys who don't love drums and girls! I guess that explains the first two words in the title. (Actually, as a drummer, that was a highlight of the book for me.) However, the seemingly fluffy title of this book belies the depth of emotion that it contains. This book actually becomes very serious as Steve's family falls apart while dealing with his brother's illness. But, despite the content, the story is optimistic, humorous, and not totally depressing. It made me cry, but I loved it. This is a great realistic fiction read.
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