A Mango-Shaped Space

by Wendy Mass

Overview

"From the moment I read a story by Wendy Mass, I knew she was a writer to watch." —Judy Blume

An award-winning book from the New York Times bestselling author of Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life and The Candymakers for fans for of Wonder and Counting by Sevens

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 forced Mia to reveal her secret, she must learn to accept herself and embrace her ability, called synesthesia, the mingling of perceptions whereby a person can see sounds, smell colors, or taste shapes.

Winner of the ALA Schneider Family Book Award

 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780316058254
Publisher:	Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication date:	10/19/2005
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	240
Sales rank:	49,743
Product dimensions:	5.24(w) x 8.58(h) x 0.76(d)
Age Range:	10 - 13 Years

About the Author

Wendy Mass is the New York Times bestselling author of The Candymakers, Pi in the Sky, Every Soul a Star, Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life, and A Mango-Shaped Space.

Editorial Reviews

"An original, brightly written tale."—Washington Post

"An intriguing first novel. Well-defined characterizations, natural-sounding dialogue, and concrete imagery."—Publishers Weekly

"Funny and touching at the same time. Wendy Mass has a winner in Mango's Mia!"—Meg Cabot

"From the moment I read a story by Wendy Maas I knew she was a writer to watch. I welcome her first book and am certain young readers will, too."—Judy Blume

"I love it! Such an interesting, touching story about an issue I knew nothing about. And I want to adopt Zack and keep him forever."—Karen Cushman, author of the Newbery Medal winner The Midwife's Apprentice

From the Publisher

The...narration lends immediacy and impact to Mia's color perceptions...a quietly unusual and promising offering

Kirkus Reviews

In an intriguing first novel, Mass introduces a 13-year-old heroine with an unusual perspective. Mia Winchell is a synesthete; her visual and hearing senses are connected so that numbers, letters, words, sounds and even some people's auras appear to her as colors. The letter "a," for instance, is the shade of a "faded sunflower," screeching chalk "makes red jagged lines in the air," and Mia's beloved cat, Mango, is surrounded by an orange cloud. Mia's unique view proves to be both a blessing and a curse. On the one hand, she enjoys having heightened senses ("If I couldn't use my colors, the world would seem so bland-like vanilla ice cream without the gummy bears on top," she says). On the other hand, sometimes it's hard for her being reminded that she is different, like when her brother, Zack, calls her "the Missing Link." Although the story line, at times, seems cluttered with underdeveloped subplots about Mia's friendships, potential romances and conflicts at school, the novel's premise is interesting enough to keep pages turning. The author successfully brings abstract ideas down to earth. Her well-defined characterizations, natural-sounding dialogue, and concrete imagery allow readers to feel Mia's emotions and see through her eyes a kaleidoscopic world, which is at once confusing and beautiful. Ages 10-13. (Apr.) Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

Publishers Weekly

Gr 5-8
Mia Winchell is a synesthetes-her brain's electrical wiring causes words and sounds to be accompanied by a visual display of colors. She describes laughter as "a pale blue cloud that drizzles down." The word friend is "turquoise with the glow of glossy red." Mia, now 13 years old, has been keeping her condition a secret since she first discovered it in the third grade. When Mia finally confides in her parents, they take her to a series of doctors, and she is properly diagnosed. Once the teen learns that she's not crazy and her problem is synesthesia, she embraces her uniqueness. But she also abandons her normal relationships to spend time with fellow synesthetes. Finally, the death of her beloved cat, Mango, reconciles Mia to her family and friends. Wendy Mass's novel (Little, Brown, 2003) captures the emotional roller-coaster ride of a teenager born with synesthesia in much the same way as Mark Haddon captured the complicated world of autism in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time (Doubleday 2003). Mass weaves an intriguing and compelling story filled with believable dialogue and characters. Mia's parents are almost too perfect, but her siblings' and friends' personalities and voices ring true. Narrator Danielle Ferland moves from character to character effortlessly, but without much deviation in voice inflections for the secondary players. In voicing Mia, she does a remarkable job of expressing the whirlwind of complicated teenage emotions. A must for all collections.
—Cheryl PreisendorferCopyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

School Library Journal

Mia Winchell is a synesthete—her brain is wired to taste, read, and hear in color. Narrator Danielle Ferland portrays a young person who is both ordinary and unique. Ferland is strong in depicting Mia’s wry humor as she struggles with siblings and friendships while coping with her own perceptions. Vivid word pictures cascade throughout this sensual story. Mia's cat purrs in mango spheres, and her music produces shapes in the air. But she has the experiences of average kids as well, and with youthful sincerity Ferland expresses her frustration over homework and her despair over losing family members. This audiobook brings alive a unique young person and her rare gift. C.A. © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine

OCT/NOV 07 - AudioFile