Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie is a book devoted to children and young adults, and is the 2004 debut novel by writer Jordan Sonnenblick, originally published by DayBlue Insights and later by Scholastic. Weekly Publishers describe it as "insightful".
Sonnenblick, an English teacher and former student writer Frank McCourt, was inspired to write a novel with a real life story from one of his own students.
Video Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie
Plot
The protagonist of this book is Steven Alper, a 13-year-old boy living in New Jersey. One day after a terrible bloody nose and a trip to the emergency room for his younger brother Jeffrey, Alpers was surprised to learn that Jeffrey had leukemia. Everyone in the Steven family was dumbfounded and his father was very anti-social with Steven when Jeffrey went for chemotherapy treatments. Steven gets very closed, but nobody really knows, except for the piano-magic, Annette Watson. Annette obviously had a crush on Steven, but she was not aware. No illness could get close to Jeffrey and when Steven got the flu, he had to stay with his grandparents.
When Steven first learned about his illness, he did not let anyone know until his teacher took action after he did not do his job. The counselor is the main help throughout the story. She finally comes clean and becomes popular and gets the attention of everyone, including her dream girl, Renee Albert. At one point, Steven's mother became ill, so Steven and his father had to take Jeffrey to his care. There he meets Sam, a girl with leukemia. Steven has a training ground with him and teaches him how to play, also lends his drumstick. He then died, leaving a note with a drumstick. After failing to finish his math, because he turned his tutor (Renee) because he was cold, and he did not want to expose Jeffrey, Steven was given valuable advice from a school counselor, "Instead of torturing about things you can not change, why do not you try to do things "Annette is a magical piano, and is in deep training for a program at Juilliard in Manhattan, until she falls off a ladder, breaking her arm in three places. Then, in his All-City band, high school students had to stop so they could do community service, Renee and Annette thought of a way to bring service into the band. They decided that their spring concert could be a charity concert for Alper. At the concert, the band had shaved their heads in honor of Jeffrey. However, just before Steven's great solo that night, Jeffrey got sick, and Steven received advice from the girl he only saw once, and went with Jeffrey to the hospital, and he was diagnosed with an ear infection. While at the hospital, he decides to check Sam, and finds out that he has died. The only thing left is his drumstick, which he lent to him in Chapter 17, "A Men's Journey". At the end of the story, it is stated that Annette and Steven fall in love and Jeffrey is in remission.
Maps Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie
Character
Steven Alper - Steven is the protagonist, drummer, and eighth grade student. Steven has a sense of sarcasm, humor and is very disturbed by his younger brother at the beginning of the story. She feels she's being ignored in most parts, she has a crush on Renee Albert and friendship with Annette. Steven was a very good student and had a normal life but when his brother Jeffrey was diagnosed with cancer everything changed.
Jeffrey Alper Jeffrey, or 'Jeffy' is Steven's brother who is diagnosed with ALL, acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Jeffy is described by Steven as 'too cute.' A very adorable 5-year-old Jeffrey as said in a book with blond hair (which he lost). He looked up at Steven and adored him.
Annette Watson - Annette is a clever friend of Steven and sometimes watches for Jeffy. He has an unknown crush on Steven, but sees that he likes Renee, and is sad, but not desperate. Steven was guided by him when he failed in his class. He then teamed up with Renee to help raise money for Jeffrey at their spring concert. Eventually, Steven noticed that he also liked her because he was starting to fall in love with her.
Renee Albert - Renee is a cheerleader and mathematician. She is the object of most men's affections. Steven, though deciding that Renee did not notice him for the right reasons, finally liked Annette. In the end he and Annette came together to help Steven's brother.
Master Watras - musician Steven band All-City Jazz. He is Steven's favorite teacher and mentor.
Miss Palma - English teacher Steven. He was the teacher who gave Steven a journal assignment, where Steven talked about his brother.
Mrs. Galai - Steven's guidance counselor at his school. Steven tells a lot about his problems, especially about Jeffrey who has cancer and the dream that he started experiencing that Jeffrey died in the winter when Steven threw things at him. He also rewards Steven for talking by giving him the heart of candy.
Samantha - Steven's friend met at the hospital who also suffered from leukemia. He eventually died with his mother at his side but without his sister. He leaves Steven with advice to stay with his brother whenever he needs it.
Mrs. Alper - Steven's mother; he cares and loves the two children. When he found out that Jeffrey had cancer he had to get out of Philadelphia with Jeffrey and leave Steven and her husband. He became very upset and very embarrassed throughout this book.
Mr. Alper - Mr. Alper is the father of 2 sons. It also becomes very difficult when Jeffrey gets cancer because he has to pay all the bills. Whenever his wife called from Philadelphia he could not tell Steven about Jeffrey. When they learned that Jeffrey had cancer he would not say a word to Steven, but in the end he did it and had an emotional touching moment with Steven.
Mr Stoll - Steven drum instructor. After financial problems with hospital bills, Mr. Stoll lets Steven have a drum lesson for free.
Biff - Guitar player in the All-City Jazz band, as well as girlfriend Renee Albert.
Sequel
Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie followed by After Ever After .
References
External links
- Review on teenreads.com
Source of the article : Wikipedia
0 Comments