Drums, Girls and Dangerous Pie Response

  Drums, Girls and Dangerous Pie is an intriguing book about a sarcastic teenager named Steven. Early on, he discovers that his 5-year-old-brother Jeffery develops leukemia and a bad case, sending Steven into a miserable, depressed state, while he must live with his silent dad for weeks on end. Soon Steven isn't in control of his life, and through all of it, all he think about is how hard the situation is on him. But soon Steven changes, is opened up to a new perspective. No longer does Steven think about himself, but instead soon realizes that he must do anything for family, especially his severely ill brother, even if it means going to further reaches than he'd imagined.

At first, Steven can only manage to think about himself. On his mother and Jeffery’s first visit to the hospital in Philadelphia, he must stay with his non-communicative father, eating frozen meals and practicing drums. While is brother is truly struggling, having needles stabbed into his chest for blood tests, Steven is sorry for himself. He sulks, because he doesn’t get what he images to be cute nurses waiting on Jeffery, giving him kisses and whatever else he needs. Not once does he think about how rough his mom’s situation is, to be there for Jeffery constantly, caring for him, listening to him. When his dad is silent, he thinks he is just being an irresponsible person. Not once does he consider his dad is mourning for Jeffery. Additionally, whenever somebody is cooing over Jeffery, Steven gets upset that they don’t notice him. Normally, he will stand there, jealous and sometimes “Ahemm” He isn’t sympathetic enough to put himself in his brothers shoes and realize that Jeffery really needs the attention he gets.

      Soon, Steven changes.  He realizes that Jeffery, little Jeffery has been through a true struggle. When he returns from the hospital with Jeffery and his father and his mother immediately runs and picks Jeffery up, asking if he's okay, Steven just stands there. If he was his usual self, he would make an obnoxious comment or "Ahemm". Instead, he looks at his mother appreciatively, realizing how much she's been through. When she squeezes his hand, he has a mature thought. He thinks that if he had leukemia, his mother would have done the same for Steven as she had for Jeffery. He is suddenly developing a sense of sympathy, which he never had before. Also, Steven is a drummer and amazing at it. There is a big benefit concert for Jeffery coming up for his school ensemble. The band members even shave their heads off in honor of Jeffery. In this concert, Steven is supposed to have his big, important solo, which he's practiced for weeks on. But during the intermission, Jeffery starts throwing up. He has a fever. And the doctors instructions were to stop and rush him to the hospital, even if Jeffery got the slightest bit feverish. So one of their parents has to go with him. And Steven has a choice. He can either stay and do his solo or he can go with his brother. Jeffery pleads to come. He is extremely conflicted, but decides to go to with his brother. Steven has a new outlook in life. Previously, he might've stayed, but now he is aware he's not the only one in the world, that other people need him more than he knows. He is a changed boy, and for the better.