A Mango-Shaped Space

This book is great for anyone who is interested in Synesthesia or who loves a well-written, touching story. The main character, Mia, has a beloved cat named Mango, who she named for the color of the sound of his breath. She's spent most of her life hiding the fact that, for her, letters, numbers

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and sounds all have colors. Not long after the book starts, Mia discovers that there is a name for her condition: Synesthesia. It's a very real syndrome where people see colors in letters, sounds, and even flavors. The author does a wonderful job of describing Synesthesia in such a way that everyone can understand it. It's a unique book, and a touching one, and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to anyone. Adults in particular should be careful not to dismiss this wonderful book simply because it's intended for teens. (Teens get all the best books!)

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introuduce some thing that most kind have never heard of but is true. its makes you cry and laugh :0
I would recomend to read highly!!!

I loved this book! It was so sad and touching and informational too.

Mia, a thirteen year old eighth grader has a disability, but does not know what it is. She noticed that she was different in third grade when she had a diffcult time in math class. Her parents don't really look at it as a serious problem and it isn't confronted. Mia finally finds her way to a

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neurologist who finally diagnose her disability as synesthesia. After becoming familiar with synesthesia and being part of an online community of other synesthetes, Mia finds confidence and learns to use her disability and overcome difficulties in math and other subjects. Just when Mia feels that her life is more controlled, she loses her beloved cat, Mango. Coping with losing her cat, brought back grief of her loss of her beloved grandfather.

A good addition to the fiction collection for young adults to read and understand peers with disabilities. I thought the book captured Mia's emotions and struggles through her point of view. A good book for pet lovers as well.

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In case you couldn't tell from the title, I will warn you: the cat dies. Don't worry. It will still be sad.

Since the third grade, Mia has known she was a freak. She sees colors when she hears sounds and her numbers and letters have colors, too. When she was in third grade, she is chastised for

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"making things up" when she tries to explain the colors of her numbers. Ever since then she's been hiding her colors. It's causing her to fail math and Spanish, but when Mia screws up the courage to confess and seek help, will it make her life better or worse?

This was an interesting book solely for its subject matter. I've never read anything else about synethesia and it's described vividly here. If not for that subject matter, I don't know that there's much that would set this book apart. Mia goes through a lot and has a lot of problems, but now that I think about it, they don't all get resolved, really. That said, it's pretty short and it gives a glimpse into a life we might otherwise never experience. It's enough of a reason to read it.

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This book is a slow starter for me, however, I am determined to get "into" it and read it all the way through. It has won the Schneider Family Book Award which honors books pertaining to special needs. I am initially attracted to the book, however, by its opening chapter. Instantly, I am aware of

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the condition the girl lives with. As she states, it is a "gift". We quickly learn it is not a disability, but creates special needs. Specifically, she must learn to live and cope with some learning obstacles that 'normal' children don't have to encounter. Like the book says, people who are gifted artistically and musically have the highest tendencies toward synesthesia. I know a woman who is a musician who sees colors as an accompaniment to music. I was thrilled to perform a solo with her in the audience and see her react with an astounding smile on her face. I never found out what shapes and colors she saw when I sang that day, but I know it must've been good!

"Mango-Shaped Space" develops into a beautiful story that is only impeded by the somewhat dry first person narratives leading us through the book. The plot is rather weak in that all roads lead to Mia's defining herself and her condition. In the process, the author paints (no pun intended) a sort of neuroses onto each of the main characters of the book. Mia knows all of these characters are slightly goofed up, but we learn through Mia that it makes no difference, and neither should Mia's "gift" make her crazy or too different. An interesting book. I loved the ending. Do we hear a sequel in the making? "A Mustard Colored Space"?

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The main character Mia is a sensitive 13-year-old girl who comes to terms with a rare neurological condition called Synesthesia. The story is an introspective look inside the world of one who perceives letters, numbers, and sounds as colors. Mass’s exceptionally descriptive prose makes Synethesia

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understandable and intriguing. The story demonstrates that, although acceptance from family and friends is important, the most important aspect in accepting one’s own differences is to realize that they are an integral part of who one is.

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A Rebecca Caudill nominee for a couple of years in a row. It never made it to winner, but a great book nonetheless. I cried at several parts. A great story about synesthesia, a disorder I had never heard of - seeing numbers or letters as different colors or shapes.

A girl views the world in rich color...numbers, names, music all have color. Initially an outcast, she realizes others share her view.

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

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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.

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Very interesting, never knew this existed.

I really liked this book. I wouldn't give it a 5 though, only because there were some sad parts that made me cry, towards the end of the book. The reason why I'd give it a 4, though, is because the way we see things, is it not at all what the main character sees, and there are a lot of people just

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like her, who see things differently. This book made me look into things more and not only use my perspective of things, but to take others' points of views into consideration, as well. This book proved to me that everyone could use a little imagination once in a while.

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This is a great book to read! It's a simple easy read and an easy plot to follow. There were some sad parts in it but overall it was great. There was lots of good detail in it too. Awesome book!

Always a classic! One of my favorite childhood stories. An Inspiring story. Creative.

Wendy Mass allows readers to celebrate their differences in the character of Mia in A Mango Shaped Space. Through the journey of Mia, Mass gives inspiration to young readers to embrace what may be different or unique about themselves. It may not always be an easy ride as Mia showcases in her

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strained relationships with her family and friends, and as any adolescent growing up, it takes trial and error within themselves to accept who they are. She also introduces readers to the condition of synesthesia which many may not be familiar with. However, it is not only the condition that is a main part of the story but also the self discovery of Mia. Thus this book will speak to 5th graders and up.

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I really enjoyed reading this book! The story follows a thirteen-year old girl named, Mia Winchell, who has a condition called synesthesia -- where a person can see sounds, smell colors, and taste shapes. I loved the inside look into Mia's life and perspective of the world. The book left a fuzzy

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feeling in me and would certainly recommend this to others! It's unique!

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Afraid that she is crazy, thirteen-year-old Mia, who sees a special color with every letter, number, and sound, keeps this a secret until she becomes overwhelmed by school, changing relationships, and the loss of something important to her.

This book was very good. I loved how Wendy explained what Mia saw with the colors. I both laughed and cried.

A nice light read. I initially thought that seeing colors with numbers was an interesting idea. When I realized the medical accuracy of the condition with the descriptions throughout the book, I was impressed. I recommend this book and will likely read it again.

A very moving story! I could not put the book down till in was finished...and only wished for it to never finish. I highly recommend this book...it was definately something different but in a good way!

This is a sweet YA novel about a young girl who learns that she has synesthesia, a rare sensory neurological disorder where the brain's sensory mapping overlaps in unusual ways. Mia had thought she was a freak since the 3rd grade, when she originally learned that other people did not see colors and

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shapes with sound. As she starts to learn more about her condition, she also struggles with unresolved grief from the death of her grandfather, academic concerns, and problems with her best friend.

Though this book was clearly written for the young adult audience, I thought it did a nice job tackling some sensitive subjects including grief, peer acceptance, disabilities, and adolescent family issues. Though the writing was a bit pedantic, I became choked up reading about Mia's grief, and at other times, chuckling at Mia's family banter between the siblings. Highly recommended for any teen who sometimes feels that they don't belong or have too much they are dealing with (I guess that would be everyone).

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This book is fairly unique in that it brings to light a little-known diagnosis called synesthesia -- a condition where the stimulation of one of the body's senses in turn stimulates another. In this particular story, the main character, Mia, sees colors & shapes associated with letters, numbers, &

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sounds. While it's a book of fiction, synesthesia is a real diagnosis, one of which I'd never heard of prior to reading this book.

This is written for the young adult audience, and this is obvious once you begin reading. The writing is fairly simple, and that's the one thing that bothered me the most about this book. I read a fair amount of young adult fiction, and I've read much better, although to be fair, I've also read worse. This is a good book for a tween or young teen, especially one who is struggling to figure themselves out. I'd be interested to read a book on this subject matter addressing more of an adult crowd, and there are some books out there which meet that criteria.

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Mia has known that she is different since the third grade. She thinks she may be crazy and doesn't tell anyone, including family and friends, that she sees colors when she hears sounds. People's names have specific colors and math is difficult for her because the numbers' colors don't match their

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functions. Even her beloved cat is named Mango because her purrs are visible to Mia as orange-colored puffs. She has a unique disability called synethesia and it isn't until she meets a little boy who sees colors the same way she does that she knows she is not alone. To keep the little boy from living with the uncertainty she has always felt, she tells her parents. At first, they think she is looking for attention or, worse yet, is mentally ill, but eventually realize that she has a unique gift. Mia doesn't understand how important the colors are to her until she loses her ability to see them after the death of her cat.

This is a tender story about strong family relationships and learning to accept your personal differences. The interactions between Mia and her siblings are realistic and middle-school readers will identify with the fact that sometimes the best way to get along with your brothers and sisters is to go to your room. The author does a wonderful job describing Mia's dilemma, her relationships with her family and her best friend and her eventual acceptance of her gift. Her characters are identifiably unique but appealing. Mia is well-rounded and likeable. This book would be a good addition to any school library. Grades 5 and up.

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This book made me cry. It is very good. I weeped when the cat died!