After Ever After by Jordan Sonnenblick

Have you ever known anyone who had cancer?  Do you ever wonder about how they go back to being "normal" after all the treatments, pain, strong drugs, and hair loss?

Jeffrey Alper and his best friend, Tad Ibsen know all too well.  Both still live with the effects of their cancer treatment, and the constant worrying about it happening again.  Now they are eighth graders, trying to pass both their classes and a state test to get into high school.  There's also their parents, girls, and teachers who want them to keep challenging themselves, even when Jeff is not sure he'll have the brains or the strength.

This book is the sequel to "Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie", which was about Jeff''s older brother Steven.  Now Steven, who Jeff has always leaned on for help with school and family, is in Africa and Jeff must find new ways to deal with all the hassles in his life.