A Mango-Shaped Space

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4.4 (12)

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Author(s)

Wendy Mass

Publisher

Little Brown & Company

Genre(s)

General Fiction

Age Range

10+

Release Date

October 05, 2005

ISBN

0316523887

Buy This Book

Mia Winchell appears to be a typical kid, but she's keeping a big secret—sounds, numbers, and words have color for her. No one knows, and Mia wants to keep it that way. But when trouble at school finally forces Mia to reveal her secret, she must learn to accept herself and embrace her ability, called synesthesia, a mingling of the senses.

Editor reviews

2 reviews

The Space Between

July 27, 2005

Overall rating

5.0

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Every turn of the page offers another peek into the mind of a 13-year-old girl named Mia. She sees colors related to numbers, letters and sounds but has kept this a secret ever since she was little and realized that other people do not see things the same way.

Once she finally admits this to her family, and after she sees a series of doctors, she realizes there is a name for her condition: synesthesia. This eye-opening book accurately depicts the condition, explaining how it is different for those who have it (called synesthetes) and that it is not a disease so it is not "catching" nor can it be "cured."

I was truly moved by Mia's story and Mass' writing. I -- a well-read grown woman who rarely if ever cries while reading books, listening to music, or watching television, movies, or plays -- cried in the middle of a store while reading this book.

If you are a pet owner or sensitive to animal storylines in books, you 1) will need Kleenex; and 2) should not read full reviews or summaries of the book which spoil the ending.

If you enjoyed this novel and wish to further your education / read more stories for children and teenagers about afflictions, I highly recommend Multiple Choice by Janet Tashjian and Kissing Doorknobs by Terry Spencer Hesser.

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User reviews

12 reviews

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4 stars

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1 star

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4.4

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4.4(12)

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Great

February 08, 2009

Overall rating

4.0

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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.

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Unusual and Interesting

January 18, 2009

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4.0

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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.

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Amazing, like the blues purple, and reds of a sunset

October 14, 2007

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5.0

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Reader reviewed by Elise

I absolutely LOVED this book.

In the book, for the main character, Mia, sounds, letters, and numbers have color.

It deals with Mia's ability and just about everything else. Death, love, and school. The love and loss of pets, boyfriends, parties, and friends--you fight with them, but you love them.

I guess I can relate to it in the way that numbers and letters have colors for me. Sounds don't have color, but I kinda wish they did. Although, in Mia's case, it got a bit distracting at school in Spanish and math.

For me, my name (Elise) is the color of a bright, shining emerald. And the name Mia is a pinkish red.

I recommend this book to anyone 12 to 112.

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Colorful Book

January 03, 2007

Overall rating

5.0

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Reader reviewed by Erin

I read this in 5th grade and I think I told everyone that is was the best book I have read in my life. It is about a girl that sees things with color. Like for math she will see different colors for different numbers. Then she finds out that there are other people out in the world that has the same problem as she does. There are some twist and turns in this book that keeps you reading.

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Colorful

September 06, 2006

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5.0

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Reader reviewed by Claire

"A Mango-Shaped Space" by Wendy Mass is one of the best books I've ever read. It shows a colorful use of language and imagery. Mass shows the struggle of life through the eyes of Mia a 13 year old girl with synesthesiadeath. In the book Mia a facing the chalenges of her gift, the betrayal by friends. Anyone relate to Mia.

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Amazing Book

November 05, 2005

Overall rating

5.0

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Reader reviewed by Rosie

WOW is all I can say. This is an amazing book. It is half serious & half funny. Wendy Mass is very talented.

In this book I can relate to Mia. No I don't have synesthesia (even though I wish I did). But her bond with Mango is like my bond with my dead cat Tiger. I'm not going to spoil anything, but this is very sad. I cried reading it. But you should read this book!

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Mango?

October 29, 2005

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3.0

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Reader reviewed by Beth

Mia embarks through a diffucult problem, telling her parents that she sees colors, which was my problem just until last month. I picked up this book unknowingly judging it by its pretty colors on the back which I pretty sure for most would be black. Although it can be difficult to deal with, I love having Synesthesia because everyone is jealous of me and gives me lots of attention ...Maybe o maybe this will change as school goes on

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A treasure for young adult readers!

October 23, 2005

Overall rating

5.0

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Reader reviewed by Ariabella

At the first chapter, I had been hooked. I spent all night and day reading want to know what would happened next. A book everyone can enjoy, whether it be a 10 year old or a 41 year old. If have not read this book, stop reading this and drive to the nearest book store or library. It is definatly a magical book

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nice book for reports

October 15, 2005

Overall rating

4.0

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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

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Wow! A Mango Shaped Space is really the best book I've ever read!

June 28, 2005

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5.0

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Reader reviewed by Sara

Mia is really quite the character in the way she expresses herself about her family, her cat, school, friends, and her grandfather. But what really completes her is her condition of synesthesia and how she deals with it.

After reading it (for the third time I might add ) I still wonder what it would be like to be a synesthete. I mean it would make life much more exciting, instead of being flustered by annoying sounds you could learn to enjoy them from the pictures and colors they formin your head. It does seem like it could be very overwhelming in school though, especially foreign language and math! I would do anything to trade places with a synesthete for a day to see what it's like!

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