Drums, Girls & Dangerous Pie

Jordan Sonnenblick’s novel follows Steven Alvinowitz, a middle school student whose carefully planned life as an aspiring drummer is upended when his younger sister receives a leukemia diagnosis. Through Steven’s first-person narration, the story examines how families navigate sudden illness, balancing fear with everyday routines and dark humor. The narrative weaves together themes of sibling loyalty, adolescent identity, and the search for normalcy amid medical uncertainty. Sonnenblick grounds the emotional weight of childhood cancer in specific, relatable details, from practice room frustrations to hospital waiting rooms, allowing readers to witness how music and routine become anchors during crisis. The narrative maintains an unflinching yet compassionate tone, avoiding sentimentality in favor of honest dialogue and quiet moments of connection. By centering the experience on a teenager learning to process helplessness while supporting a loved one, the novel offers a thoughtful exploration of grief, courage, and the small rituals that sustain people through prolonged hardship.