Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this powerful, important book.

Twelve year old Louise, "Lou," Montgomery lives with her mother in Tahoe. While mom has a waitressing job, money is scarce and so they live in their truck. Lou does not go to school. Instead her mother hopes that Lou's talent as a singer will be their ticket and thus she forces Lou to sing in front of crowds. While Lou's talent is unquestionable, Lou is extremely sensitive to loud noise, touch and crowds.

On a snowy night, Louise crashes the pickup-- yes she's twelve-- and Child Protective Services gets involved. Lou is moved to Nashville to live with her aunt and uncle. With the help of her relatives, a wonderful new friend, a caring counselor, and a stable home environment for the first time in her life, Lou learns that she has Sensory Processing Disorder and starts to take control of her life.

I loved this story. The characters were beautifully drawn, especially Lou and her friend, Well. I will most certainly be recommending this book to students at school and patrons at the library.

Louise Montgomery has talent. From a young age, Louise (Lou) was encouraged by her mom to share her singing with others in order to be discovered by a talent scout and make it on the big stage. The problem is, Lou is terrified of performing in front of crowds. She is sensitive to loud noises, such as applause, and avoids touching people whenever possible. Torn between her desire to make some money to buy food and the need to just be quiet and alone, Lou tries to cope and find a balance.

One snowy night twelve-year-old Lou is driving the truck (which they live in) to pick her mom up from her waitressing job. Catastrophe strikes and Lou ends up having to move to Nashville to live with her kind, generous aunt and uncle. Trying to fit in at a new school, trying to figure out why she struggles, Lou does make some friends and gets some help. When Lou's mom tries to reclaim her role as a mother, will Lou choose to return to her mom or stay with Aunt Ginger and Uncle Dan? Find out in this tale of a girl trying to find her way in a world of confusion. This novel would be an excellent addition to any elementary middle grade or middle school fiction collection.

4 stars

This is a strong middle grade novel that delivers in the likability of its main character, representation, intersectional diversity, and smooth readability.

Lou, the m.c., is managing extremely challenging circumstances - sensory processing disorder, poverty, housing insecurity, exploitation, and neglect - all while blaming herself when things go wrong around her. Though I did not find myself gripped by what I perceived might be a more central focus at the start - Lou's singing - once other more meaningful events took place, I became quickly invested in Lou's success and wellbeing. There are some standout ancillary characters throughout the novel that I would have liked to get to know even better, but I'm hopeful thinking they'll reappear in Lou's life if not on my pages. She deserves the continued support.

Having no personal experience with SPD, I can't speak to the authenticity of the representation on that front, but I particularly appreciate the manner in which parts of Lou's other identities are managed here. I'll be recommending this one to students for sure.

This is an important book for all kids! (And adults) the look into families that may be different than yours, the look into the life of someone with a disorder you can’t see, these are important windows we should all take a glimpse through from time to time. And those with these situations and disorders will have a place to feel connected and seen. The writing And voice is perfect for middle grade students.

Lou, a vocally gifted White girl with an undiagnosed disability (sensory processing disorder), is removed from her neglectful mother. Her kinship placement slowly brings to light a fuller understanding about her life, her family, and her potential. Friendships, particularly one with a Multiracial boy, greatly aids Lou’s self-discovery and self-acceptance. While SPD impacts individuals differently, it was refreshing to see one representation in modern literature.

Tune It Out is an insightful view into the life of Lou who is navigating a world where loud noises, crowds, and personal touch is terrifying. Despite these struggles Lou’s mom pushes her to showcase her incredible voice, despite the terrible effects performing has on Lou.
Lou’s life takes a sudden turn one night after a car accident (in which twelve year old Lou is driving). Readers follow Lou as she makes her way in her new environment, letting down her guard, making new friends and learning about her Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD).

This book should be in every school library and would be a great class read loud. There are lots of points of discussion and it is an important story for students to talk about the invisible struggles we all carry.

Thanks to NetGalley and Anthenuem Books for Young readers for the e-ARC.

This was an amazing and touching story of a young girl who is different from others her age in many ways.

In this children’s realistic story, Summer explores the life of a young girl, Lou, who has a sensory processing disorder. Her mom, raising Lou on her own, is determined not to have her child ‘labeled’, so moves around frequently and keeps Lou from attending school for most of her life. Lou and her mother live in their pickup truck, surviving day to day. Lou is a wonderful singer, so her mother uses her ability to help bring in extra money.

When an accident occurs, child protective services takes Lou away from her mom and sends her to Nashville to live with an aunt and uncle. There Lou must face her sensory issues while attending school, as well as try to fit in with a crowd of wealthy and seemingly well-adjusted students.

I enjoyed this story very much. As a teacher, it was wonderful to see an author tackle the subject of sensory processing disorder. I have known and taught many students with this disorder, and it will be wonderful for them to have a book that they can see themselves in. The story was very believable and I would highly recommend it to anyone.

Tune it out was an amazing book, and I truly believe it will be a game-changer for students in upper elementary and early middle school.

Lou and her mom live at a campsite as they wait for Lou to get her big break in the music industry. Then one night, everything changes. Lou, who has a hard time with loud noises has to learn and adjust to a new family, new friends, and a new school.

As Lou learns more about SPD and learns to adjust to her new world, she makes friends that accept her for who she is and she learns to accept herself in the process as well.

I would absolutely recommend this book to my students and would also use it as a read-aloud later in the school year.

Louise is a twelve-year-old girl with sensory processing disorder. She is taken away from her single mother and sent across country to live with an aunt. This book follows Louise in her new school and environment. She is upset because she hasn't heard from her mother. It is difficult coping!
A sweet read.. I like the author's epilogue: "This book is for the kids living with invisible disabilites. I see you. You are not alone. Here's a not so secret secret: we're all still figuring ourselves out. Remember, there's no normal."

Lou has a Sensory Processing Disorder but her mother is not the most put-together person. They live out of their truck and Lou is forced to sing at shops and corners to earn money. After an accident, Lou is taken away from her mother and lives with her aunt and uncle in Nashville where she goes to a fancy private school.

As an educator, I personally struggled with the beginning of the book. The mom doesn't seek help for Lou's SPD even when the school notices and wants to help. Instead, she leaves town and doesn't put Lou back in school. I have seen a lot of parents of children with special needs who don't want them labeled and don't want the help even though it would be better for the child and it's so frustrating. I'm glad this book exists to help normalize children like Lou. I had a mild freak out in the scene where Lou was taking the SPD questionnaire because I checked off a lot of those boxes too.

If I could sum the writing style up in one word, it would be "like". I think this book averages one simile per page. I noticed it a lot more in the beginning when Lou's situation and attitude toward others annoyed me, but not as much in the second half when Lou's character really began to grow.

A girl with sensory processing disorder lives with her single mother who, while loving, cannot seem to keep a roof over their head or food on the table. When things finally come to a head in a disastrous accident, Lou finds herself living with relatives she never knew existed. While at first devastated by this change, little by little Lou starts to flourish in her new environment; making friends, being brave, and learning to accept herself. How long can this new life last, though- and does she want it to?

This is a truly lovely story that will be a sure fire hit with middle grade readers.
P.S.- Well is absolute perfection. Everyone needs a friend like him.

This book may be one of the best of 2020. It tackles some tough issues through the eyes of a middle grade kid. Louise Montgomery and her mother form a duo traveling and finding places to perform. Lou doesn't like crowds or loud noises and hates that her mother forces her from town to town and show to show. One night she goes to pick up her mother by driving their car and crashes it. Child services is called and she is taken away from her mother. Going from Utah to Nashville to live with an aunt and uncle she barely knows, Lou starts a fancy private school - starting all over again. She meets some pretty awesome "theater" kids who she befriends and becomes the assistant director (behind the scenes). She is missing her mom, weeks and months go by without contact. But Lou realizes she likes this new home. She wants to stay and she starts to resent her mother and their old way of life. Lou is also diagnosed with a sensory processing disorder - she avoids the school therapist who wants to help her but she finally starts to accept all the things that are not her fault - her mother, her disorder, her musical ability, and where she lives.

Beautifully written middle-grade book that deals with topics as complex as homelessness, foster care, and sensory processing disorder. I suspect we will see this title on quite a few 2020 honors lists!

I really liked this book. Sumner does a great job of "showing, not telling" she lets the backstory and character development happen very naturally, without resorting to "info dumping".
I also liked that this was Lou's story. That may sound obvious, but sometimes a story that should be about one character, gets bogged down in side-character's drama. Not so here - Lou may become aware of her mother's problems or that her grandparents weren't the best people, but this is not their story and so you only learn what Lou learns..

A story of understanding above all.
Lou’s car accident (driving at age 12) takes her away from her Mom. Takes her away from the only life she has ever known; living out of the truck, not going to school, and being forced to play musical shows even though she physically can’t handle it. Her placement with her aunt and uncle ends up being the best thing that could happen. She learns about her grandparents, her mom and why she feels the way she does, but more importantly the placement helps her learn about herself and her newly diagnosed (and understanding) of her SPD - sensory processing disorder.
Lou has to learn to feel proud to be who she is, appreciate the music, but most importantly understand how to be a kid.
Out September 1, I highly recommend and would preorder NOW! 🎸
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Lou lives with her mother in their truck and helps earn money by singing, even though it overwhelms her tremendously. Everything comes to an abrupt halt though when Lou causes an accident and the authorities become involved. Lou moves in with her unfamiliar aunt and she struggles to be "normal" and reconnect with her mom.

There are a lot of heavy themes woven into Tune It Out, including poverty, homelessness, family dynamics, and sensory issues. I hope it properly honours those topics; I wish it had been an #ownvoices story.

Louise Montgomery is a 12 year old girl who can sing--REALLY sing. However, Lou has sensory processing disorcer (SPD) which makes her life hard. She fears loud noises like audience applause, which, when you're a singer, is a problem. This story centers around Louise and her mom, as they live a hard life in their truck and then after Lou goes to live with a relative. Not having friends is something that bothers Lou, but kids her age just don't seem to understand her SPD, until she just might find one who does, Cute story which touches on homelessness, child neglect, sensory processing disorder, friendship, and the love of families. It was fun to read about places I knew like the Cracker Barrel on Cool Springs Blvd in Franklin, TN (just outside Nashville).

A sweet book with a hard look into what it might be like to have a sensory processing disorder. I will share this book with many students.

Twelve-year-old Lou lives with her mom in their truck. Her mom pushes her to sing in public, hoping she'll get her big break. Lou, who has a sensory processing disorder, loathes singing in public. One snowy night, Lou crashes their truck on her way to pick her mom up from work. Child Protective Services get involved, and she is sent to live with an aunt and uncle she barely knows.

I recommended this book to my middle school aged daughter, and I will add it to my classroom "Recent Reads" bulletin board for my 7th grade students as well. I think the issues of homelessness, confusing parent-child relationships, and SPD will appeal to some of my students.

I just finished #tuneitout by @jamiesumner_author and LOVED it! This is a must have for your middle school library (actually, I think 4th & 5th graders would like it too). I don’t want to give away spoilers, but Lou deals with an unseen diagnosis that can literally stop her dead in her tracks. Along her journey, she meets people that love and care about her enough to help her learn to work through the difficulties. This book is full of moments that are inspiring and I would like to see a follow up book maybe focused on Maxwell. I know this music loving, Broadway obsessed middle school Librarian would love it.

Thank you @netgalley & @simonandschuster for the eARC of this book. #schoollibrarian #middleschool

This review is on my Instagram- @mrsbrownslibrary and on my GoodReads account.