** spoiler alert ** Mia's alarm clock doesn't just wake her up with noise, it also emits purple spirals. When someone slams a door, she sees brown rings coming out of the door. And when her sick cat wheezes, little mango-colored puffs cloud his mouth. Such is the life of the main character of A Mango-Shaped Space, a delightful, creative and enlightening book by Wendy Mass. Mia has synesthesia, a condition in which the senses are confused. Sounds colors that Mia can actually see. Through the book we learn about the advantages and disadvantages of the rare and fascinating condition. I'm guessing I'm not the only one who came away from the book thinking, "I almost wish I had that."

One of the most interesting parts of the book happens when Mia, taking the advice of other synesthetes on the web, sneaks into an acupuncture session. The acupuncture stimulates and intensifies her perceptions of the colors and shapes around her, and she is actually able to see people's auras and pheromones interacting. It is pure superhero stuff, and it is one of the moments when you realize that real life is truly far stranger than anything the mind could imagine.

Throughout the book, the pleasant snapshots of an average family life with loving parents and normal sibling rivalries was very well done. It was nice to see such a healthy family dynamic. One of my favorite descriptions in the book came when Mia describes her older sister's loss of interest in her as a playmate. She dropped me "like a piping hot bag of popcorn," Mia says. Love it!

I would reccommend this book for older children and even adults interested in synesthesia or just looking for a hearty story.