ashtonbakerreads's review against another edition
4.0
I am so glad there was a sequel. I loved both books.
lanica's review against another edition
4.0
Incredible book about childhood cancer from a survivor's view point. It's a follow up to [b:Drums, Girls & Dangerous Pie|318404|Drums, Girls & Dangerous Pie|Jordan Sonnenblick|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1377989934s/318404.jpg|2129865], which is another amazing book you should all read!
lorathelibrarian's review against another edition
4.0
Even though this is what some people would call "just another cancer book"...it was really fabulous. I think it's perfect for middle schoolers. It deals with cancer, but a lot of other things that kids will relate to like dating, school, and friendships. I love how the author wrote, not above children, but down on their level. As you read it you can actually hear kids saying and thinking the things that Jeff and Tad say.
Great book and I think it would definitely fit into the category of cleaner reads for those kids that have high comprehension, but are just not ready for middle school or YA books yet.
Great book and I think it would definitely fit into the category of cleaner reads for those kids that have high comprehension, but are just not ready for middle school or YA books yet.
allisonfigs's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Terminal illness, Cancer, and Bullying
msabin's review against another edition
5.0
Such a beautiful book. I cried at the end, and I'm not ashamed of it.
flower_mail's review against another edition
2.0
Casual racism/Africa is not a monolith, edgelord bestie just to further the plot, instalove, "she liked me because I looked at her face instead of her body and i was like, lol sure" sexism
Spoiler
dies suddenlypoachedeggs's review against another edition
3.0
This is the sequel to [b:Drums, Girls & Dangerous Pie|935264|Drums, Girls & Dangerous Pie |Jordan Sonnenblick|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1215140202s/935264.jpg|2129865], with a much less adorable, more grown-up 'Jeffy', the angelic cancer survivor-brother of Steven from the first book.
I LOVED the first book and I think this sequel is a pretty good, no-holds-barred follow-up, detailing the uglier aspects of co-dependency between siblings, the harmful consequences of positive discrimination, and basically, the not-so-perfect life of a 13-year-old who struggles with mathematics and standardised testing.
Sonnenblick can write, and he can write for the middle-grade boys, which is a whole other form of rarity. I just wish some characters were more than just mouthpieces here - Tad (Jeffrey's best friend), in particular, is a little bit too much of a bitter, wisecracking spokesperson/genius for me at times. I found Jeffrey's biking-to-raise-money-for-Tad thing also a little flat near the end - it seemed the 'thing' to do, and things like that have already been done, both in this short series and in real life, many times.
I LOVED the first book and I think this sequel is a pretty good, no-holds-barred follow-up, detailing the uglier aspects of co-dependency between siblings, the harmful consequences of positive discrimination, and basically, the not-so-perfect life of a 13-year-old who struggles with mathematics and standardised testing.
Sonnenblick can write, and he can write for the middle-grade boys, which is a whole other form of rarity. I just wish some characters were more than just mouthpieces here - Tad (Jeffrey's best friend), in particular, is a little bit too much of a bitter, wisecracking spokesperson/genius for me at times.
Spoiler
He even manages to speak out against the need for standardised testing, and got a whole media blitz organised!Spoiler
More than anything, it seemed like a plot device to keep Jeffrey meaningfully occupied while Tad was in hospital, going under the knife.mjsteimle's review against another edition
4.0
Just as good as the first one. Sonnenblick as a talent for writing in an (unusually insightful and witty) adolescent voice which really works for this genre and subject matter.
caroparr's review against another edition
4.0
A teen best known for being a cancer survivor makes his way through a year in high school, while his best friend has a recurrence of cancer and his girlfriend (how did he get this lucky?) sticks by him. Very funny. Sequel, but it stands alone (I read the first book and can't remember much about it).