The Beat I Drum
Reviewed By Grasshopper2 October 28, 2025
Author Dusti Bowling
Distributor: New South Books
ISBN: 978-1454957065
Publisher: Union Square Kids
Release Date: 2025
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For children with disabilities to begin to feel accepted in society, we need to acknowledge, discuss and include them. The author has come to write about these children as she feels, “To be not written about is like saying you’re not worth writing about.”
The Beat I Drum focusses on a boy names Conor, who is facing the first day of High School. Daunting for most, but for this lad, who barks and has a tic it will be a challenge again. Connor has Tourette Syndrome and every day he faces mimicking, stares and questions.
The teachers have discussed Connor’s condition with the classes before he arrived hoping the students will be empathetic and not need to ask questions or be surprised when he barks. This mostly works, but at lunch time he is befriended by a girl who has a large birthmark on her face.
She suggests they join her group in the canteen, but Connor is aware that he can spit while eating. Eventually he does join the group for lunch, and they are supportive. The students on the bus are not so friendly and bullying behaviour begins to emerge.
The music teacher asks Connor if he is interested in playing an instrument and he admitted that a friend had been teaching him guitar, but he wasn’t progressing. Mrs Chen offered to teach him drums. He was happy and comfortable. His friends mother played the organ in a café and Connor got to perform there.
This story is a very positive one showing how friendship and support can change a person’s life. Dusti Bowling hopes that disabled children can be validated by seeing aspects of themselves represented.