DROPPING BEATS

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.