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Dropping beats
Book
2025
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Where is it?
Fiction/Biography Profile
Characters
Growls (Shaun) (Male), Dreamer with big ambitions and questionable rhymes, determined to prove worth through rap
Genre
Fiction
Young adult
Humorous
Topics
Friendship
Perseverance
Music
Crushes
Redemption
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Trade Reviews
Publishers Weekly Review
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. (Feb.)
Booklist Review
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.
Horn Book Review
Debut author Lessore delivers a humorous and heartfelt story about a thirteen-year-old Black British aspiring rapper navigating social media disasters and personal setbacks. Shaun "Growls" Thompson's journey to overcome embarrassment and reclaim his dreams is filled with relatable struggles and vibrant friendships. Lessore's use of first-person narration and beatbox poems adds depth to Growls's character. The book's witty dialogue and diverse cast make it an enjoyable read with a powerful message about perseverance. (c) Copyright 2025. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
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) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Summary
"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.

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