Read by Kuda Dutiro Robinson

On Sale: Feb 11, 2025
Publisher: Hachette Audio
ISBN-13: 9781668647486

$18.99

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“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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Nathanael Lessore was born in Camberwell, South East London, as one of eight children to French and Madagascan parents. Despite spending most of his life in Peckham, Nathanael has also lived in Paris, Strasbourg, and Singapore. Nathanael became a marketing executive after graduating from the University of East London, believing at the time that a creative writing degree destined him for a career in marketing. Dropping Beats is his debut and writing it gave him the opportunity to show his South East London childhood as the funny, warm, adventurous world that wasn't always represented as such.

Shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal
Shortlisted for the Jhalak prize
"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
“Hilarious and heartwarming, it's impossible not to love Growls and his raw, uplifting way of seeing the world. Deftly written and an incredible debut, DROPPING BEATS is pure joy and laughter.”
Beth Reekles, author of THE KISSING BOOTH

About the Author

Nathanael Lessore was born in Camberwell, South London, as one of eight children to French and Madagascan parents. His first novel, Dropping Beats (Steady for This in the UK), won the Branford Boase Award and was shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal.

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From NOVL Nation

“I was not expecting this book to be so wholesome. Growls’s connection to his family and best friends is incredibly sweet and felt like a hug.”

–Ardent, @ardent.bookcooks

“This book provided me with a great time. I often found myself laughing uncontrollably at the weird things that Growls says and the not so bright decisions that he thinks are works of art.”

– Ashlee, @the.book.nerds.corner

“This book did a great job of depicting the funny, yet somewhat ridiculous mind of a young teen. I laughed throughout.”

–Christina, @misscaramelfrappuccino8

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Nathanael Lessore

About the Author

Nathanael Lessore is a British author who can prove it with his passport. His dad is French, and his mom is from Madagascar (the place, not the movie). Growing up on a block in Peckham, Nathanael's childhood was a vibe. The neighbors were fun, loud, unpredictable, and unique. But most importantly, they were a community. And Nathanael will always authentically represent South London's diversity and togetherness in the stories he tells.
When he's not writing, Nathanael enjoys stargazing at the moon, and standing in doorways. If he wasn't a writer, he would've joined the NFL if not for his lack of talent and basic understanding of the game. His first novel, Dropping Beats (Steady for This in the UK), won the Branford Boase Award and was shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal.

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Dropping Beats

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