Dropping Beats

Gr 6 Up–In London, 13-year-old Shaun “Growls” Thompson dreams of becoming a famous rapper. Step one on the road to stardom is entering the upcoming Raptology competition with best friend and “partner in grime,” Shanks. When an embarrassing livestream of the pair practicing their lyrics goes viral, Shanks is humiliated and doesn’t return to school. Meanwhile, Growls’s mum hasn’t found work since she lost her receptionist job and has received more than one final notice to pay rent. To top it off, his crush, Tanisha, no longer gives him the time of day. Growls learns to look to teacher Mr. Rix and school counselor Karen for support and finds a new friend in Siobhan, a homeschooled girl he meets at the neighborhood playground who encourages him to try, see, and do new things. Growls’s lyrics and clever wordplay are woven throughout; the back matter includes a “bonus track” and a glossary of Growls’s British slang. Lessore deftly addresses the negative impacts of social media on teen mental health, the uncertainty of food insecurity and eviction, and the unbearable weight of kids taking on parental responsibilities.