A Mango-Shaped Space

Reader reviewed by Megan

Every word, sound, and smell has a color for Mia, and it came as quite a shock to her when she found that most people didn't see these strange colors like she did. Mia is a thirteen-year-old girl who happens to see colors for all letters, words, sounds and smells. She has lost her beloved grandfather fairly recently, and then her prized cat Mango. Throughout the story, Mia tries to learn more about herself and her condition, synesthesia. She does so, and in the process comes to terms with her friends, family, mind, and, eventually, after her cat dies near the end of the book, his death.

Reader reviewed by Stephanie

13-year-old Mia has always been able to see colors and shapes with sounds. For her, letters and numbers have their own colors. Her cat, Mango, whom she found on the day of her grandfathers funeral, is actually named after the orange that his sounds produce. Mia hid her strange condition from her friends and family, but being an eighth grader and failing pre-algebra takes a toll on her, and she finally tells her parents whats going on.

After visiting numerous doctors, Mia learns that she has synesthesia. This knowledge opens her up to a whole new world of people who understand her. At first, she is so fascinated by these new experiences that she almost loses touch with the real world around her. It takes a devastating loss for her to understand that she must incorporate her newfound knowledge with the love of the people who have always been there for her.

This is a sweet and interesting book about an unusual and little-known condition. Readers, especially those in middle school and early high school, will be able to connect with Mias growing up.

Reader reviewed by adrienne

i thought it was just another report
then i found this book
it was awasome
and i liked it alot i refer it if u would like to read it for reports and things like that

Reader reviewed by plentyo'moxie

I just really love this book. Normally I am extraordinarily critical, and pick apart this and that. This is not to say this is a life-altering, amazingly perfect book. But there is a sweet and gentle story, wrapped up in some real stuff thats not overly dramatized.

Mia has synesthia a condition where she sees colors in association with words, numbers, sounds, etc. In third grade she is called a freak and she understands no one else can see colors, so she hides it from her family and friends until her problems at school become overwhelming and she happens to meet a kid who appears to have the same deal she does. In other story lines, her grandpa has just died and she sort of transfers her grief into love of a new cat, the Mango of the title.

I dont really want to give more away, just say that her condition is real, not many people at all have it but it is really interesting. Wendy Mass does a good job creating a story around it, with real and lovable characters.

Reader reviewed by carikube

A Mango-Shaped Space is has a pretty good storyline and deals with an interesting topic, synesthesia. Synesthesia is something that some people have (including me, the reviewer) that makes them associate other senses with, well, other senses. For instance, when I look at a sheet of black type, I see it in color. In A Mango-Shaped Space, the main character sees words and music in color. This is a very good read for anyone interested in the topic. It was especially interesting for me because I could identify with it, but I think that it could leave a lot of people wishing they could.