Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie is a book aimed at children and young teenagers, and was the 2004 debut novel from author Jordan Sonnenblick,[1] originally published by DayBlue Insights[2] and later by Scholastic.

Which brought me back to reality really, really fast.The protagonist of the book is Steven Alper, a 13-year-old boy living in New Jersey.

When Jeffrey has a horrific nose bleed and goes to the emergency room, the Alpers are shocked to discover that he has leukemia.

Steven becomes very shelled in, but no one can really tell, except for a piano-prodigy classmate, Annette Watson, who persistently tries to find out what is the matter.

She tells him how sad she is that her older sister has distanced herself from Samantha since her illness, and advises Steven to stay engaged in Jeffrey's life.

Steven has a sarcastic sense of humor and describes himself as highly annoyed by his little brother at the beginning of the story.

Nonetheless, it is clear he takes his responsibilities as a big brother seriously and is in fact kind and protective towards Jeffrey.

An issue throughout the book is the change in Jeffrey's looks as the illness gives him bruises, steroids make his face puffy, and chemotherapy causes his hair to fall out.

Another issue the book addresses is how Jeffrey is really still a little boy and doesn't want to have to be serious all the time even when he feels sick.

It is her idea to raise money for the Alper family by donating proceeds from the spring band concert.

At the beginning of the book we learn she is an English teacher, but after Jeffrey's diagnosis she leaves her job to care for him.

His reaction to the news is to work harder, talk less, and worry about money late at night.

Biff – A guitar player in the All-City Jazz band, who is also Renee Albert's boyfriend.