Mango definitely fell into this category. Eighth grade is one of the toughest groups to write about since high schoolers tend to be repulsed by any book about a middle school student, while the content is less likely to appeal to, or be appropriate for, younger students. I was a little confused about the author’s intent with the age. While there are synthesetes who do experience that, I was uncomfortable with the way it was portrayed like a superpower that could be turned on through acupuncture.
But when Mia starts seeing other people’s auras, they were clouding the main point. Mia believes her cat is a partial reincarnation of her beloved grandfather’s soul and her siblings are into all sorts of superstition and unusual beliefs. The dramatic scene felt over-the-top to me, but is probably just right for MG readers. The end of the book has to do with the cat Mango’s death, which not only is given away in some of the online synopses, but is also heavily foreshadowed throughout the entire novel. In particular the last one seemed weird – I didn’t believe her mother would forbid acupuncture based on what we know about her. Mia cheats on tests, leaves the house without her parents knowing where she’s going fairly often, and gets medical treatment (acupuncture) for a made-up condition without parental permission. I suppose given that this was published in 2003, we should be grateful she gives a verbal assent before they kiss. However, this was a prime opportunity for a girl to stand up for her body and what she’s comfortable with that instead turned into a girl moving too quickly to please an older boy. I did like that she became aware of his true nature and later regretted the choice. Towards the end of the book, Mia has her first kiss when she meets her email friend in person for the first time.
Some parts may give parents pause – much discussion about crushes, some talk on how babies are made, flirtatious emails and so on. At the time it was first published, it helped raise awareness about a little-known condition. This book isn’t ethnically diverse, but the primary topic is synesthesia. With middle-school algebra on the horizon, is it finally time to talk about her experiences? But back in third grade, she learned that not everyone experiences the world this way. It makes otherwise boring moments interesting, gives her headaches when her father is hammering away on their house, causes her to hear her cat as the color mango, and makes learning math a lot more complicated. MG realistic fiction, 271 pages + extras.Įighth grader Mia reads, and hears, with specific colors and shapes in her mind. Little, Brown, and Company, Hachette Book Group, New York, 2003.
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