Drums,+Girls,+&+Dangerous+Pie

Book Review by: Amanda Waring __ Bibliographic Data __
 * // Drums, Girls, & Dangerous Pie //**** by Jordan Sonnenblick **
 * Title: Drums, Girls, & Dangerous Pie
 * Author: Jordan Sonnenblick
 * ISBN-13:0545231167, 9780545231169
 * Publisher: DayBlue Insights, later published by Scholastic Paperbacks
 * Publication Date: January 1, 2004, published by Scholastic Paperbacks September 1, 2006
 * Format:
 * Pages: 304
 * Interest Level: Grades 3-7
 * Reading Level: 6.2 (grade level equivalent)

__ Summary __

Obsessed with playing the drums, the most popular girl in school, and keeping his five year old brother from touching his stuff, Steven is an average thirteen-year-old eighth grader. Steven’s life got turned upside down when his brother, Jeffery, got diagnosed with leukemia. All of the sudden Steven’s biggest problems are no longer making it to his drum lessons on time, talking to girls, or doing his homework. Now he is being dragged to doctor’s appointments and chemotherapy treatments trying to comfort his brother alongside his stressed and overtired parents who only seem to remember his existence when he’s in trouble. At school Steven is overwhelmed by the unwanted sympathy from friends and teachers whom he doesn’t feel understand and the overbearing concern from his teacher’s about his plummeting grades. Eighth grade has turned into a battle and Steven is afraid, alone, and unsure how he’s going to make it to graduation. __ Book Review __

This book is a great read for children in upper elementary grades or middle school. It addresses a lot of common struggles of late childhood and early adolescence, such as: awkward social encounters, crushes, parents, homework, and teachers. It also deals with the emotionally heavy subject of childhood cancer and the effect it has on not only the person who is sick, but also their entire family. This book helps students see and understand the perspectives of individuals in situations that they may not have experienced.

__ Author’s Biography __

// Drum’s, Girls, & Dangerous Pie // was Jordan Sonnenblick’s first of seven novels for children and young adults. A husband and father, of two Sonnenblick currently resides with his family in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Sonnenblick discovered his love for writing in high school and upon graduation attended the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. During his junior year in college he studied abroad in London, gaining an appreciation for Shakespeare, Wordsworth, and Charles Dickens. After graduating college Jordan joined Teach For America and was sent to Houston, Texas where he taught fifth grade for two years. After returning from Houston, Jordan spent eleven years teaching eighth grade English. It was in his last year of teaching that Sonnenblick found his inspiration for his first book and began his career as a novelist. Sonnenblick’s second novel, //After Ever After//, received the Schneider Family Book Award from the American Library Association. Jordan plans on continuing to write books as long as he has people want to read them.

__ Analysis of Literary Elements [Character Development] __

One of Sonnenblick’s greatest accomplishments in //Drums, Girls, & Dangerous Pie// was the way Steven was very relatable to his target audience. Steven is an average thirteen-year-old eighth grader whose experiences in school can be seen as relatable by any middle school or older elementary school student. Even though many children are lucky enough to not have to endure the tragic experiences that Steven had to share with his brother’s illness, Sonnenblick makes readers feel as if they are right there with Steven, seeing and understanding his perspective.

Steven also developed greatly as a character throughout the book. He started out as your average immature eighth grader and quickly became overprotective of his brother and distant from his friends and parents when Jeffery was first diagnosed. Later, he became bitter and spiteful towards his parents who he felt forgot about him, angry with his teachers who were harassing him for the work that he stopped doing, and annoyed by his friends who he was convinced didn’t understand him. Finally, Steven decided that the best thing he could do for his brother and his parents was to be responsible for himself. Steven’s development helped readers experience his journey with him and made his character even more realistic and relatable.

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