I want to say this right now!!  As a future librarian, I will be pressing this into the hands of middle grade readers for years to come!  I am a mom of 3 children with varying degrees of sensory processing disorder and a former foster parent, and I thought this book was spot on.  The rawness and realness of Lou's character as a child suffering from a disorder she doesn't understand and a child being swept away into child protective services was heart-wrenching and so important for other children and other adults to understand.  The group of friends she makes at her new school is a wonderful addition to this already very diverse book.  There's also a music and theater aspect that I loved as well.  I'm loving the big revival of theater I'm seeing in middle grade and young adult books right.  Can't forget about those theater kids!!  This definitely a 5 star read and one that should be known to middle grade readers, librarians, teachers, and parents alike, so everyone can understand that there are disabilities that you can't see and so that those that are battling these things are not alone!

This post will be available on my blog and instagram on 8.28.20

Twelve-year-old Lou's amazing voice could be her ticket out of poverty. Unfortunately, she has performance issues that go well beyond stage fright. Loud noises and human contact send her spiraling, so her mother keeps her out of school and off the radar. Then there's an accident and child services makes her go live with her aunt Ginger. Everything is a shock to her system: the sudden abundance, the fancy school, having friends. Though she misses her mom fiercely, she begins to build a life out from under her loving but stifling shadow. A poignant story of perseverance and and growth.

I am an advocate of  #ownvoices authors and while I recognize the author has a heart for children with special needs, as well as personal connections, this is not a #ownvoices narrative. However, I recognize that children need to see books that represent themselves in the pages, so until there are similar books with own voices authors I will definitely be purchasing Sumner's book to add to my classroom and school libraries.

I loved Jamie Sumner's earlier book, Roll With It, because she gave her disabled main character a personality and a plot beyond that disability. Tune It Out is another great example of this. We get to see Lou go from the shy, new kid with a tragic backstory to a more confident kid with friends and family around her and a better understanding of herself.

Wow!!  I loved everything about this book.  I can relate to Lou in that I have a very mild case of SPD.  I was pulling for her throughout the book.  I felt bad for her, I cringed with her, I hoped that all would turn out for her.   My husband and I were going through the process of becoming foster parents and this book was neat that it got into the head of a child and told of her struggles from her point of view.  Absolutely, positively loved this and will be purchasing for my library.

12-year-old Louise lives in a car with her single mother. Only talking with other people when her mom pressures to sing at cafes and country fairs, Louis does not attend school. Suffering from an undiagnosed sensory processing disorder, it is her job to pick her mom up from work. When she gets in a driving accident during a snowstorm, Child Protective Services sends her to live with her estranged aunt, Ginger. Here, Lou deals with trying to fit in at a private school, making friends, her mom failing her, and learning to trust people again. Will she be able to adjust?  Sumner does a great job of tactfully approaching difficult topics of homelessness, poverty, foster care, and sensory processing disorders. Characters are flawed and easy to relate to. Plot is heartwarming, well-written and draws readers into it. Readers who enjoy realistic fiction, disorders, and second chances will enjoy reading this book. 
 Please note: This was a complementary review copy from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. No financial compensation was received.

5 stars

Jamie Sumner does it again! Lou Montgomery is a 12-year-old girl living hand-to-mouth with her single mom struggling to make ends meet through waitressing and Lou's amazing voice. The problem is that Lou appears to have a sensory processing disorder that makes her extremely sensitive to touch and sound, a problem when her mom wants her to sing in front of a lot of people, a problem if the slightest noise or touch can have her collapsing into a screaming fit. Her mother hides her condition from the world in order to protect her and for the two of them, it's been them against the world as they move around so that no one realizes her true condition. When she crashes her mom's pick-up truck on a dark and snowy night, the authorities get involved and Lou is sent to live with her aunt and uncle, strangers about which she knows next to nothing. As we follow Lou's journey towards greater understanding and acceptance of her own condition, we also learn what it's like to live with a sensory processing disorder, especially from the point of a child. This was a heartwarming story that covered SPD first and foremost, homelessness, child neglect (intentional or not), teenage pregnancy, and adult authorities who are there to help children in need. This novel is full of heart as the first true relationships Lou forms outside of her relationship with her mother become very important to her discovery that her condition is nothing to be ashamed of and that she is a strong and amazing person in spite of her condition. <spoiler>One thing I noticed is just like in her first book, Roll With It, the MC learns that other people may struggle with other (silent) disabilities like her and realizes she's not alone in her disability. In this case, she learns that one of her new friends may suffer from being in crowds, but it's used as a way for her to learn a new strategy for coping with her own disability. I would have appreciated a little bit more on that, but then again, that may have added to much stuff to the book. Also, the story was somewhat unrealistic in that Lou didn't experience any bullying (other than curious looks) about being different (this is a swanky private middle school), but I know the author was trying to show that when you're a child living with a disability, it is not anything to be ashamed of and there are people who can help you.</spoiler> 

Still, I absolutely loved this book and many of the characters and would easily recommend it to any middle school child, especially one struggling with his or her own disability, as well as to any adult seeking understanding. I hope the author continues writing books in advocacy for the disabled community.

FTC Disclosure: Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) provided by the Author and Publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Lou's world suddenly changes when she's taken out of her mother's care and sent to live with her aunt and uncle. Lou's not only adjusting to living in a new place and going to a new school, but also trying to make sense of the fact that she feels different because she has an aversion to loud noises and being touched. This book gives insight into what it's like to have a sensory processing disorder and explores family relationships and friendship.

Tune It Out was another fantastic book by Jamie Sumner. The author has a terrific way of showcasing children with special needs as strong, smart, and driven people. In this case, not only is the main character, Louise, struggling with SPD, but she is in a situation of homelessness and poverty at the beginning of the story. With the way the character is presented and developed throughout the story, you see how, though things can be very tough to go through, there is always hope.

In addition to the main character, the secondary characters are all key to the development of the story, and the eventual resolution. Lou's mother is shown as a flawed person who makes many questionable choices, but when faced with being separated from her daughter, finds a way to work on making changes. Those who step in when Lou cannot be with her mother include CPS workers, "long-lost" relatives, a group of new friends, and a school counselor. Through these new relationships, Lou is able to look back on her past and see what her future could be. The author is careful in letting Lou realize opportunities, ponder her experiences, and come to her own decisions.
Even the ending was well done - it was positive, but realistic instead of a "perfect" happily-ever-after - which is important especially for kids reading the story who may be relating their own lives to the one being represented.

I felt this was a great book that dealt with some sensitive issues with much thoughtfulness. I highly recommend this book!

This book is one of the best middle grade stories I’ve read in a while, and it deals with an issue many children have that isn’t addressed very often in stories: sensory processing disorder ( SPD). The main character, Lou, has been dealt many bad hands in her young life: a manipulative mother, homelessness, infrequent schooling, no other family contact, and difficulty letting anyone touch her or handling loud noises. She is smart and resilient, though, and brave enough to recognize an opportunity for a better life has to be grabbed, even when it means getting out of your comfort zone. This is an incredibly inspiring story for all levels of readers.

This is only the second book by this author that I have read, but she is quickly becoming a favorite. She tackles some difficult topics and uses humor and likable characters to make these topics accessible to the middle grade audience.

Lou is immediately likable, even with her difficult living situation, difficult mother and her not understanding her sensory processing issues. Her mother keeps wanting her to sing in front of crowds, which is difficult for some one like her. Her mother is totally in denial that Lou has anything wrong with her, and just thinks when she makes it everything will be fine. But it won’t and it takes Lou being sent away from her mother for both of them to realize that.

I really appreciated how supportive her aunt and uncle were, when Lou arrives to live with them. They never push her, but yet are there to help her when she needs it. The warmth and love they feel for her is genuine as is their ability to let her work out her issues on her own, but with gentle help from them.

I really liked the new friends that Lou makes at her new school, especially Well. He is a great character and even though he finds Lou’s quirks a little bit weird, he has enough quirks of his own that he can give her the space she needs. It was wonderful to see their friendship develop over the course of the book.

Lou’s sensory processing disorder was handled really well and felt authentic to me. I have worked with many kids with this issue and could tell that the author did her research on the topic. It is an invisible disability and one that many misjudge, so it was nice to see a well developed character in a book with this issue. I think it will help both the kids with this issue and especially the ones with out understand it better.

I am really looking forward to the next book by this author. She takes some tough disabilities and makes them real for the reader. You should also take a look at her first book Roll With It, about a young girl with cerebral palsy who loves to bake. It was excellent as well. Both of these books are ones I highly recommend.

I really loved this book! As a teacher, I see many kids suffering from the choices of their parents. This one pulled me in and kept me reading.  I enjoyed the very realistic and slow progression Lou makes as she gets more comfortable with her aunt and uncle, and I thought the ending was great.  

One small thing -- the cover seems kind of juvenile for the story and the main character.  Many of my middle school students are looking past "elementary" stories, and covers like this can sometimes turn them off. 

No matter what, I'll be book talking this book once it hits my shelves!  Kids can relate and also build empathy from this story.

Tune It Out would be a great addition to my fourth grade classroom library. It tackles a lot of issues in a lighthearted way that is accessible to young readers. I’m not very familiar with sensory processing disorder, but I like how this book promotes acceptance and awareness.  I recently read another book on NetGalley called Muffled which was also about a girl that had an aversion to loud sounds and music played an active role in the story. These books could easily be used in a text set or book club for students. It was unfortunate that Lou had to be taken away from her mother and couldn’t receive more help beforehand because of her pride and the unfortunate realities of the system. The character of Maxwell was an important juxtaposition to show that despite his financial comforts and luxuries it still didn’t make his home life ideal. I thought Lou’s relocation to Nashville would play a larger role in the story with her musical talent instead of just the backdrop. The turn of events during the play at the end was fairly predictable, but necessary in order to see Lou’s growth and development.

Tune It Out by Jamie Sumner is the first book I've read that deals with SPD, Sensory Processing Disorder. I know many kids that experience SPD to different degrees, and I am so glad that this book is in the world for all of us! I enjoyed getting to know Lou, the main character, and think this book will be easy for readers to relate to. Highly recommend!

Along the lines of “Fish In A Tree” or “Out of My Mind,” this book addresses tough issues many children experience themselves or in others.  This Realistic Fiction book combines both issues of Sensory Processing Disorder and Foster Care through the eyes or a Middle School girl. 

Lou Montgomery was born with an amazing singing talent.  However, Lou does not always like performing in front of other people.  Loud noises and strangers frighten her.  Lou cannot see her talent only her differences and fears.  At the same time, her mom wants her to perform and make it big in the entertainment world.  On their way to meet a music producer, Lou crashed their pickup truck and only home.  Lou is taken away from her mother and sent to live with her aunt and uncle.  

Once in the foster care system, Lou begins to meet people who want to help her, not exploit her talent.   Lou slowly starts learning people will care about her and not just her singing.  For the first time in her life, Lou makes friends, has a home with a bed, goes to school, and is not hungry.  Lou also learns her Sensory Processing fears are nothing to be ashamed of and she just might like music again.

This book addresses Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) with respect and dignity.  As a school librarian, I love this book, because it addresses how a child with SPD thinks about themselves.  I think is it an important book for both children with SPD and their peers to read and understand.  I recommend this book as a good book club book with 4th-6th grades for its great discussion points.  I also recommend this book to School Counselors as another tool to address SPD in their schools.

As a kid who deals with sensory processing, this book really spoke to me. It was so well done and really explains what SPD is and how it impacts a kid's life.

I really enjoyed "Roll With It" and was excited to see an ARC for Sumner's new novel "Tune It Out" on NetGalley...thank you!
I really enjoyed Lou as a main character. She was likeable and accepted her faults as well as her talents and was willing to work on herself. Her mother avoided problems and seemed to have a history of running away when things got tough. Neglect, abuse, sensory issues, poverty, homelessness (the list continues) are all issues dealt with tactfully in this book. It is definitely written for young middle schoolers because Lou's transition to her new middle school may be a bit "too easy" but all-in-all this is a solid read.

Tune It Out was a beautiful story of Lou Montgomery. This 12 year old took us through her struggles, and showed the courage of overcoming each of them. I felt her uncomfortable feelings toward touch and sound, and wanted to speak up as people came toward her. I was moved to wanting to protect her, and will definitely be recommending this book to others! My only problem was not with the book, but reading it online where I came to the end of the book before I realized the end was near. I could have kept traveling and learning with Lou. She shows us all how to stand up and brush ourselves off.

I'm a huge fan of Sumner's storytelling prowess and essentially read this book in one sitting. The scenes were highly believable, as were the ups and downs of Lou's life. Tune It Out also explores difficult questions about family and finding oneself, particularly the courage to strike out on one's own and choose one's path. More importantly though, until more #OwnVoices stories about SPD become available, I think books like these are better than none at all. It is always worth noting that no one writer, not even #OwnVoice authors can capture the entire scope of any specific identity, whether it's race or a disability. I highly recommend this book to fans of middle-grade books about music, friendship, and coming-of-age stories.

I loved this book! Really loved Lou as a main character. She was sweet but also tough. Sumner expertly developed her character and background story so that I felt very invested in her story. I also loved the other characters as well. 

Very well developed characters and storyline. I also learned a lot about SPD from this book. 

I added this book to my list to order for both my elementary school libraries and can't wait to buy it.