 | Dropping beats Author: Lessore, Nathanael | |
| Price: $10.65 | ||
Summary:
Aspiring young rapper Shaun 'Growls' Thompson navigates through embarrassing incidents, family troubles, and friendship challenges, finding support from a new friend and ultimately hatching a plan to save his family from eviction.
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (12/01/25)
Booklist (11/01/24)
Full Text Reviews:
Booklist - 11/01/2024 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. - Copyright 2024 Booklist.
