Beat the Turtle Drum

by Constance C. Greene, Donna Diamond (Illustrator)

A young girl learns to cope with her feelings about her sister's accidental death.

Genres: Fiction, Young Adult, Childrens, Middle Grade, Death, Juvenile, Novels

128 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1968

About the author

Born on October 27th, 1924, Constance C. Greene, the daughter of newspaper reporters, published A Girl Called Al (Viking, 1969) the story about a very intelligent girl who is an under-achiever and latch key kid, although Greene says that at the time of the writing the term wasn't being used yet. Al was a likable character and other books followed.

One of Greene's most popular books, Beat the Turtle Drum (Viking 1976), came from personal experience. At the age of eleven, Greene's sister died. The story relates how a young girl learns to cope with the accidental death of her sister. The book was adapted for television in 1976 as Very Good Friends and was shown on the ABC After-school Special.

Greene also wrote other juvenile and adult novels, among them Nora: Maybe a Ghost Story and Isabelle the Itch.

—Leslie Greaves Radloff

Reviews

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

So sad. It haunted me after I read it (at age 12-ish) for a long time.

[Bren fall in love with the sea. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful story. But quite upsetting.

Realistic YA Fiction.

Also a movie.

The plot concerns a family, with two sisters, Cate and Joss. They are more then sisters but also best friends.

One day, Joss, the younger sister is killed in a tragic accident., shattering the family and leaving all of them but Cate in particular lost in grief an d questioning everything, including her own belief system.

This book is brutally beautiful. I saw an other reviewer wrote that it "haunted her" and I feel the same way. It doesn't read lightly.

But it is a deeply moving, superbly told story of love, loss and family that I think has and will resonate with readers. Four strong stars..

[Geralyn Joseph · Rating 4 out of 5]

" Dance along the silver sands and beat the turtle drum, that youth may last forever, and sorrow never come..."

The intro poem still haunts me almost 30 years after reading this book. The story and characters are as vivid to me know as the day after I read it. Very poignant depiction of a young girl's life after a tragedy. Told with compassion and skill. This book will stick with you. I am having my 14yo daughter read it.

[Ben Langhinrichs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beat the Turtle Drum
Author: Constance C. Greene
Publisher: Open Road Media Teen & Tween (January 27, 2015)
Digital review copy courtesy of publisher via NetGalley


Thirteen year old Kate wants to be a writer, and the author gives her a tremendous voice. I found myself reminded of Anne (of Green Gables) as she describes her family, and especially her almost eleven year old sister, Joss, who is horse obsessed and plans to rent a horse for her eleventh birthday. We are easily swept up in the joys and trials of their family and various friends and neighbors. I especially love how rich and real the side characters feel.

When tragedy strikes, it is almost unimaginable how close it strikes to home. I kept blinking back tears, and wanted to scream at the author that she couldn't hurt these precious, wonderful characters. In fact, if there is any flaw to the book, it is that we are so completely caught up in the normalcy and joy in their lives that the tragedy feels jarring, and happens late enough in the story that we don't have time to recover. But that is the beauty of the book as well, because we can truly feel what the characters are feeling as their lives are interrupted, and we struggle to recover from it just as they must.

Originally published in the late 1970s, Beat the Turtle Drum has endured with its searing story, and has as much punch as it did back then. This digital reissue will attract a whole new generation of fans for Constance C. Greene. Note that the poem in the beginning of the book is easy to miss, but only by reading it will the title make any sense.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sad and moving without being maudlin for one second. Not easy to do.

[Gale · Rating 3 out of 5]

IT'S THE NOW THAT HURTS!

The title may be somewhat misleading, as this somber story is not about endangered species or a native tribe. Rather, it is the poignant portrait of a family--especially the relationship between two sisters--shattered by sudden, senseless devastation. Almost 11, Joss has longed to have her own horse--a dream about to come true on her birthday. But no one could foresee the disaster as family dynamics are irrevocably severed.

Narrated by 13-year-old Kate this book reveals sisterly intimacies and suppressed rivalries, while praising the role of devoted friends and kindly adults. Far from saccharine, this book will lead young readers into serious reflection on the fragility of human life; the "personal myth" of teenagers precludes acceptance that tragedy could occur in their own family, or to their close friends or even themselves. Each person must cope with grief in his or her own way, for death is always hardest for those who remain behind.

March 14, 2012. I welcome dialogue with teachers.)

[Annalisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't believe I had to get help finding this book when it was on Robyn's list all along! If it's the book I'm thinking of, I read this book in sixth grade and bawled my eyes out. The protagonist has low self esteem compounded by her perfect sister. When her sister dies she had to come to terms with her survivor's guilt and her own self-esteem problems. A very touching, poignant story.

[Kate Catanese · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I was a child, I desperately wanted a horse and begged my father to let me keep one in our garden storage shed. Instead he bought me this book about two sisters who buy a horse and keep it in their garden storage shed until one falls off the horse and dies. Thus ended my late 90s campaign to become horse-girl.

[Julie Richie · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my very favorite books from childhood. You'll need tissues. Be warned.

[Blue · Rating 5 out of 5]

For years I shied away from reading this book because the girl on the cover looked surly and what I considered was a stupid-sounding title. I finally read it when I was maybe twelve, and although I later confused the title with A Taste of Blackberries, it was this story I most remember. Twenty years later I still get teary and creeped out remembering reading the words Nothing will ever be the same again. Joss is dead.
edit note: I apologize to anyone who encountered this review in the almost 6 years since I wrote it until now when I saw it didn't have the spoiler html---what a terrible spoiler! I don't know what I was thinking.

[PinkAmy loves books, cats and naps · Rating 1 out of 5]

Kate’s younger sister Joss is everyone’s favorite. When Joss falls out of a tree and dies, Kate feels like she should have died.

BEAT THE TURTLE DRUM is a super short story written in 1976. While the story is sweet in a nostalgic kind of way, Constance Greene fails to deliver a message or any type of closure. While grief is endless, the story just ends with Kate having written a poem. Middle grade readers need more of a resolution.

[Shanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kate tells the tale of the summer her sister rents a horse for a week. Joss is obsessed with horses, and having one of her "own" is a dream come true. The story is sweet and funny, until the end, which is sweet and very very sad, due to a sudden, tragic accident.

[Chris · Rating 2 out of 5]

Why do I remember that I read this in 6th grade when I can't remember my name half the time?

[Cindy Dyson Eitelman · Rating 2 out of 5]

How about reading an out-of-print, mass market teen paperback from the seventies...with a massive spoiler on the back cover?

From the first page I knew how it was going to end. I just didn't know the particulars.

It was surprisingly well-written and the characters were surprisingly endearing. Vivacious Joss. Her observant, thoughtful sister--the narrator--I never did catch her name. Slightly slow Tootie, out of place in his brainy family but quick to recognize the beauty of a true friend. Conventional Sam. The bizarre couple, Mr. and Mrs. Essig. I liked them all.

But overall, for an adult reader who didn't grow up with the book, it was short and shallow. I'm sure there are a lot of teen books an adult can read and love, but this wasn't one.

It's for thirteen and under. But recommended.

[Rosie · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was sort of interesting while reading, but it seemed to only ramble on until it finally got to the climax, for lack of a better word. I just thought it was poorly written, for the most part. The ending was sad, and unexpected, I must say. And it was the best part of the book, story and writing wise. I would have given it 2 stars, but there were curse words and other things that I didn't appreciate, so that brought it down. Altogether, I don't recommend it.

[Suzann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a childhood favorite that I gave a reread. Though it's from the 1970s, it holds up very well. It was the first realistic book about death that I ever read, and now that I've experienced death, I know that it did a first-rate job.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I could write as beautifully as Constance Greene. This is a wonderful, bittersweet tale of two sisters.

[Nicole Roccas · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nostalgic re-read for me, this was a book that moved me to the core when I first read it in sixth grade for Battle of the Books. It is still a moving tale, one that centers on sisterhood and loss. It is told by thirteen year-old Kate, who aspires to be a writer and poet, about her younger sister Joss, a horse-loving 11-year-old, and a summer that won't soon be forgotten.

I still have no idea where the title comes from! Somehow this detail fell through the cracks the first time I read it nearly 20 years ago, and today.

[Sandra Fuentes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very beautifully written! The word use and tone in the first parts show how much she loves her sister and the tone and style in the later parts are very telling. I've read a couple reviews saying the author just ends it and lesson is not explicit enough for young readers, but at that age you should start understanding the purpose on an open end book. This one specifically serves it's purpose, death is difficult to understand and you don't know the effects it'll have on someone.

[Wendi Pryor · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite book

I first read this book in Middle school. I felt everything the characters were feeling. I had never lost a close loved one at that time but reading the story I had an idea of what it would feel like. These characters were my friends. I have since re-read the story while I am in my 50's. I've known loss now and I can empathize with the characters on a personal level. This is my favorite book.

[Dawn Ferchak · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first book that tore my heart to shreds and had me crying my face off for days. So beautifully written, so emotional and real. I read it loooooong ago, probably in 1979 or 1980, and I’ve never forgotten it. My heart feels tight right now, remembering it. That’s the sign of a damn good book.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you think children’s literature is for lightweights, try this middle- grade reader by Constance Greene. Who? Never heard of her, but she turned out this stunner of a book on death and loss. Just beautiful.

[Kibbenza · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ended rather abruptly, and without much of a conclusion, it seemed. A lot of buildup to the event, and not much fallout. Seemed a bit weird to me, but what do I know?

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite books as a young teen.

[Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

has haunted me since 4th grade!

[Heather Innes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another devastating childhood read

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book starts so happy and nostalgic. Two little girls navigating life. The climax, however, left my jaw on the floor.

[Suzy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although I knew how this story would end, it still came as such a shock. The story was a quick read and engaging.

[Shelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everyone loves Kate's little sister Joss, including Kate, but just when things are perfect, it all goes horribly wrong. Jennifer loved this as a kid, and I totally missed it, so I decided to check it out. suspect I would have adored this had I read it when I was younger--it was exactly up my alley. Kate and Joss are adorable, and it is so totally set in the 70s, I love it. But it also has zero resolution, and I wish it did. Or had a sequel. Come on, Kate's family, I'm rooting for you.

[Gabs · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read more of my reviews on My Full Bookshelf

I think that maybe if I hadn't read the blurb of this book before reading it I would have liked it more. Because if you read the blurb, you know the whole story already. There is no element of surprise whatsoever.

So, there will be spoilers in this review. But considering that everything I will mention in this review is mentioned in the blurb, I'm thinking that's okay in this one instance.

First off, this is really freaking boring for the first 80% of the book. Kate just talks about her sister Joss. And honestly, that would have been fine, if I could just make an emotional connection to either of these two girls, but I couldn't. I think I was kind of preparing myself for Joss to die, which ended up not happening until the last twenty pages or so, and so I didn't want to get too emotional over her.

Secondly, the book doesn't seem to have any resolution. It was more like, "my sister's dead, now my life is terrible." I know that sounds unbelievably harsh, but that is literally what it was. That is not how you want to end a book. Even if it is a tragic story, there has to be some resolution, and it didn't seem like there was in this instance.

The one thing I did like about this book was the narrative, but it is for a more personal reason than any serious literary one. When I was still in middle school, my school's library was really old and 80% of the books were from the 70s, which is when this book was published, so it reminded me of the books that I used to read back then. That was one of the few things I enjoyed about this story.

It is interesting, though, to see how word usage and slang has changed since the 70s. The new version doesn't update the actual text (or if it did, only a few bits, because there were words that were definitely outdated in this book), so its exactly how it was when it was first published. That was entertaining for me.

This isn't exactly a book I'd recommend. Maybe I would have enjoyed it back when I was still little and cried over almost every single book, but at my current age, I was really unmoved by Beat the Turtle Drum.