Jacob Sutton

Drums, Girls and Dangerous Pie Literary Essay

 

In the book Drums, Girls and Dangerous Pie by Jordan Sonnenblick, the Alpert family undergoes challenges whiling coping with the illness of their youngest son Jeffrey.  The book however primarily focuses on how this illness affects their oldest son Steven.  

Steven Alpert is a typical eighth grade middle-schooler.  He is sarcastic, self-absorbed and a gifted drummer who is a member of the school band.  Steven is also obsessed with Renee, the hottest girl in the school.  When his five year old brother Jeffrey gets Leukemia, Steven’s world is turned upside down.  Jeffrey’s illness winds up having a transformative effect as he gradually begins to grow into a mature and responsible young man.  Throughout the book, Sonnenblick shows the reader some of the ways Steven matures.

                Steven is having an emotionally difficult time with his brother’s illness.  In response to this, he falls behind in his school work.  When Renee, the girl Steven has been in love with since third grade, volunteers to come to his house to tutor him Steven can hardly wait.  He combs his hair (which he never does), wears his best shirt and even puts on cologne.  When Renee finally gets to Steven’s house and says she thinks she is coming down with a cold, Steven is put in a difficult situation.  Telling Renee, the girl of Steven’s dreams, that she can’t come into the house, is difficult for Steven, but he knows that Jeffrey’s Leukemia has made him very weak.  If Jeffrey gets even the slightest cold from Renee it could be fatal.  Here Steven has done the responsible thing.  Rather than doing what was best for him, he did what was best for his brother. 

                Another way the author portrays Steven’s growth is related to an incident that takes place at Jeffrey’s school.  Jeffrey comes to visit his class after months in the hospital.  Adam, the new kid in Jeffrey’s class, introduces himself to Jeffrey and says; “Hi, I’m Adam.  You’re bald”.  This is when Jeffrey finally realizes that his Leukemia has made him different and makes him feel very sad.  Steven shows his support for his little brother by shaving his own head.  This brings a smile to Jeffrey’s face and makes him feel supported and appreciated.    This is another way that Steven acts in the best and most responsible way he can for his brother.

                The first time Steven goes to the hospital with Jeffrey, he meets a girl named Samantha.  Samantha is Steven’s age and has been suffering with Leukemia for some time.  She tells Steven that her sister is in college and never comes to visit her.  This makes her feel unsupported and alone.  Samantha tells Steven to always be there for Jeffrey no matter what.  This encounter with Samantha winds up playing an important role in Steven’s growth.  

At Steven’s band concert, which he has been practicing for all year,  the band members decide that all the money raised at the concert should go to Steven’s family to help pay for Steven’s medical treatment.  Steven has dreams of being the star of the show.  This is clearly the biggest moment of Steven’s life.  During the show Jeffrey starts to run a fever.  Steven has a choice.  He can keep playing in his concert, or leave with his parents to take Jeffrey to the hospital.  He remembers what Samantha told him and without hesitation acts responsibly and decides to accompany Jeffrey to the hospital. 

The book Drums, Girls and Dangerous Pie by Jordan Sonnenblick, is mainly about the influence Jeffrey’s illness has on his older brother Steven, and how he learns from it.  Even when difficult choices have to be made, Steven winds up doing what’s best for Jeffery.  Steven gradually changes from a sarcastic and self-absorbed teen, into a caring, responsible, and mature young man.