Tune It Out

by Jamie Sumner

A 2020 BookExpo Book Buzz Pick

From the author of the acclaimed Roll with It comes a moving novel about a girl with a sensory processing disorder who has to find her own voice after her whole world turns upside down.

Lou Montgomery has the voice of an angel, or so her mother tells her and anyone else who will listen. But Lou can only hear the fear in her own voice. She’s never liked crowds or loud noises or even high fives; in fact, she’s terrified of them, which makes her pretty sure there’s something wrong with her.

When Lou crashes their pickup on a dark and snowy road, child services separate the mother-daughter duo. Now she has to start all over again at a fancy private school far away from anything she’s ever known. With help from an outgoing new friend, her aunt and uncle, and the school counselor, she begins to see things differently. A sensory processing disorder isn’t something to be ashamed of, and music might just be the thing that saves Lou—and maybe her mom, too.

Genres: Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction, Fiction, Music, Contemporary, Disability, Mental Health

275 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2020

About the author

Jamie Sumner is the author of the critically-acclaimed middle-grade novels, Roll with It, Tune It Out, and One Kid's Trash. Her forth middle-grade novel The Summer of June hits shelves on May 31st, 2022 with Atheneum Books for Young Readers. She is also the author of the nonfiction parenting books, Eat, Sleep, Save the World and Unbound.

She has also written for the New York Times and the Washington Post as well as other publications. She loves stories that celebrate the grit and beauty in all kids. She and her family live in Nashville, Tennessee. Connect with her at Jamie-Sumner.com

Reviews

[Darla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five sparkly, sensory-aware stars for this new book from the author of "Roll With It." Jamie Sumner, you have done it again! A girl who is being replanted with additional challenges learns to shine and grow in a new place -- with the help of some fantastic supporting characters. Lou is such a lovable girl and you can't help but empathize with her and the land mines that lurk for someone with SPD. Thank you to Jamie Sumner for bringing this condition out into the light of middle grade lit so that other kids have a window into life with the challenges that go along with it. The more you know, the more you know. I hope to see this one on the Newbery list of nominees in 2021.

Thank you to Simon and Schuster and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

[Cat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just cried so much reading this book
as an ADULT
a 23 year old PERSON who pays TAXES
(technically none of this makes me immune to crying while reading a children's book but hey, here we are)

I love Lou and her voice, and everything she experiences and thinks about just seems so real and down to earth. This book made me feel safe and seen, but for someone who relates even more to Lou, or to any of the circumstances and conversations that take place regarding Sensory Processing Disorder, neurodivergence, wanting to feel "normal", food insecurity, foster care and child protective services, almost narcissistic parenting, or whatever else, I could imagine it could make someone feel so much more safe and seen. Plus--there's so many cool things in there, like music playlists, Sondheim's Into the Woods, and a great group of friends that sound like amazing people to be around, even if they are only in the 6th grade.

Something I really appreciated was the way that each adult in this book had a conversation with Lou that said just the right words. And in the non-book-world, where that doesn't always happen, having something to read in which it does, and adults treat a character like you with love, care, and respect... it's so important.

Thank you Jamie Sumner for this book! Thank you Celia Krampien for this adorable cover art! And thank you S&S/Atheneum for sending it to my place of work, Oxford Exchange bookstore, where I could pick it up. Review is a lil late but that's ok <3

[Afoma (Reading Middle Grade) · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

Read my full review on my blog.

[Dana Cristiana · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 stars.

I don't remember much of this book now after 2 months, but I'm not really a fan of school settings anymore, and definitely not of music in books, if it makes sense.

But the premise was interesting and the relationship with the mother kinda sad towards the end.

[Sisters Three · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not really sure what I thought of this....had one cuss word h-e-double l...um and I'm just not sure, so yeah.
~Kayti

[kate. · Rating 4 out of 5]

THIS BOOK.
yes. yes. yes!
i love when middle grade tackles differences.
bravo, sumner. i loved it.
👏


...

People, noise, crowds, touch. No one gets why they terrify Lou so much.

Summary: Tune it Out is a middle grade novel about Lou. Lou struggles with Sensory Processing Disorder. She lives with her single mom, singing to live by. She has a beautiful voice. Soon, a disaster ends up with the child services separating Lou and her mom. Lou goes to live with her aunt and uncle, people she’s barely even heard about. In this new, fancy neighborhood, it’s different from everything she has even known. Lou learns that SPD is not something to hold her back, and learns to let her light shine -- and sing.

My favorite part of this book is experiencing Sensory Processing Disorder. It’s something I’ve never heard of until this book!

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading middle grade or learning about disabilities / differences.

From the book: “Ginger mistakes my silence for acceptance and moves to hug me. I flinch. She sees it. Her hands hang there in the air like she’s paused, until she turns it into a weird two-handed wave. ‘Well, have a good day, Lou.’ I wave back. ‘Thanks. I will.” Red embarrassment creeps up my neck. Now she’ll think I’m ungrateful. It’s just another reminder that I don’t know how to be around people other than Mom. And now I have to meet a whole school of them.”

[Cassie Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

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! 🎸
.........

[Ms. B · Rating 4 out of 5]

What if COVID didn't happen? That's not the premise of this story, but I had to laugh a little in the last chapter in which we learn it's New Year's Eve 2020 and the ball is out to drop to bring in 2021. That means the entire story took place in the fall of 2020. To the best of my knowledge, that's what happens when a book was already on its way to publication before COVID changed the way we lived for most of 2020.
The real premise of this fish out of water story is learning that sometimes a fresh start in life is exactly what you need. After living with only her mother for the first twelve years of her life, Lou finds herself living with her aunt (Mom's sister) and uncle in Nashville attending private school and learns she has a sensory processing disorder (SPD). It's definitely a change from the vagabond lifestyle she lived her mother. Can Lou adjust to her new lifestyle? How long will she need to stay with her aunt before she can return to her mother? If her mother does return, will Lou go with her?
What else will Lou discover about herself in this story that's perfect for fans of Simon Sort of Says, The Brave, Fifty-Four Things Wrong with Gwendolyn Rogers or All the Impossible Things?

[Renee MA · Rating 5 out of 5]

While I loved this book, I couldn't help thinking of the main characters as 16 and not 12. I also wanted a few more chapters so I could spend a little more time in Lou and Well's lives.

Dear Ms. Sumner, Tune It Out #2 could take place in 2026 as the pair go off to college? There is just so much more to these friends than can be explored in 288 pages.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are not many books for middle grade readers that have truly explored sensory processing disorder. Tune It Out does that and more! Lou and her mom live in a truck at a campsite. Mom can't wait until Lou makes it big with her singing career but is that what Lou really wants? One difficult evening leads Lou down a path that will impact her entire life. She must learn to deal with a new home, a new school, friends for the first time and her sensory processing disorder. Is Lou strong enough and brave enough? Does she have what it takes to "feel all the feels?" Lou and Well will have you laughing one moment and then tearing up the next. Sumner has written about SPD with accuracy, compassion and a huge heart! The author provided me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. Thanks, Jamie!

[Jenni · Rating 4 out of 5]

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).

[Kathie]

Thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher for an eARC of this book.

Although I really enjoyed this story, I will no longer be reviewing books with neurodiverse characters unless they are written by ownvoices authors as I don't feel qualified to comment on the representation. Since I cannot determine if this book falls into that category, I will refrain from making any comments at this time.

[Laura Hook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, what a standout middle grade book! I loved Lou and her grit, her bravery, her fight. She grows up in a hard living situation and has sensory processing disorder on top of it. A topic much needed for readers in the middle grade world and so so well done! You'll root for Lou the whole way through.

[Afreen Khalil Inscribed Inklings · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tune it out by Jamie Sumner📚



Tune it out has a special place in my heart. I'm a speech language pathologist by profession and this book was about a girl with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD). I have actually seen the symptoms mentioned in the book with the children I work with. So I loved the fact that this book raised awareness about this hidden disability.

There are a lot of triggers for children with SPD, it could be touch, sound or lights. The book has delved into the sensitive topics with ease. It was a cathartic experience. Though this book is intended for children, adults would also equally appreciate the book. The writing style was articulate. The tone of the book was empowering.

The theme of the book was self discovery and self acceptance. The main character was Lou. Lou and her mother were living in their truck. One day, she was on her way to pick her mom from work when she crashes the truck. That's when things spiral out of control and she is placed under the care of her Aunt, Ginger. In a stable and new environment, we get to see how Lou transforms. This book is definitely a must read for everyone.

-Afreen

[izzy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was ok. Its the story of a girl who has SPD (Sensory Processing Disorder). I can tell the author did her research on SPD, its pretty realistic (I have SPD and I'm autistic)! However, other than the fact that the MC has a realistically portrayed neurodivergence, there are quite a few issues.
Its revealed throughout the story that the MC's mom became pregnant at around 17. The story seems to focus on it quite a bit in some areas and that made me a little uncomfortable. Her mom is also negletful and refuses any sort of help from her sister.
The side characters seemed a little distant. Almost no development happened with them.
The MC, after learning about her SPD, freaks out and believes that if she goes to OT for her sensory issues, she'll be labelled as the Special-Needs Kid. Her thoughts about being neurodivergent seemed slightly ableist.
Really, the only notable thing about this book is how her SPD is portrayed.

[mya · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was very rushed. There was really no room for development for anyone because it was so short. Hardly any time with the MC interacting with her so called new friends and her aunt and uncle. We just get told time went by and she was liking her friends, but we didn’t get to *see* it. The adjustment from being homeless and not in school to hanging out with people her own age for the first time in forever didn't even seem to be that hard for her. I would think she'd have more social difficulties, but maybe the author wanted to make it clear she wasn't autistic? (Her past teachers suggested she was, to which Lou seemed almost offended by. Which was pretty disheartening to read, and I hoped there would be some discussion later on about being on the spectrum isn't bad. But it wasn't really discussed again :/)
There were a few interactions with her friends, yeah, but they were all pretty random and unrealistic. What 6th grade boy is going to steal a golf cart, drive multiple miles to the house of a girl he’s known casually for a week AT 2:00 AM, throw stuff at her window, just so he can chat and listen to her sing again? Every kid in this book should’ve been at least in 8th or 9th grade. The way they talked, dressed, and acted was unique and interesting, but there's no way they were 11 or 12. It was truly laughable imagining them as that.
I didn’t think we really saw how the MC transitioned from loathing the idea of “having a disorder” and being a “special needs kid” to accepting SPD and going to therapy for it. I can see why she did, but her thoughts weren't clear and consistent enough through the book to show the development happen. On that topic, the SPD representation was decent. Some of it felt overdramatized, because it doesn’t really show how sometimes there is sensory overload *without* screaming/crying/collapsing externally. So her immediately having a huge reaction anytime there’s a bad or overwhelming sound was pretty unrealistic. I don’t think the author has SPD herself, and she probably doesn’t understand the “headspace” involving it. Additionally, the triggers were mostly obvious things, like blenders and airplanes and fire alarms. I was hoping she would show the struggle with more everyday things that no one else would suspect, at least in the hearing sensitivities. The touch aversion problems were pretty accurate, except when she chose a pat down over the metal detector??? That made no sense to me, seeing as it took her a lot of effort to make a pinky promise with her friend. Being touched all over by a stranger would be far far worse than the possibility that the metal detector might make a beep--not just in my opinion but in what we saw with Lou later on. Anyway, the book wasn't super terrible, but it wasn't good either.

[Mrs. Mazzola · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this story! There aren't a lot of stories about kids with sensory processing issues and I'm so happy to see more of them popping up. I loved Lou and seeing how as she understands more about herself, she becomes more self-accepting and even learns to advocate for what she needs to be her best self. I thought the complex family dynamics were genuine and compelling. Often, parents and other adults can be depicted as either wonderful or terrible in middle grade, but in this story, even though her mom was frustrating, she was not simply one thing, but nuanced and impacted by her past trauma and experiences. Overall, I thought this was a wonderful story and am eager to share it with my students.

The only exception that I have about my praise for the story is that it was not created by an #ownvoices author. The depiction felt well-researched and true to my experience with sensory issues, but that might be an issue for others.

[Sandra Stedge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jamie Sumner, you’ve got me hooked! I love the story, I LOVE the characters, and I love to learn about what it’s like to really be inside someone else’s mind, especially when their experience is so different than mine. Lou is a great character that will stick with me for a while.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

This was not what I was expecting. I got this for my music-loving daughter, hoping for a fun, light-hearted music school experience with the added challenge of a girl who loves music but has a hard time with the sensory processing of it.

However, it was mostly about a messed up mom forcing her daughter into uncomfortable situations and avoiding help from everyone around her. I really didn't like the unhealthy relationship between Lou, the main 12-year-old girl, and her mom. I prefer examples of healthy relationships for my girls, not stories of kids trying to cope with unhealthy adults. That being said, I really loved the teachers at Lou's new school and the sweet friendship she formed with her uncle.

See this review on my Substack: https://momsmusings.substack.com/i/11...

I did appreciate the inside look at sensory processing disorder. My music-loving daughter also has some sensory challenges so it was great to see this highlighted. HOWEVER, there is no way that my daughter, who has many of the same challenges as the main character, could read this book without having her own panic attacks. There were so many situations that are triggers for my daughter and she wouldn't stand a chance at making it through this book - there are so many scenes she would have stopped reading because she knows her own triggers and doesn't like to read about them. There are also many scenes involving nausea and vomit, which happens to be a phobia of my daughter's and another anxiety trigger. So while the SPD is represented well, this is not, in my opinion, a friendly story for those with SPD to read.

Needless to say, I was disappointed and I'm glad that I read this before handing it off to my daughter.

[Adam Clancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s about a girl Lou struggling with sensory presses disorder and living in poverty

[Sacha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Atheneum for this ARC, which I received in exchange for an honest review. I'll post that review upon publication.

Updated 9/1/20

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.

[Karen McKenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Jamie Sumner's first book, and so I was thrilled to get the chance to read an eARC of Tune It Out. I had an expectation that I would like it, but this story still blew me away! Jamie Sumner is quickly becoming a favorite author and I hope she writes many more middle grade books! Her characters are complex and well-developed while keeping her prose succinct and moving. She doesn't shy away from hard topics like poverty, foster care, and Sensory Processing Disorder, but her story is uplifting- full of power and hope. I fell into her story and couldn't put it down until I had finished. Luckily, I started reading on a Saturday and turned it into a lounging, reading day.

What I loved:
The first person perspective of Lou's story was spot on! Her voice when describing how loud sounds and lights feel to her was such a powerful way to understand SPD. To experience what she experiences when an unexpected accident uproots her life and moves her halfway across the country to live with strangers was such a powerful look at what it feels like to be "placed" in the foster care system.

I loved the setting of Lake Tahoe in northern California because it is a favorite location of mine!

I loved the best friend, Well, and how much his character adds to the story.

I loved Lou's aunt and uncle, and how Lou learns to add them to her family.

I loved the motorcycle-driving social worker and the problem-solving-ipod-buying social worker.

I loved the musical Into The Woods (my favorite).

I love how Lou learns to use strategies with her SPD and be honest about what she wants and needs.

I love how supportive her friends are, and while there are less supportive middle school students, there is not the typical total bully in middle school trope.

It was basically total love! Thanks so much for letting me read. #LitReviewCrew

[Sirah · Rating 5 out of 5]

There aren't many books that I would insist that everyone should read, but this is one of two. There are plenty of people out there who can write books, but Jamie Sumner manages to expertly weave in themes as varied as poverty, disability, middle school, tiger moms, moving, theatre, and child abuse together with relatable characters, a compelling storyline and understandable circumstances. Each chapter left me craving more as I felt the complex emotions of a girl trying to do her best in a world that seems just a bit harder than it should be.

While I'd recommend this book to anyone, I especially would like to see it in the hands of middle schoolers everywhere. Sumner treats her characters with respect and dignity as she explores difficult issues and finds a way to inspire acceptance and hope. I admit there are a lot of books that teachers pick out as impactful and hope their students will love. This one might require a gentle heart or a mature thought process to appreciate fully, but it's just the right kind of exposure to help open a child's mind to how to be more accepting and compassionate. I will be purchasing several copies to share. This book is now on my top 10 must read books of all time, and I have a feeling it will stay there for a long time.

Shoutout to Scott for creating Lou's Survival Playlist on Spotify already, as this is the perfect soundtrack to the final chapters.

[Stacey DeCotis (Reading in the Middle Grades) · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[clara [inactive account] · Rating 3 out of 5]

i feel weird complaining about something in an arc of a book that's already out. because what if the author changed that and now it's different and not bad? or worse, what if everything's totally changed from the arc to the real book, and i write a review and no one knows what the heck i'm talking about?



i don't know what to say! but i'm just going to roll ahead here.

the unfinished character arcs. they're driving me nuts, folks. i can't read under these conditions. please, save the characters. donate what words of protest you can. anything helps.

moving on from that creepy monologue there, i also was disappointed by my theater boy! you are why i read this book, maxwell. come on.

i do appreciate his nail polish choices though. goals

[Shae · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finished! Loved it! OMG the very beginning made me miss sitting in Starbucks reading a book. I could smell it hear and feel it. I LOVE WELL!!! 🤣 He is amazing. Lou is the strongest person I’ve ever met! So much love for this book. Thank you Jamie!

I have so much ❤️ for this 📖! You will full in love with these characters! Tune it Out by @jamiesumner_ is about hope and the importance of family & friendship. Lou-the epitome of perseverance & strength. You will also fall in love with Well! #BookPosse #NotoriousReader Order!

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Theresa Grissom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC of this book.

One of my favorites of the year! I loved everything about this story. I can relate with Lou who has SPD, sensory processing disorder, although mine is a very mild case compared to her. I loved to get in her head and hear the struggles she faced from her point of view. Looking forward to getting at least one copy for my elementary library. The kids will really love this one.

[Reyy Loves Middle Grade Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐.

I REALLY LOVED THIS BOOK.

[Anvita (anvitascorner) · Rating 5 out of 5]

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