Mia thought life would be better without colors until she realized that she wouldn’t be happy without them.
There are various conspicuous ideas in this book that emphasize the pleasures Mia has in her life. Her comfort blanket will always have to be her cat Mango. Mango is the symbol of psychological cure to Mia’s bullying. She has been taunted due to the fact that she has synestisia, a condition in which one sense (for example hearing) is simultaneously perceived as if by one or more additional senses such as sight. The letter a for instance, is the shade of a “faded sunflower” and screeching chalk “making red jagged lines in the air”
Mia’s close connection with her cat Mango shows how a close-knit community can help an easy target for bullying get a positive mindset.
Mango was a sickly cat that Mia had persuaded her family to adopt after her grandfather’s death the year before. She depended on her cat to cope and get comfort through her struggle with synthesia. As written in the book, she said it took two weeks of relentless begging before her parents agreed to lift their no animals in the house rule. That can tell us she practically wanted the cat even though she knew it wasn’t gonna be alive for very long after. Even if someone knows their hopes are not gonna reach their dream they were begging for, they will still try their best to make it happen. It can be a life lesson for anyone.
After her grandfather passed away, she felt like part of his soul went with Mango, her also deseased grandma in heaven, and herself. She took Mango in a year after he died and she often talked with her best friend (who also lost her mom to cancer) to let go of her bad feelings. As written in the book, Mia said “ I really feel like part of my grandfather’s soul is with Mango, my grandma{who died when I was 3} and me.” She really took it hard when Mango died later on in the book as well. When a best friend or a loved one of someone dies, it can be hard for anyone to take since that person was a part of their close-knit community.
When Mia and her on/off best friend Jenna have a fight about her secret with synthesia, she wished Mango was with her so she didn’t have to be alone at school. As written in the book, Mia said “I really wished Mango was here even when he rolls his furry paws on the bright red carpet.” Although she eventually had to reconcile with Jenna after Mango died, this proves the thesis statement since Mango helped her during Mia’s tough times.
Mia’s unique view proves to be both a curse and a blessing.
On the one hand she enjoys having the ability to publicly express the variety of emotions and senses in her mind. On the other hand, it’s hard for her to be told she is different such as the time when her brother Zack called her The Missing Link. This contradiction shows a reality we all feel threatened to face — when we feel our lives are a double edged sword pointing out the ugly in every action we do. Mia as a individual learned how to contain herself in a way that didn’t supress her emotions. This book narrates her point of view in a natural sounding dialogue — making the text seem like it was written from one of us.
Although the story line at times seems cluttered with underdeveloped subplots about Mia’s friendships and conflicts at school, the novel’s story is interesting enough to keep pages turning. The author successfully brings creative ideas down to earth. Her well-defined characterizations and concrete imagery allow readers to feel Mia’s emotions and discover a kaleidoscopic world, which is at once confusing and beautiful.
