Lit Essay

Oscar Mendez

705

Drums, Girls,

and

Dangerous Pie

Jordan Sonnenblick

     Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie is a novel by Jordan Sonnenblick, telling about the life of 8th grader, Steven Alper, and eventually, his new outlook on life after his Brother Jeffrey, develops cancer. In the beginning of the story, Steven didn't enjoy his brothers company, and kind of resented him, he always thought of his brother as "The most annoying thing in the world," But towards the end of the story, Steven ends up becoming the protector of Jeffrey.

     Renee is the most beautiful and the most popular girl at his school, and Steven has had a crush on her since first grade. But when she is sick and goes to his home to tutor him, Steven doesn't let her inside. This is one way how Steven ends up becoming the protector of Jeffrey. There was a time where Steven was really depressed about the condition in which his brother was in, and for a long time, Steven didn't pay attention in class, he didn't listen, and he wouldn't do his homework, so he was really struggling with his school work. With encouragement from their math teacher, and because Renee knew about Steven's situation, she agreed to tutor him. On the evening she came by, Renee was sick, and Steven knew that due to Jeffrey's cancer, he couldn't be exposed to sickness, so he waved Renee off, and Steven was hurt, he had waved off a girl with whom he had had a crush on since first grade, and it was hard on him, but he knew it had to be done, because Jeffrey was in unstable condition. Steven had to sacrifice an evening with the girl he had a crush on since first grade, this is one way how he was the protector of Jeffrey.

     There was a time where Steven's mom couldn't take Jeffrey to the hospital in Philadelphia, because she too was sick, so it was up to Steven and his dad to spend a week with Jeffrey at the Philly Hospital, This is another way how Steven becomes the protector of Jeffrey. Steven's Mom knows about everything that has do with Jeffrey and his Medical procedures, but she becomes sick, and is unable to take Jeffrey to Philly, so the task is given to the men of the family, Steven and his father, they take up the huge task of taking Jeffrey to Philly, and staying with him for a week. When the two and a half men arrive at the hospital, Steven as well as his father have to witness the usual procedure in which Jeffrey has to go through, and the procedure is nothing pretty, and Steven doesn't like seeing it, but stays strong, and holds his brother's hand while all of this happens, even though he hates seeing this, and he does this for a whole week. He stays strong and supports his brother at times that Jeffrey needed him, this is one way how Steven becomes the protector of Jeffrey.

     Steven is a great drummer, he has been drumming for a very long time, and he is excellent, and he was chosen to play at all-city, a performance where the whole city attends, and it is his dream, but he had to give it up, for his brother, this is another way how he becomes the protector of Jeffrey. Steven is a really great drummer, he is actually really, really great. To perform at all-city, is something that he dreamed about for a long time, and it was something he was finally able to do, he has practiced for a long time, and it was to be a dream come true. Steven was finally able to play at all-city, he played a really excellent number, and at intermission, he had to leave to the hospital, because his brother as guest of honor, got sick, and he forgot the doll he always uses to help him at those times, so he asked Steven if he could go with him, Steven was heartbroken, but he knew it was for the best, so he decided to go, and left his dreams in the dust, but he did it, because he knew that any sickness could literally kill him, and because his brother needed him, so he went along. Steven left his dream to help his brother, this is one way how Steven became the protector of Jeffrey.

     As you can see, Steven Alper, through the progress of the story from beginning to end, came from thinking that Jeffrey was, "The most annoying thing in the world," to becoming the protector of Jeffrey. Steven Alper refused to let inside the most beautiful and popular girls at his school tutor him, because she was sick, and didn't want to hurt his brother, This is one reason. Another reason is that Steven stayed strong and supported his brother when he needed him most. Finally, Steven abandoned his dream of playing in All-City, to go and support his brother at the hospital. Steven Alper went so far, even leaving his dream, to help his brother, if one brother goes so far to help his brother, why can't we? Why are we so preoccupied, that we can't even help ourselves? If there's one thing we can learn from Steven, is that we should go out on our way to help, because in the long run, it really helps.