Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie is this year's selection for All Holman Reads, a program implemented at my youngest daughter's middle school. Every student in the school will read this book this winter/early spring. I couldn't wait until then to read the book. Besides, if I read the book now and the book is in the house, Emily might actually begin it and finish it by early spring. Yes, it will take her that long to read this 273 page book. One that her mother couldn't put down and read in a day. Oh well. She's not entirely like me, I guess.
Sonnenblick's book is the story of Steven, an eighth grader, and his little brother, Jeffrey, who is four. They have a fairly typical relationship, despite the age difference, and Steven thinks Jeffrey is the "most annoying thing in the world." The story changes dramatically when Jeffrey develops Leukemia and Steven starts re-thinking his relationship with his brother and his place in the world.
I loved this book for many reasons, but it's overall positivity of a rather heavy subject is high on my list. For instance, when Steven is feeling pretty low, discouraged, and neglected, Mrs. Galley (Steven's counselor) challenges Steven, on page 184:
Instead of agonizing about the things you can't change, why don't you try working on the things you CAN change?
What a great way to look at the world! While it doesn't happen immediately, Steven does resolve to find things he can change (like his attitude) about the horrible situation his family suddenly finds thrust upon them. If all of us could only be as positive!
Now, it's not all sunshine, roses, and lollipops. Even the sunniest, brightest people have moments of despair, but Steven manages, through his journal, to work through his feelings. I particularly like the entry he writes on page 196 of the book. His english teacher gives him this prompt: If you could pick one word in the English language to describe the universe, what would it be? Why? Steven's word choice: UNFAIR. That boy is brilliant! The universe is terribly unfair. And he proceeds to give all sorts of reasons why this is so, from cancer in his four year old brother, to the piano prodigy's broken arm, to bad guys walking the street. Steven is absolutely right. But I love that he writes about it, gets it out, and continues to focus on the things HE can change. I also love that in the world in which I live, and in which my girls live, a life where they have been getting medals their entire lives for things they didn't really earn, they are beginning to learn the truth. Life isn't fair and sometimes it just plain stinks. I appreciate Emily's school reiterating this important life lesson.
I also appreciate Steven's ah-ha moment on page 237 where he says, "for possibly the first time since all of this had started, I stopped feeling sorry for myself and thought of other people's situations." If only everyone, everywhere would do this all of the time. Can you imagine what sort of world we could have if everyone thought about others first, rather than themselves? It would be a lovely world indeed.
I think Holman has done an outstanding job in selecting yet another novel that will make their students think, and think beyond themselves. Steven and Jeffrey's story is a moving one. I am better for reading this book. Holman's student body will be, too.
Happy reading, everyone!
:) Dodie
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