Friday Spines Book Review Number 26:
This is the story of a cat named Mango, his human Mia--who sees colors in the air when she hears sound--and their journeys to the unknown.
Mia, a thirteen-year-old with a condition called synesthesia (click here for synesthete.org for more information on synesthesia), is grieving for her grandfather, who died about a year ago. She was very close to him, and at his funeral she finds a small grey and white kitten, who, to her, holds a part of his soul. She names the kitty Mango, not because of his orange eyes, but because his wheezy purrs appear as mango-colored puffs in the air.
Nearly a year later, Mango is full grown, and Mia's colors, as she calls them, are still with her. Since numbers have both numerical value, shape and color to her, she's failed two math tests in a row, and is finally forced to tell her parents about the colored patterns she sees in the air. This results in an unsettling visit to a psychiatrist who mentions "middle child syndrome"; a fight with Mia's best friend Jenna; and finally, a community of people who she can understand.
Readers 9-14 will probably identify with it most, but it's a wonderful read for ages 8 and up: told in Mia's simple, uninhibited voice; she reveals all her secrets to us, and in her words we hear the fluctuations in her life. The story is honest and ordinary, with fresh twists not often seen in books for this age group. Not written as an ideal life or fairytale, young readers will be able to see themselves in Mia, even if they can't see colors in the air.
Other things I liked about this book:
- Wendy Mass walks the line between an overplayed, far-fetched psychic pet connection and a colorless one: Mia's relationship with Mango isn't unrealistic, but it's still special.
- The romance is utterly age-appropriate, but also utterly sweet. Rodger is no Prince Charming (it's Adam who appears to be her Prince but is quickly and bitingly revealed to be rather self-absorbed), but he's funny and will be loved by readers of all ages.
- Jenna's tangled relationship with her deceased mother will draw you into her story, adding a sensitive level of depth to the book.
- The imagery in this book goes deeper than images, evoking the vivid memory of smells, sensations, and feelings in the reader.
Warning: the cover is a little misleading, but is explained later in the book.
Happy reading--I'll see everyone on Monday!
M. Gabrielle
