The Beat I Drum (Life of a Cactus #3) by Dusti Bowling

How I Came Across It... *I have been a fan of Dusti's novels since the very first one. I was excited to know she had written another story in the "Cactus" series. I was even more excited when an audio version of the story was being offered on the Libro app. I downloaded the audio version and enjoyed the story for several commutes to and from school. What It's About - Five Things You Need to Know... *We first met Connor as Aven's best friend. This novel centers on Connor after he has moved away from Aven and the life he knew.

*Connor has Tourette Syndrome and he isn't sure how the kids will respond at his new high school as a ninth grader.

*As luck would have it, he meets a girl in his class who also deals with Tourette's.

*The two of them form a friendship based on what they have in common, what they don't have in common, and a love for performance.

*Connor not only has to adjust to a new high school, but also to his dad returning who is trying to make amends for leaving the family.

What I Thought of It - Five Observations/Reflections... *The audio of the story was top-notch and I thoroughly enjoyed listening to the narrator while I drove to and from work.

*I thought it was awesome to be back with Connor and also get a chance to see what Aven and the other friends were up to.

*Dusti Bowling did a wonderful job of bridging Connor's story in the first book to his newest adventures in his own novel.

*Even though Connor is a freshman in high-school, the story is quite appropriate for the audience intended.

*Themes of friendship, family, and embracing your inner-self were scattered throughout the entire story.  

Who Should Read It... *The story does revolve around early high-school students, but the content is fitting for the upper elementary reader, middle-school reader, and of course high-school reader. There is a bit of "kissing" in the story, but nothing too detailed or off-putting. If you have read the first two novels, you must add this new title to your TBR list. Happy Reading! Rating... 5 out of 5 stars