Meeting Jordan Sonnenblick

Jordan Sonnenblick: On writing Drums,, Girls and Dangerous Pie

I had the pleasure of hearing Jordan Sonnenblick speak at the Illinois State Library Media Specialist Association’s conference last Saturday as he accepted the Rebecca Caudill literature Award, and he told us the story of how he came to write Drums, Girls and Dangerous Pie.

Jordan was an 8^th grade English teacher. At the beginning of the year, his class was as all classes are, chaotic, but made more so by Emily, a most chatty, smiling girl. Emily, stood out as the chattiest among the 8^th grade girls. That’s really a distinction, since most 8^th grade girls can hold non-stop conversations with many friends at the same time and not stand out in the crowd.

Sharing in the chats and laughter was Emily’s best friend, Brittany. Jordan pulled Brittany out in the hallway, scolded her and told her that she would have to be quiet or her seat would be changed. After 2 weeks the giggling hadn’t stopped, so Jordan switched Brittany with Hannah, the quietest girl in the class. He felt sure that this would squelch Emily’s glee, and order would be restored in the class. But rather than stop Emily’s exuberance, Hannah soon joined in the chats and the class was disrupted with twice the laughter. Sonnenblick had another conversation in the hallway to no avail and moved Hannah. He poked his face through the window in the doorway trying to find a suitable seatmate for Emily and lit upon Andrew.

Andrew, an Emo boy, dressed all in black, wearing his studded dog collar seemed like a mostly likely candidate. Jordan wagered within the week, Emily would be reciting dismal poetry and at last he would have order. Instead, within the week, Andrew was sporting a powder blue shirt and had rosy cheeks much like Raggedy Andy. That afternoon, Jordan entered the office and stared at the counter. Have you ever walked past something day after day and never registered what it said? A monument in town, perhaps? That day Jordan’s eyes lit on a candy display. One which he visited and deposited money in with great regularity. The candy proceeds went to a pediatric cancer charity in honor of Emily’s little brother, Jonathan. Jordan stood stunned as he was amazed by Emily’s good humor in light of the serious illness in the family.

The next week was parent conferences and Jordan noted how well Emily was handling Jonathan’s illness. Emily’s mom responded, “Emily isn’t handling the illness, she’s hiding it.” Jordan asked if she thought it would help if Emily had a book to read about a sibling dealing with a younger brother’s cancer. Emily’s mom thought that would be wonderful. Jordan started hunting for a book dealing with siblings’ problems and found nothing.

Jordan returned home from a trip to the library and the local bookstore determined to write the book Emily needed. He started doing the research he needed about pediatric cancer, interviewing families dealing with cancer, doctors dealing with families and pediatric cancer survivors. 4 months later, each night after tucking his 2 children into bed, Jordan sat down and wrote through the night.

He submitted it to an agent who thought it was great. He submitted it for bidding and soon it came down to 2 publishers. One large publisher (named for a flightless water fowl) and a small independent. The large publisher wanted him to tone down the sarcasm of the main character and rewrite one of the chapters. The independent wanted the book as is. After much struggling, Jordan went with the independent because he couldn't change the voice of the main character. He said, "If you want me to tone it down, you don't know 8th graders".

The first book-signing was in his hometown. About 150 people stood in line to get the book signed, and as Jordan looked down the line, he noticed Emily and her mom in line. Emily had graduated and gone on to high school and was still smiling. After he had signed copies for them, his stomach clutched. What if he hadn’t gotten it right? What if he hurt Emily instead of helping her? His anxiety increased as the days went by and he didn’t hear from them. Sunday morning as the family bustled preparing breakfast, the phone rang. When Jordan answered, his knees gave out as he heard Emily’s mother’s voice. She was trying to speak, her voice choked with emotion. He heard her whisper, “You got it right.”

Jordan got it right with us too. He made us laugh; he made us cry. He's a gift to us all.