To me, the line between young adult literature and books for grown-ups is a vague one, and one I’m not that bothered with: for me, it’s all about the story. Jorden Sonnenblick’s Drums, Girls & Dangerous Pie is aimed at an even younger audience, and it didn’t bother me at all because, holy sweet mother of all things bright and shiny, what a story.
Steven Alper is just your average 13-year old: he plays the drums, the totally hot girl he has a crush on doesn’t seem to notice he’s alive, you know the stuff. Life’s hard for boys too, you know? Then his annoying little brother—aren’t they all?—is diagnosed with leukemia, and now Steven is forced to deal with that, his family slowing falling apart, homework, band practice and more girls.
I finished the book in a couple of hours. That’s partly because, let’s face it, I’m over twice the age of the intended reader. But for the most part, it’s because it’s a brilliant book. It’s funny, it’s sad, it breaks your heart a bit, and then, in the end, it all sorta kinda ends well.
- Jordan Sonnenblick — Drums, Girls & Dangerous Pie
- There’s a beautiful girl to my left, another to my right.