by Wendy Mass
219 pages
I’ll be totally honest here, I chose this book based on its cover. I know, I know, “Don’t judge a book by its cover,” but since the category asks for a book with a cat on it, I had to start there. Many of the cats on covers looked really cheesy or kind of lame. I chose this one because it didn’t look like it was trying too hard. I’m including a picture of the cover so you can see it for yourself. (However, if you are looking for a book for this category, I highly recommend A Man Called Ove. I read it as part of the challenge last year, so I couldn’t use it here.)
This book opens with Mia. Mia is 13 years old and is about to start eighth grade. While everyone in Mia’s family is a little quirky, Mia truly is different. Mia can see sounds. I know that sounds strange, but it doesn’t stop there. She also sees colors in correlation with letters and numbers. In third grade she was called to write on the chalkboard and when she told the teacher/class that she was writing the numbers in their correct colors, she realized she was different. It wasn’t until third grade that she realized that not everyone saw numbers and letters in colors or saw shapes and colors with different noises. Here’s an example, when her alarm clock goes off, Mia sees brown circles. Everyone’s name has a different color or pattern to it.
When this condition starts interfering with her classes, Mia decides it’s finally time to tell her parents what is happening. Mia has always been very good at art and history. She is struggling in math and Spanish. After taking her to her pediatrician and a therapist, her parents find a neurologist who finally gives a name to the condition Mia has been living with her whole life: synesthesia (sin-es-thee-ja). This is a condition that thousands of people live with. Basically what it means is that some of the wires that deal with the senses overlap. It is not a condition that is dangerous, it’s just a little different. In Mia’s cases, her senses of sound and vision cross. With the help of her new doctor, Mia discovers all about her condition and finds support groups that help her cope. She no longer feels alone. Other people experience what she does. One man chose his wife because her name tasted like chocolate.
The book gets its title from Mia’s cat, Mango. Mango was given his name because Mia sees mango colored shapes around him when he purrs.
While this book is short and not really profound, it is a pretty interesting thing to read about. It does also help a little with teaching empathy. I mean, Mia is in 8th grade when her classmates hear that she sees sounds. Of course they pick on her a bit, but eventually they accept her. The story deals primarily with learning to be comfortable in your skin. I guess I would recommend it to a younger audience, but it is still a good story.
3 stars