A review by stephxsu
A Mango-Shaped Space by Wendy Mass

3.0

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 grandfather’s 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 what’s 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 Mia’s growing up.