Dropping Beats

November 1, 2024
Grades 9-12 Shaun "Growls" Thompson has big rap ambitions outdone only by his crush on Tanisha, a classmate at school. Thus, his fool-proof plan: he and his best friend Shanks will (1) win a local rap competition with their sick rhymes, which will (2) make Tanisha fall madly in love with Shaun. Sadly, an embarrassing practice session mistakenly gets livestreamed, making him and Shanks laughingstocks. Things get worse when Shanks suffers a nervous breakdown from the ridicule, leaving Shaun a friendless pariah. Thankfully, a new girl named Siobhan shows up, becoming both the friend and, possibly, the love he needs to recover. But does being with her mean abandoning Shanks in his hour of need? This romp is carried by both Lessore's knack for situational comedy and his 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 aren't a detriment to the book's humor; rather, they deepen the story, making Shaun's plight all the more relatable and hilarious.

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November 18, 2024
When their livestream beatboxing practice goes wrong, 13-year-olds Growls, real name Shaun, and Shanks, aka Zachariah, go viral in the most humiliating way they can imagine. Now that they’re the laughingstocks of the school, Growls’s dream of landing his crush Tanisha go out the window, as do his and Shanks’s plans of winning this year’s Raptology, a competition whose prize money would be a boon for Growls’s financially struggling family. Things seem unsalvageable after Shanks goes MIA. But when Growls meets the new girl on the block, everything changes for the aspiring rapper. 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 (highlights include “So Much Beef the Steaks Are High” and “Man’s Got More Dates than a Calendar”). Lessore doesn’t rest on comedic laurels: 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. The cast is intersectionally diverse. Ages 12–up. Agent: Clare Wallace, Darley Anderson Agency.

January 15, 2025
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)

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Starred review from February 7, 2025

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. VERDICT Famous or not, the star of the story shines in this must-have for all YA collections.-Alicia Rogers

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