The Beat I Drum

I got The Beat I Drum by Dusti Bowling for my daughter and then decided to read it too! It's book 3 in the Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus series, which we had read previously. The book description says, "Connor Bradley is dreading the first day of high school. Not just because he is new, or because he misses his best friends, but because he knows the other kids won’t understand his barking and tics. Connor has Tourette Syndrome, and every day has been a challenge—from the mimicking to the laughing, the questions, and the stares. It turns out school isn’t quite as bad as he expected. Connor forms a fast friendship with a girl who also has Tourette’s and is welcomed into her accepting circle of friends. He also meets a special music teacher who encourages him to take up the drums to manage his stress, and maybe get a break from his tics. But Connor’s world is turned upside down when his absent father reappears and a bully starts to escalate at school. All these problems—with family, with friends, and even with himself—build and build until Connor feels ready to explode. Will a surprising revelation save him and help him find his beat again?"

This was a great read. I enjoyed diving deeper into Connor's character and watching him navigate a lot of heavy things. I liked that he found good friends and an amazing teacher, and I thought the book taught some good lessons and relationships and forgiveness. It also was a great perspective on what it's like to live with Tourette Syndrome. I'm glad I read this one.

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)