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colorwriter's review
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
For a book meant for children and younger readers I enjoyed this even as an adult. I remember enjoying this book as a child but reading through adult eyes with recent experiences with grief this book does an excellent job of presenting grief and growth as an individual through the eyes of a pre teen.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Grief
Minor: Bullying
ash_ton's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I wish I could rate this higher, but a few things annoyed me. I know in her acknowledgments she says she talked to people with synsthesia, but I'm really wondering...
I have synesthesia and while I can't speak for all synesthetes, I have never heard of real life people saying that it affects their life this badly. Or that it's that intense. Mia is full on hallucinating shit at points like be so serious. Mine isn't as intense as some people's but good lord ain't no one lost in some LSD-like haze. I also hate that even Mia's doctor and therapist were acting like synesthesia was just so outlandish. Here are a couple quotes I found in this article from MIT:
"Modern scientists have been studying synesthetic children in depth, including neonates, since 1980."
"By the early 2000s, the brain pictures that a critical establishment had demanded for decades were at last at hand, and in abundance. Critics were silenced, and long-standing dogmatic notions of how the brain is organized were out. The meaning of the paradigm shift lay in realizing just how consequential synesthesia is. Far from being a mere curiosity, it has proven to be a window onto an enormous expanse of mind and brain."
This article was literally the 4th result of the Google search "when did synesthesia become known."
Here's the article link if anyone cares: https://thereader.mitpress.mit.edu/a-brief-200-year-history-of-synesthesia/
Also the Adam kid was kind of a freak. Team Roger or wtvr.
I have synesthesia and while I can't speak for all synesthetes, I have never heard of real life people saying that it affects their life this badly. Or that it's that intense. Mia is full on hallucinating shit at points like be so serious. Mine isn't as intense as some people's but good lord ain't no one lost in some LSD-like haze. I also hate that even Mia's doctor and therapist were acting like synesthesia was just so outlandish. Here are a couple quotes I found in this article from MIT:
"Modern scientists have been studying synesthetic children in depth, including neonates, since 1980."
"By the early 2000s, the brain pictures that a critical establishment had demanded for decades were at last at hand, and in abundance. Critics were silenced, and long-standing dogmatic notions of how the brain is organized were out. The meaning of the paradigm shift lay in realizing just how consequential synesthesia is. Far from being a mere curiosity, it has proven to be a window onto an enormous expanse of mind and brain."
This article was literally the 4th result of the Google search "when did synesthesia become known."
Here's the article link if anyone cares: https://thereader.mitpress.mit.edu/a-brief-200-year-history-of-synesthesia/
Also the Adam kid was kind of a freak. Team Roger or wtvr.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Death, and Grief
Minor: Death of parent and Bullying
vagorsol's review
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Grief, and Ableism
Moderate: Death of parent
thatchickengirl23's review
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Animal death
Minor: Bullying
augustar14's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
This is the second or third time I've read this book. Wendy Mass does a really great job. The upturn after the major drama of the story did feel a little sudden this time around, especially listening to the audiobook. But overall, well written, gives very accessible information and life to synesthesia and grief.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death and Grief
Minor: Slavery, Death, Cancer, Bullying, Vomit, and Death of parent
akagrady's review
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Animal death
taliatalksbooks's review
challenging
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
A Mango-Shaped Space by Wendy Mass was a sweet, but heartbreaking story involving grief, healing, and being different. This book follows Mia, who is struggling with synesthesia. Though her colors bring life to the world, they are also presenting problems for her learning in school. I love the way this book moves quickly but allows a deep dive into a character whose mind works differently from most other people (but certainly not all). While the title of this book gives away a major scene towards the end of the novel, this is a story about love, grief, growth, and acceptance that I really enjoyed, and I think many middle grade readers would too. This book is fast paced and could easily be read in one or two sittings.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Animal death
flordemaga's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death and Grief
Minor: Ableism
azyef's review
emotional
hopeful
sad
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death and Grief
Minor: Death, Terminal illness, and Bullying
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