Before reading this book, I had heard of synesthesia, but only by having read an article or two. I don't know any synesthetes personally, so I can't judge for myself whether or not this book did a good job realistically portraying what it's like living with synthesthesia. According to some Goodreads reviews, however, it sounds like the author rather exaggerated the condition. While some people complained that the book gave the impression that synesthesia is a kind of disability, I can only say that by the end of the book, it seemed to me more like a really impressive super power. I left the book thinking that synesthesia must be a kind of blessing, a pretty special gift.
On the surface, the book serves as an introduction to synthesthesia, but it actually turns out to be something of a safe space for thinking about death. The book addresses the loss of family members and much-loved pets with both a gentle matter-of-factness and compassion. The main character, Mia, is remarkably self-aware and in touch with feelings of sadness. But the book overall is not heavy, in fact it's spotted with light humor, mostly stemming from Mia's young teen perspective or the actions of her quirky siblings. (I really enjoyed her brother Zack, even though he was only a minor supporting character.)
One thing that didn't sit right with me, though, was how Mia explored her synthesthesia without her parents' knowledge. First, she seemed to be greatly affected by the acupuncture, and probably could have benefited from having close support throughout the experience. Second, it just didn't seem right that an adult would take a 13-year-old to an acupuncturist without first touching base with the child's parents, or that an accupuncturist would accept a minor as a patient without parental consent.
Also, there was a bit about how Mia felt compelled to "cheat" on a math quiz by using her synesthesia to her advantage. I would have liked to see this story arc play out a bit more, especially since the potential was there when Mia started meeting with a math tutor. I don't know if synesthesia is recognized as a type of neurodiversity for which accommodations in school are allowed, but it seemed to me like the type of "cheating" Mia implemented was more along the lines of a technique she could use to help manage her colors in the context of math.
Besides dealing with synesthesia and grief, the book offers up a typical slice of middle school life as Mia also has to navigate friends, school work, and boys. A good read for any middle schooler, but especially for those coping with loss.
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