Gr 5 Up—Lou can sing like an angel, yet she lives in fear of loud noises and high fives. Her free-spirited mother
hopes that Lou's talents will result in her big break. Then Child Protective Services sends the girl to live with her aunt
and uncle, and everything in her world shifts—including her inability to speak up for herself. A raw and uplifting story
addressing invisible disabilities, homelessness, and poverty, with dignity and hope.

7/10, a charming and quick read about a character helping her mother, with a touch of music. ( )

Lou is living out of a truck with her mom, going from one open mic to another with never enough food or money. Lou sings in front of crowds because her mom wants her to, even though it is torture for her. Touch and loud noises hurt Lou, causing her to scream and cry sometimes when it gets to be too much. Her mom never listens and keeps promising Lou it will all be fine when she gets discovered and is a famous musician - but that is not Lou's dream. ( )

Lou -- talented singer, struggles with sensory disorder, lives with her mom in a truck in CA. After an accident, removed from custody and sent to live with aunt and uncle in Nashville. Great journey, strong voice.

Things I loved-- the characters are vivid and compelling. The issues are complicated and not diminished by quick solutions. Lou's sensory experiences are easy to understand and empathize with, but also not presented as autism. Her new friends (theater kids!) are hilarious and kind and have their own challenges. It's also a powerful depiction of homelessness and of navigating social services.

The one thing I had a problem with is clearly a publishing timeline problem -- at the end of the book they are celebrating New Year's 2021 but there is nothing at all in the book about Covid. I assume that it went to print in that liminal time before we knew what was coming. ( )

Recommended Ages: Gr. 4-7

Plot Summary: Lou despises singing in public but her mom forces her to sing a gig at the coffeeshop. Unbelievably, Lou's big break is finally here. A husband/wife team from an agency is impressed with Lou's sound and invites her out to LA. The night before they're supposed to leave, Lou is sleeping in the back of her pickup truck, just like always. Late to wake up to pick up her mom, Lou starts driving through the snow. When she's just in front of the restaurant where her mom is a waitress, she ends up on the side of the road. Horrifyingly, Lou is brought to the hospital without her mom and isn't allowed to see her. Child protective services tells her that she's moving to Nashville to stay with her aunt and her husband, even though she hasn't seen Aunt Ginger for many years and only has one faint memory of her. As they take off on her first plane ride ever, Lou screams the whole way, triggered by the loud engines. Her social worker purchases an iPod for her before their connecting flight to help. But what about starting a new life in Nashville? How will school go? How will it be to live with Aunt Ginger and Joe? Why is she so so jumpy every time someone touches her or there are loud noises? When will she ever see her mom again? Why hasn't her mom called?

Setting: Lake Tahoe and Nashville

Characters:
Lou Montgomery - AKA Louise, 12 yo, 6th grader
Mom - got pregnant at 17 yo, move often
Joe - owner of Bagels and Joe in Lake Tahoe, gives Lou free coffee sometimes
Well - ALA Maxwell, pushy in a very welcoming way
Tucker - Well’s friend, joined a hot dog eating contest
Geneva - Well's friend, was in Midsummer's Night Dream
Jacob- always doing something with technology
Ronald and Leslie Montgomery - Lou’s grandparents, kicked Mom out when she got pregnant at 17, live in trailer in Arkansas
Maria - social worker at child protective services in Lake Tahoe
Aunt Ginger Latimer - lawyer (estate law)
Uncle Dan Latimer - Ginger's husband, English teacher at private school, seems like a quick learner about Lou's sensitivities to touch and sound
Andrea Scott - school guidance counselor and learning services coordinator
Melissa - caseworker

Recurring Themes: noise sensitivity, touch sensitivity, sensory processing disorder, homelessness, low socioeconomic status, music, fitting in, friendship, child protective services, diverse family structure

Controversial Issues: none

Personal Thoughts: Family drama that was well written and just my preference. Lots of showing instead of telling. Warm ending without it being unrealistic.

Genre: realistic fiction

Pacing: medium-fast
Characters: good character development
Frame:
Storyline:

Activity: ( )