Drums Girls and Dangerous Pie by Jordan Sonnenblick

In Jordan Sonnenblick's "Drums Girls and Dangerous Pie" we follow a protagonist named Steven. He tries to cope with his normal middle school life, homework, girls, and drums. When he finds out that his brother Jeffery has cancer, he learns to deal with his brothers illness and challenges in school. At the end or Stevens eighth grade year, we see that he has matured through the sacrifices he willingly makes.
Steven shows the reader he has matured when he shaves his head. Steven was a very selfcontious person so it was very surprising when he did it regardless of how it made him feel about himself. Jeffery had been feeling bad about becoming bald and felt like he was the only one with no hair. Steven did it so that Jeffery wouldn't feel like he was alone. Steven was willing to make sacrifices for his brothers good and not think about how it made him feel.
The protagonist showed a lot of maturity when he left his All City Jazz Band concert to take Jeffery to the hospital. Steven had practiced all year and even had a solo. But when Jeffery had a fever Steven knew he needed medical attention as soon as possible. He thought about what Samantha, a friend he met at the hospital, had said about him staying by his brothers side. He dropped everything to care for his brother. Steven made sacrifices for his brother even though it meant him getting his moment of fame taken away from him.
When Steven didn't let Renee Albert into his house because he knew her being sick wouldn't be good for Jeffery, the reader saw him mature. Steven had liked Renee since the third grade and any boy would die to have her come to their house. Renee was going to teach him the math he hadn't understood and help him pass his math test. But because Renee had the flu Steven knew it would be a great threat to Jeffery. Any viruses in the house would make him extremely sick. So he turned her down even though it meant that he would fail math.
All in all, Jeffery went from being a boy who only thought about himself and how people saw him. To a man who thought about others and how certain decisions would affect them. He matured from beginning to end by doing things for others. Even though its probably not as serious, we all know what it feels like to have to juggle school work and something important in your life. But not everyone becomes stronger after it. That's why Steven is such a remarkable character.