Steven is an average eighth-grade boy. He has a crush on the hottest girl in his grade. He plays the drums (including nonstop tapping on every surface available). He has an annoying but charming younger brother, Jeffrey. He has parents who drive him crazy.

Steven begins an English class journal complaining about his little brother and all his annoyances, but then his life takes a twist when the little brother is diagnosed with leukemia and Steven’s journal (with the pages folded over for privacy) becomes the only place where he can voice his feelings as his emotions rise and fall, from denial to fear, and from neglect to uselessness. The cast of characters in this story, in Steven’s life, are human, but incredible as Steven forces things to be talked about and discovers that while he can’t control everything, he can control a few things.

I loved this book. The sadness was balanced with humor. I loved reading it from Steven’s perspective as he, along with his family and friends, helped battle Jeffrey’s cancer.

Rated: None. The book centers around a kindergartener with cancer, which may be a difficult subject for some, but that’s it.