Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie

Reading Check and Short Answer questions on key points are designed for guided reading assignments, in-class review, formative assessment, quizzes, and more.

Chapters 1-3

Reading Check

1. What is Steven’s nickname in the All-City Band?

2. What are Steven’s parents’ professions?

3. How does Steven try to distract himself so he does not think about Jeffrey?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. Summarize Steven’s response to the English prompt: “The most annoying thing in the world.” What does he write about, and which two examples does he provide?

2. Which event happened on October 7, and what did Steven’s parents do in response?

3. How do Renee and Annette react differently to Steven’s unusual mental state?

4. Who is Mr. W? How does he impact Steven’s life?

Chapters 4-6

Reading Check

1. What advice did Steven’s grandfather give him before Jeffrey was born?

2. How does Steven’s dad shield him from the bad news about Jeffrey’s condition?

3. What happens when Steven gives Jeffrey a Tic-Tac?

4. What change in Jeffrey’s behavior surprises Steven?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. Why does Steven’s mother feel guilty about Jeffrey’s leukemia diagnosis? How does Steven respond?

2. What are some of the major changes in the Alper household after Jeffrey’s diagnosis?

3. What does Steven do while Jeffrey and his mother are gone? What does he realize about his relationship with his friends during this time?

4. Summarize Jeffrey’s medical report. What are the Alper family’s concerns moving forward?

Paired Resource

“Key Statistics for Childhood Leukemia”

• This content from American Cancer Society provides a thorough overview of the steps in a positive leukemia diagnosis in children and discusses statistics related to the disease.
• This information connects to the theme of Resilience in the Face of Adversity.
• How do statistics about leukemia relate to the novel? What are some of the challenges a family might face when a child is diagnosed with leukemia?

Chapters 7-9

Reading Check

1. What does Steven convince himself will improve Jeffrey’s chances of getting better?

2. What game does Jeffrey and Steven play after the first week of visitors coming to share their condolences?

3. What “old family punch line” does Steven’s dad use to “break the silence” with Steven?

4. What item does Steven give Jeffrey to “protect” him while Jeffrey is in Philadelphia?

5. Which student told Miss Palma about Jeffrey’s cancer?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. What does Steven notice about Annette when she plays the piano, and what do they do together during school?

2. What are the two “Ds” of Steven’s “middle school nightmares,” and how do they embarrass him?

3. Why is Jeffrey rushed to the hospital? What does Steven overhear his mother admitting to the doctor?

4. Who is Mrs. Galley, and what happens during Jeffrey’s meeting with her and the other teachers?

Paired Resource

“What Is Normal Grieving, and What Are the Stages of Grief?”

• WebMD provides an overview of the stages an individual can experience during the grieving process.
• This information connects to the themes of Resilience in the Face of Adversity and The Importance of Family.
• Which stages of grief do Steven and his parents experience throughout the novel?

Chapters 10-12

Reading Check

1. Which two emotions does Steven feel during the winter holidays?

2. Who has become Steven’s confidant?

3. What papers was Steven’s dad crying over?

4. Why does Steven find himself more popular after the incident with Renee?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. Why does Steven spend eight days with his grandparents? How does it make him feel?

2. What does Steven expect will happen when he returns home? What is the reality?

3. Why does Renee come over to Steven’s house? What causes tension between them?

4. What is the weekend like after Steven gets his report card?

Paired Resource

“Health Care Debt in the US: The Broad Consequences of Medical and Dental Bills”

• KKF examines the effects of medical debt on adults in the US and provides statistics about the consequences of getting and receiving healthcare based on ethnicity, income, and insurance status. (Teacher-appropriate; not student-facing.)
• This resource connects to the themes of Resilience in the Face of Adversity and The Importance of Family.
• How can hospitalization financially burden households?

Chapters 13-15

Reading Check

1. What piece of advice does Mrs. Galley give to Steven?

2. Why is Annette not able to play in the spring concert?

3. Which word does Steven pick to describe the universe?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. What is Steven’s dream? Who does he decide to speak to about his feelings?

2. What does Steven decide to give up to save his family money? Does it work? Why or why not?

3. Why does Steven shave his head, and how do his peers respond to the change?

Paired Resource

“The Effect of Vicarious Trauma on The Entire Family”

• Family Psychiatry & Therapy explores how a relative’s trauma affects an entire family.
• This information connects to the theme of The Importance of Family.
• What is vicarious trauma? How can it affect different relationships in a family? How does Steven and his family experience vicarious trauma?

“Hold On”

• This 3-minute music video on YouTube from MD Anderson Cancer Center offers a message of hope to cancer patients.
• This information connects to the theme of Resilience in the Face of Adversity.
• How does Greg Lizee, PhD, convey the importance of hope in his lyrics? How do the images, music, lighting, setting, and individuals depicted in the video further enhance this message?

Chapters 16-18

Reading Check

1. Why can’t Steven’s mother take Jeffrey to the hospital?

2. What is Steven’s job, since they forgot to bring Matt Medic to the hospital?

3. What does Steven’s dad call Steven as they leave the hospital?

4. What does Mrs. Galley give to Steven?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. What idea do Annette and Renee have so the All-City Band can fulfill their community service requirements? How does Steven respond to this idea?

2. Who is Samantha? How does she impact Steven’s trip to the hospital?

3. How does Steven’s community show their support for him and his family?

Chapters 19-21

Reading Check

1. Which two things happen on Friday, April 4?

2. How much money have they already raised at the concert?

3. What does Annette give Steven before he leaves the concert?

4. What phrase is Steven grateful that he has time to tell his brother?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. Which members of Steven’s family attend the concert? How does Steven feel about this?

2. What does the All-City Band give as a present to Jeffrey? What act of solidarity do they do for his cause?

3. What does Steven’s father talk about in his speech, and what happens at the end of it?

4. What does Steven learn about Samantha? What does the nurse give him?

Recommended Next Reads 

After Ever After by Jordan Sonnenblick

• This 2010 sequel to Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie follows Jeffrey four years later as he continues to struggle with his health.
• The novel touches on the themes of Resilience in the Face of Adversity, The Importance of Family, and Coming of Age.
• Shared topics include family, hospitalization, and growing up in Suburban America.
• After Ever After on SuperSummary

I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sánchez

• This 2017 YA novel follows the story of Julia, a young Mexican American girl trying to navigate high school while also grieving the loss of her sister.
• The narrative touches on the themes of Resilience in the Face of Adversity, The Importance of Family, and Coming of Age.
• Shared topics include first-person narration style, navigating high school, and grief.
• I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter on SuperSummary