The Beat I Drum

Life of a Cactus

De: Dusti Bowling

Narrado por: Matt Godfrey

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?

Endearing and authentic, The Beat I Drum offers an empathetic look at a misunderstood syndrome, the therapeutic value of music, and the power of forgiveness.

©2025 Dusti Bowling (P)2025 Tantor Media

I loved this book💗

I have listened to the rest of the books in the series and have loved them all. I probably wouldn’t have chose to read this book or any of the other ones in the series if it hadn’t have been for the state book competition, I was in through my school and essential years there’s 12 books and you read them and you have to answer the questions about them and whatever team gets the most questions of white wins and in the list of the 12 books I didn’t think this one would be my favorite but it was 1000% my favorite out of the 12 books I read for the competition. I think this is the last book in the series but I hope it’s not and I think one should be made on Zion‘s perspective, but overall this book and the rest of the series were so amazing and go check the other ones out if you have not already 😁

A must listen!

This book was amazing, so cool to see Connors pov. some cute and very appropriate romance, overcoming bullying, and being there for your friends. Highly recommend!

Best book ever

In my opinion, it’s better than the first two books and that’s a lot coming from me. This is was an epic book.

What a beautiful picture this story makes out of the words said.

This book fills my heart and right away makes its way into my heart, I feel like I AM Connor in this story I feel like I’m in his shoes like I feel what he feels at every time all the time, the surprise and the excitement that comes with this one of a kind book is something you can’t find anywhere else so what Im trying to say is that this is a must read!

Mostly the way Connor felt

I like the story and that Connor played in front of people at the very end