-->

Katie Vanko- One of my Favorite YA Fiction Books!  

EDRL 524: Fall 2014 SSU

Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie by Jordan Sonnenblick        

        Popular young adult fiction seems to be centered on believable, real-life challenges that teenagers face everyday.  Difficult family dynamics, and confusing first crushes capture the attention of coming of age readers.  If you are a John Green fan, then you should read Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie by Jordan Sonnenblick. 

         This novel fits into the genre of realistic fiction.  It will absolutely evoke strong emotions from readers.  It is recommended for middle school aged students, sixth grade and above.  In analyzing content and structure of the novel, it is simply written.  While it is easy to comprehend, some readers might be disturbed by discussion of cancer and sickness.

That being said, it is very approachable, and is a novel that my own students connect with.    Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie is about a boy named Steven.  He is in eighth grade, living with a family that makes him crazy the majority of the time.  Steven tells the story from his point of view, connecting with readers from a real, raw perspective.  His thirteen-year old self is delineated very well as de describes his everyday experiences.  He is in the school band, earns decent grades, and must navigate his way through his first crushes.  His life seems painfully normal until his younger brother Jeffery is diagnosed with a form of leukemia.  Not only is his family altered forever, but Steven is treated differently when others find out about Jeffery’s illness. 

         The author reaches a diverse audience with this novel.    Virtually everyone has known someone with an illness.  Readers have had to go through awkward teenage years, and overcome unforeseen obstacles like illness, or changing family dynamics.  The author maintains a level of humor throughout serious scenes in the novel, showing readers how Steven deals with his brother’s illness.  Though there are no action filled adventure scenes, this novel is about life.  It is very easy to relate to, and the author intends to show readers ways to cope with life events. 

         “Instead of agonizing about the things you can't change, why don't you try working on the things you can change.” (p.184).  Read this inspiring novel, recognizing your own blessings, while considering how you might deal with trying times.