A Mango-Shaped Space


About the Book

Thirteen-year-old Mia Winchell appears to be the most normal kid in her family. Her younger brother Zack keeps a chart of all the McDonald's hamburgers he's eaten in his lifetime. Her older sister Beth dyes her hair a different color every week and might be a witch. But Mia knows she is far from ordinary. She is keeping something from everyone who knows her: the fact that sounds, numbers, and letters have color for her.

When trouble in school finally convinces Mia to reveal her secret, she feels like a freak. Her family and friends have trouble relating to her as she embarks on an intense journey of self-discovery. By the time she realizes she has isolated herself from all the people who care about her, it is almost too late. She has to lose something very special in order to find herself.

What is synesthesia?

synesthesia alphabet The alphabet as David M., age 16, sees it.
To read his letter, click here

To read the memo from Sean A. Day, Ph.D., President of the American Synesthesia Association, click here

Reviews

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

“Wendy Mass has written an imaginative original book. I love A Mango-Shaped Space. It's a book that I am recommending to all of my friends, young and older. Read this book!”
—author Paula Danziger

“I love it! Such an interesting, touching story about an issue I knew nothing about. And I want to adopt Zack and keep him with me forever.”
—Karen Cushman, Newbery Medal winner for The Midwife's Apprentice, Newbery Honor winner for Catherine, Called Birdy

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

"An original, brightly written tale; Mass has so much fun with the poetic possibilities."
—Washington Post

“[Mass] 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.”
—Publishers Weekly

A Mango-Shaped Space was:

  • nominated for a 2008 Audie Award (for the audiobook version). Congratulations to Danielle Ferland who narrated it!

  • awarded the 2004 Schneider Family Book Award in the middle-grade category by the American Library Association.

  • awarded the 2005 Great Lakes Great Book Award from the great state of Michigan!

  • named in the 2004 YA Top 40 by the Pennsylvania School Librarians Association

  • nominated for the 2005 New Hampshire's Great Stone Face Award and the Iowa Teen Award; for the 2006 Virginia's Young Reader Award, Nevada Young Readers' Award, and Louisiana Young Readers' Choice Award, and the South Carolina Young Adult Book Award 2006-2007

  • a VOYA Top Shelf selection 2003

  • an autumn 2003 Children's BookSense 76 pick

  • listed as a 2004 & 2005 New York Public Library's Best Books for the Teen Age

  • a Bank Street Books top 35 children's books of the last 35 years