Dropping Beats

by Nathanael Lessore Narrated by Kuda Dutiro Robinson

Overview

"Funny, bursting with heart, goofy, wise, and did I mention- wildly wonderfully funny."
-Jon Scieszka, First National Ambassador of Young People's Literature and Founder of Guys Read

A hilarious and heartfelt young YA comedy about the misadventures of an aspiring young rapper as he navigates school, family, and friendship.

Thirteen-year-old Growls (aka Shaun) is an aspiring (awful) rapper who hopes to enter this year's Raptology competition with his best friend, Shanks (aka Zachariah). After all, what better way to land his crush (Tanisha) and get the respect he finally deserves than winning the contest and going viral?

But when a livestream practice goes epically wrong, the two friends do go viral- and not in the way they'd hoped.

Now the laughingstock of the school, Growls is sure he'll never have another chance to date Tanisha. Even worse, Shanks has gone MIA, leaving him terribly alone.

But when Growls meets the new girl on the block (Siobhan), things don't seem so terrible after all. And with some patience, a little luck, and a whole lot of practice, he just might win the Raptology competition and be a hero to both Siobhan and Shanks.

Either way, he's ready for this. He's steady for this. It's comeback season and they call him comeback king for a reason.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Winner of the 2024 Branford Boase Award
Shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal
Shortlisted for the Jhalak prize

"Funny, bursting with heart, goofy, wise, and did I mention– wildly wonderfully funny."
 —Jon Scieszka, First National Ambassador of Young People's Literature and Founder of Guys Read

“Hilarious and heartwarming, it's impossible not to love Growls and his raw, uplifting way of seeing the world. Deftly written and an incredible debut, DROPPING BEATS is pure joy and laughter.”—Beth Reekles, author of THE KISSING BOOTH

* “Growls’s lyrics and clever wordplay are woven throughout… Famous or not, the star of the story shines in this must-have for all YA collections.”—SLJ, starred review

“This romp is carried by both Lessore’s knack for situational comedy and ability to create a narrative voice for Shaun that uniquely mixes braggadocio, cluelessness, and an honest desire to do good. The inclusion of class consciousness and mental health…deepen the story, making Shaun’s plight all the more relatable and hilarious.”—Booklist

"Utilizing the protagonist’s immediate-feeling first-person POV, debut author Lessore crafts a hilarious look into one teen’s struggles to reach for the proverbial stars…. the inclusion of Growls’s beatbox poems throughout allows readers a glimpse into his intimate thoughts and deep internality as an artist and adolescent, highlighting that Growls is more than his goofy outward persona." —Publishers Weekly

"This well-written story explores relevant topics including social media, mental health, being a caretaker, and the importance of believing in yourself. A hilarious, witty story centered on embracing your quirks and the importance of friendship."—Kirkus

Kirkus Reviews

2024-12-14
Thirteen-year-old Black Londoner Shaun “Growls” Thompson believes he’s destined to be the next big thing—and he plans to achieve greatness through his rapping.

With his best friend and “partner in grime,” Shanks, whose family has Jamaican roots, he’s going to prove himself by entering and winning the annual Raptology competition for young teens. Without telling Shanks, Growls secretly livestreams one of their practices, hoping it will impress his crush, Tanisha. But two deeply embarrassing incidents unfold in front of hundreds of viewers, and soon Growls is receiving floods of messages, “and none of them [are] nice.” Things just get worse: Shanks doesn’t show up at school, and Growls’ mum reveals some bad news. Now, Growls has to figure out how to fix things and achieve his dreams with the help of allies, including a new friend from school, redheaded Siobhan. The story starts off slowly but gains momentum as it progresses. Refreshingly, the original British vocabulary is retained, enhancing the sense of place; a glossary is included to support any readers who need it. Imaginative, observant Growls’ conversational and humorous first-person narration blends London slang with his own creative expressions. This well-written story explores relevant topics including social media, mental health, being a caretaker, and the importance of believing in yourself.

A hilarious, witty story centered on embracing your quirks and the importance of friendship. (author’s note)(Fiction. 12-14)

Product Details

BN ID:	2940192019764
Publisher:	Hachette Audio
Publication date:	02/11/2025
Edition description:	Unabridged

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