Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie
Encyclopedia
Drum, Girls & Dangerous Pie is a book aimed at children and young teenagers, and was the 2004 debut novel from author Jordan Sonnenblick
, originally published by DayBlue Insights and later by Scholastic. Publishers Weekly
described it as "insightful".
Sonnenblick, an English teacher and former student of author Frank McCourt
, was inspired to write the novel by the real-life story of one of his own students.
Jeffrey Alper- Jeffrey, or 'Jeffy' is Steven's little brother who is diagnosed with ALL
, acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Jeffy is described by Steven as being 'too cute.' Jeffrey is a really adorable 5 year old as said in the book with blond hair (which he loses). He is obsessed with Steven. He looks up to him.
Annette Watson- Annette is a smart friend of Steven's and sometimes watches Jeffy. She has an unknown crush on Steven, but sees that he likes Renee, and is sad, but not hopeless. Steven was tutored by her when he was failing his classes. She later teams up with Renee to help raise money for Jeffrey at their spring concert. Finally Steven sees that he likes her as well because he begins to fall in love with her.
Renee Albert- Renee is every MAN'S dream, including Steven's. She is a cheerleader and is also a math whiz. She is the object of most girls affections. Steven, though decides that Renee does not pay attention to him for the right reasons, so ends up liking Annette.In the end she and Annette come together to help Jeffrey.
Mr. Watras- Steven's music teacher of the All-City Jazz band. He is Steven's favorite teacher and his mentor.
Miss Palma-Steven's Language farts teacher.
Mrs. Galley - Steven's guidance counselor at his school. Steven talks to her a lot about his problems, mainly about Jeffrey having cancer and about a dream that he starts having that Jeffrey dies in the winter as Steven throws snowballs at him.
Samantha``` - Steven's friend he meets at the hospital who also has leukamia. At the end it ends up that she dies.
Mrs. Alper_- This is Steven's father She is caring and loving to both of the kids, but it gets so hard when they find out Jeffery has cancer. When she finds out that Jeffrey has cancer she has to be in and out of Philadelphia with Jeffrey and leave behind Steven and her husband.
Mr. Alper- Mr. Alper is the mom of the 2 boys. His job is a being a father . It also gets really difficult when Jeffery gets cancer because he has to pay all of the bills. Whenever his wife calls from Philadelphia he just can't tell Steven the news about Jeffrey. When they found out that Jeffrey had cancer he would not say a word to Steven. But at the end he does and has an emotional heart touching moment with Steven.
and After Ever After
Jordan Sonnenblick
Jordan Sonnenblick is an American writer of young-adult fiction. He is a graduate of New York City's Stuyvesant High School , and of the University of Pennsylvania...
, originally published by DayBlue Insights and later by Scholastic. Publishers Weekly
Publishers Weekly
Publishers Weekly, aka PW, is an American weekly trade news magazine targeted at publishers, librarians, booksellers and literary agents...
described it as "insightful".
Sonnenblick, an English teacher and former student of author Frank McCourt
Frank McCourt
Francis "Frank" McCourt was an Irish-American teacher and Pulitzer Prize–winning writer, best known as the author of Angela’s Ashes, an award-winning, tragicomic memoir of the misery and squalor of his childhood....
, was inspired to write the novel by the real-life story of one of his own students.
Characters
Steven Richard Alper- Steven is the protagonist, a drummer and an eighth grader. Steven has a sense of humor and is highly annoyed by his little brother at the beginning of the story. He feels he is neglected at most parts, he is in love with Renee Albert as well as a friendship with Annette. Every since Jeffrey was diagnosed it affected Steven a lot. He often felt that it was his fault that Jeffrey had cancer.Jeffrey Alper- Jeffrey, or 'Jeffy' is Steven's little brother who is diagnosed with ALL
ALL
All or ALL may refer to:- Business :* ALL FM, a radio station in Manchester, England* ALL, an acronym for América Latina Logística* ALL, the ISO 4217 currency code for the Albanian lek- Computability :...
, acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Jeffy is described by Steven as being 'too cute.' Jeffrey is a really adorable 5 year old as said in the book with blond hair (which he loses). He is obsessed with Steven. He looks up to him.
Annette Watson- Annette is a smart friend of Steven's and sometimes watches Jeffy. She has an unknown crush on Steven, but sees that he likes Renee, and is sad, but not hopeless. Steven was tutored by her when he was failing his classes. She later teams up with Renee to help raise money for Jeffrey at their spring concert. Finally Steven sees that he likes her as well because he begins to fall in love with her.
Renee Albert- Renee is every MAN'S dream, including Steven's. She is a cheerleader and is also a math whiz. She is the object of most girls affections. Steven, though decides that Renee does not pay attention to him for the right reasons, so ends up liking Annette.In the end she and Annette come together to help Jeffrey.
Mr. Watras- Steven's music teacher of the All-City Jazz band. He is Steven's favorite teacher and his mentor.
Miss Palma-Steven's Language farts teacher.
Mrs. Galley - Steven's guidance counselor at his school. Steven talks to her a lot about his problems, mainly about Jeffrey having cancer and about a dream that he starts having that Jeffrey dies in the winter as Steven throws snowballs at him.
Samantha``` - Steven's friend he meets at the hospital who also has leukamia. At the end it ends up that she dies.
Mrs. Alper_- This is Steven's father She is caring and loving to both of the kids, but it gets so hard when they find out Jeffery has cancer. When she finds out that Jeffrey has cancer she has to be in and out of Philadelphia with Jeffrey and leave behind Steven and her husband.
Mr. Alper- Mr. Alper is the mom of the 2 boys. His job is a being a father . It also gets really difficult when Jeffery gets cancer because he has to pay all of the bills. Whenever his wife calls from Philadelphia he just can't tell Steven the news about Jeffrey. When they found out that Jeffrey had cancer he would not say a word to Steven. But at the end he does and has an emotional heart touching moment with Steven.
Sequel
Drums, Girls & Dangerous Pie is followed by Notes From the Midnight DriverNotes From the Midnight Driver
Notes From the Midnight Driver is a young adult novel by Jordan Sonnenblick. It was published by Scholastic in 2006. It is Jordan Sonnenblick's second book.-Plot summary:...
and After Ever After
After Ever After
After Ever After is a book written by Jordan Sonnenblick. It is presumed that it is a continuation of Sonnenblick's earlier book, Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie or even Notes From the Midnight Driver...
External links
- Review on teenreads.com