Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie by Jordan Sonnenblick is about a normal...no, wait...nerdy 8th grader named Steven Alper who has a passion for playing the drums. One morning his little brother, named Jeffery, complains that "his parts hurt" so being the well natured brother that Steven is, he made him his favorite "moatmeal." But Steven lets him sit on the tall bar stools they have, which his mom never lets Jeffery sit on because he might fall.(Hint, Hint, Nudge Nudge...) So of course, he falls off the stool, but he doesn't just fall off of the stool, he smacks his face of the counter top causing a nose bleed. This "special" noose bleed doesn't stop bleeding causing him to be sent to the E.R. While Jeffery is at the hospital, Steven is at school having a normal day not thinking about Jeffery, but still having problems talking to girls. When he gets home he expects to see Jeffery all normal and happy, but he isn't. When his mom gets home he learns that Jeffery is very sick and will be in the hospital for a while. It turns out that Jeffery has leukemia which is why his nose didn't stop bleeding. Earlier that day his jazz band teacher assigned a song for their big spring concert which ends up turning into a charity for the Alpers. They end up raising over 22,000 dollars for Jeffery, who in the end was cured of his disease.
         Overall I thought the book was sad, yet the author kept you entertained with Steven's witty and funny personality. One part quote from the book that I found , which will definitely change my ways, is from Steven's school counseler: "Don't keep agonizing about the things you can't change, try to change the things you can." All in all, I believe that this story is well worth your while because it teaches you mushy life lessons but at the same time it keeps you laughing and full of suspense.