Review by Kim Thacker, Writer, Mommy, and Bookshop Talk host
As an author, Wendy Mass is known for her careful attention to detail. Her novel, EVERY SOUL A STAR, deals with eclipses—and readers end up feeling pretty smart by the time they’re finished with that book, because it is meticulously researched. A MANGO-SHAPED SPACE, which won the ALA Schneider Family Book Award, is similarly based on fact.
Mia deals with synesthesia. When her cat purrs, she sees shades of yellow-orange. Her reaction to the sounds she hears causes another sensory reaction—that of seeing color. Here’s a snippet from the book:
I suddenly felt very small, as if my skin was tightening and I was actually shrinking. A whirring sound filled my head. How was this possible? Was everyone playing a trick on me? Of course numbers had colors. Were they also going to tell me that letters and sounds didn’t have colors? That the letter a wasn’t yellow like a faded sunflower and screeching chalk didn’t make red jagged lines in the air?
Mass manages to teach her reader about Mia’s synesthesia (and a lot about synesthesia in general), but not for the purpose of making the reader an expert on the subject. I believe her purpose is to help us more fully sympathize with Mia. We slip into Mia’s amazing shoes, and for a minute, a person like me, who does not have synesthesia, can see colors in the words of the book. Reading A MANGO-SHAPED SPACE is almost a synesthetic experience in itself. The words bring images, and those images are impossible and beautiful.
Market: Young Adult
Language: Mild (a few uses of the name of deity)
Sensuality: Mild
Violence: None (There is one death, but it isn’t violent, and it adds to the story, so it’s not senseless.)
Mature Themes: self-acceptance; deathBook formats:
Paperback
e-book
To learn more about the author, visit: Wendy Mass
3 comments:
Kim, you're amazing! As soon as I catch up, I need you to help me pick a good book!
This book sounds SO unique! I've really got to check it out. Thanks for the great review, Kim :)
Spunds like a wonderful book Kim. I'll have to pick it up -Thanks
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