My favorite of Dusti Bowling's Life of the Cactus series! Focused on Aven's friend Connor, this installment tells the story of Connor's adjustment to a new apartment, new school, and transition to high school - all hard moves for most teenagers. Add Connor's Tourette's Syndrome and his challenges are even bigger. Very well told with a great mixture of family drama, friend drama, classmate struggles, and some dashes of humor! Fantastic addition to the series!

The Beat I Drum is the perfect companion text to Aven's stories. I love reading Connor's story and the themes throughout the book - friendship, relationship with parents, forgiveness, navigating high school and bullies, and finding yourself. This would make a great classroom read aloud or book club with lots of discussion opportunities.

Happy #middlegrademonday! This week I'm sharing the book The Beat I Drum by @dustibowling a middle grade/YA novel that puts disability awareness and inclusion and diverse representation at the forefront!

The Beat I Drum is the third book in the Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus series, but it is also sort of a spin off as this time we are following Connor, Aven's best friend. Connor has moved to a new part of town because his single mother wants him to be closer to his absentee father who is suddenly trying to make an effort to be back in their lives. Starting at a new school would be difficult for any 13 year old, but Connor has Tourette's Syndrome and his tics make him stand out even more. Luckily for Connor, he meets Amanada, who also has Tourette's and OCD and she introduces him to her friends Keanu and Rory. While Rory and Keanu do not have their own disorders or disabilities, Rory has a birthmark the covers a large portion of her face, and they are both very accepting and protective of each other if anyone faces bullying or teasing. Connor learns from Amanda that playing an instrument sometimes helps with minimizing tics for people with Tourette's and he desperate to try anything that might help. He starts taking a private drumming class and quickly learns he loves the drums.

I love everything Dusti writes and was super excited to read this one, even though I hadn't read the second book in the series. It can definitely be read as a stand alone, or for those who loved Aven's story and are ready to follow her friend Connor's journey, this is perfect for that too. I would recommend this to Middle Years readers, ideally grades 5-9 as there is a tiny bit of kissing/crushes etc and think it is better for slightly older middle grade readers. I feel like Aven and Connor are growing up, much like their readers are, so a slightly older audience makes sense. I think readers will really root for Connor and want to see him succeed and make friends. Plus fans of the series will enjoy the quick checkins we get with Aven and life at Stage Coach Pass.

The Beat I Drum is out now, so go grab a copy!!
Thanks to @netgalley and the publisher, @unionsqandco for giving me the chance to read and review this awesome book!

The third book in the Cactus series by Dusti Bowling is great for loyal readers and newcomers like myself. The friendship and resilience that the first two books in the series are known for is present in The Beat I Drum with a new cast of characters. The charm, whimsy, and acceptance of the kids who also love to perform reminds me a bit of Moonrise Kingdom.

Of course, there are tough, true topics that will give readers a window or a mirror into their own challenges. Connor, the main character, has Tourettes and among his tics are barking, and spitting when he eats. Social suicide for middle school. Thankfully he finds his tribe, including another friend who has Tourettes, a love interest who has a hemangioma birthmark that she is self conscious about. Another friend, Keanu, rounds out the group. However, they also have to contend with a bully, absent or divorced parents, and trying to fit in.

This was such a heartfelt book with so many great topics for discussion. I would love to share this in a book club. I highly recommend it for schools and libraries

4 stars

Fellow Cactus Fans unite! Connor is starting high school, and we get to go along for the ride!

Connor, of Life of a Cactus series fame, is a lone protagonist this time, and he is facing many new shifts in his young life. Recently, Connor and his mom have moved to a new town, he has started a new school, and Connor's dad - with whom Connor has what can only be referred to as either no relationship or a very strained relationship - is trying to get back into his good graces. Connor is also trying to make new friends while frequently thinking about those he doesn't see as much anymore, adjust to the start of high school, and continue to manage other people's reactions to him. As expected, all of this causes a great deal of trouble for Connor, and readers see it all unfold.

I really enjoy this series (and this writer in general), and this book is no exception. Fans of the other books will be pleased, though they may also wish for a little more Aven because that's a given in all cases. Though Connor is young, a high school freshman, he also reads a little younger than he is, which I found a bit distracting at times. But as noted, the kid is going through a lot, so I'll cut him a little slack on that point.

I'm always excited when Bowling has a new book out, and I can confirm that this is another one to anticipate.

Another gem from Dust Bowling! This time, the story follows Connor (Aven's friend) who has just moved across town and is going g to a new school. Immediately, he's confronted with a bully as he shares about his Tourette syndrome to his new teaches and peers. But Connor also finds new friends and more. Beyond dealing with his tics in a new school and meeting new friends, this is the story of overcoming your past. Connor learns to forgive his dad for the past and begins to see a future with his dad in his life. With the help of a new music teacher, Connor discovers he's a "drum guy" and discovers a new side of himself too.

Students will connect with Connor and his friends, finding pieces of themselves in his story.

Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus is one of my all-time favorite middle-grade books. When I saw that Dusti Bowling was coming out with a third book in the series, I immediately requested a review copy. The Beat I Drum did not disappoint. In this story, Aven's friend Connor has had to move to a different town so that his dad can try to re-enter his life after leaving him and his mother 2 years prior. Connor is worried about starting high school with a new group of kids who don't know about his Tourette Syndrome. Connor is surprised and delighted to find a welcoming friend group right away, including a classmate with Tourette's. He also meets a music teacher who helps him manage his tics through drumming. His reluctance to let his father back into his life remains a source of extreme tension that only exacerbates his tics, however. I loved this story of friendship, forgiveness, and the power of finding your tribe. I also loved the life-changing connection Connor had with his music teacher.

Big thanks to Union Square Kids and NetGalley for a review copy of The Beat I Drum.

I knew I was going to love this book because I love all of Dusti Bowling’s work and I already loved Connor from the Aven books, but I had no idea how much I would love this book.

Dusti Bowling’s does such an amazing job of writing in a way that connects you to the characters and makes you feel all the big emotions. My heart broke for Connor so many times (and other characters too) and I’m just so happy with how his story ended. He deserved all that happiness!!

I got this early and read on my own but I can't wait to read it to my class. We devoured the other Aven books and they always wanted more from Conner. They are going to love it.

The Beat I Drum is a phenomenal MG book by Dusti Bowling that all readers will absolutely love. Many readers will know Connor from The Insignificant Events of a Cactus. They'll be so excited to spend time with him again, and to see Aven throughout the book, but readers do not have to read the other books in order to understand and love this one. Connor has Tourette syndrome and is worried about making friends and fitting in when he moves to a new apartment and school. He's also struggling with his home life, as his parents are divorced and his dad is trying to regain his trust and become more active in his life. Through music, Connor finds an escape and also a way to connect with others. A powerful book and a must read!

Connor, who readers might recognize from The Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus, has just moved and is starting high school in a new town. Moving and being at a new school is hard enough, but Connor has Tourette's and worries about fitting in at his new school with his tics, which include barking. He also is trying to figure out his relationship with his dad. On his first day of school, he meets Amanda, who also has Tourette's, and some other kids who are unique and amazing characters and who accept him the way he is, and a wonderful music teacher who takes him under her wing. This book sucks you right in with it's lovable (but flawed) characters. Highly recommend it!

Dusti Bowling’s The Beat I Drum offers a heartfelt and inspiring look into the life of Connor, a character fans may recognize from her previous books. This time, the story delves into what it’s like to live with Tourette’s Syndrome, shedding light on the challenges and triumphs of navigating high school while feeling like an outsider.

Connor’s journey is one of self-discovery as he learns to navigate friendships, family, and the support system that helps him through life’s obstacles. The novel also explores other important issues, such as divorce, physical differences—like birthmarks or limb differences—and the complexities of understanding one’s own family. Through it all, Connor grows into a deeper understanding of himself and learns to embrace who he is.

Bowling’s storytelling is both powerful and relatable, making The Beat I Drum a must-read for anyone who enjoys heartfelt stories about resilience, identity, and the importance of acceptance.

Thank you Net Galley and Union Square Kids for an early copy to give an honest review.

This is a beautiful edition to the Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus trilogy. I would highly recommend this book.

As the other two books focused on Aven's journey through middle school then her first day of high school, this book's main character is her best friend Connor who is also entering high school. Connor has Tourettes, a medical condition that causes involuntary tics. This has caused trauma since he was a child in elementary school. He often found himself at the hands of bullies, unable to do much. Now in high school, he's unsure what will become of him.

Connor never had a good relationship with his dad. His dad always got overly frustrated with Connor's tics and one day screamed at him to stop. Connor couldn't stop, and that day stayed with him forever.

This book is fantastic and something that I think readers of all ages will thoroughly enjoy. It touches on friendship, bullying, divorce, and other topics that a lot of readers will be able to relate to.

I'm rating this book five stars.

Starting a new school is hard. Starting a new school with Tourettes is agonizing. Connor worries about how other students will respond when he barks or does other tics that he can't control. Luckily he meets some amazing new friends that help him feel more comfortable. Unfortunately home life is not very comfortable because his dad is now trying to reconnect with him after disappearing for a year. Connor is dealing with all of these relationship ups and downs and he's not always good at navigating the tough moments. Will learning to play the drums help him find harmony? This is the third book in the Insignificant Events of a Cactus series but readers don't need to have read the others to find this book thoroughly enjoyable. Connor is the perfect blend of flawed and lovable. Readers will empathize with him as learns to deal with bullies, his first crush, and his complicated dad.

This book was so heartwarming! I had never read any of Dusti Bowling's books before but she has a way with words and characters that captivated me the whole time. Connor's story and experience with Tourette's Syndrome felt very realistic, and I appreciated that as readers, we got to see how different people tic with the inclusion of Amanda's character.

I also liked how there was more to Connor's story than just his Tourette's-moving to a new school, repairing his relationship with his dad, etc. This added depth to his character and showed that people like Connor are more than just their disability!

A fantastic read and I can't wait to read more of her books!

A story about friendship, growing up, understanding our parents, and empathy. Yes, Connor has Tourette's (and this is an under told story), and this story handles it very well, but this is also a story about fitting in, overcoming, and being yourself. I have not read the other books in the series, so I was a little lost in regard to Aven and that backstory. It didn't impact this story, just seemed like a reach at times.

Dusti Bowling's books are an instant must-read for me. This book follows Aven's friend, Connor, but she does appear in this book. Lots of heart, humanity, & humor, this book packs a punch. The characters feel real and relatable.

-- 3.5 stars rounded up

Bear in mind this is a middle-grade novel and I am not the target audience, even though I love the genre.

I am a big fan of Dusti's Across the Desert and Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus. This book branches off to follow one of the characters, Connor, from the Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus.

In the other books by Dusti, the plot focus a lot on overcoming adversity and the unique challenges the main character faces. This book was no different, but I found myself not pulled into it as much as her others.

I found myself disappointed that the main plot of this book was focused around Connor's crush with a girl. There were other plot elements at play, and some that I wish were not left in the background of the book. But this could very well be my perception as an adult reader coming into play compared to the middle grade audience.

I still look forward to reading more of Dusti's past and future books. She has a great way of capturing the voice of middle grade students.

Thanks to NetGallery and Sterling Publishing for my free advanced copy to read in exchange for my honest feedback.

Five stars, exactly what I was expecting. I fell in love with Aven Green and her friends with Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus, and so I was sure that Connor’s story would be no different. I was right.

Connor has moved. New home, new school, and new (maybe?) relationship with his absent father. As a child with Tourette’s, new schools and friends can be difficult, but Connor meets an amazingly supportive group of kids. I love how every person in his circle of friends is accepted for who they are. It’s not all rainbows though. There is a bully and Connor faces his dad, who is trying (a little too late, in Connor’s opinion) to get close to his son. Add to that the usual teen angst and coming-of-age stuff, and you’ve got the makings of a great book!

Thanks to NetGalley, Dusti Bowling and Union Square Kids for the advanced reading copy. I appreciate it!

4 1/2 ⭐️
I am so glad that Dusti Bowling saw fit to continue Connor’s story. It’s so refreshing to read a story with so many heroes worth celebrating. Kudos for presenting true friendship right from the start and parents who both work hard to be good parents and good people in general.
I wish that a little more time had been spent on resolution for Aven and Connor. I still feel like there are some unanswered questions there.
Overall, a great addition to a middle grade library!