Content warning: a cat dies. Maybe that's clear from the title and cover, and you get plenty of clues along the way. Still, I think it should be stated explicitly, before you get involved. And this is a YA or even a MG novel! Mango's human is 13 or so, but the novel didn't read that young to me.
Anyway, Mia is in eight-grade when she is finally diagnosed with synesthesia. How no one in her life, including anyone at school, her pediatrician (failing though he is), or a therapist, knows that the condition exists is troubling to me, but that's a nitpick, I guess.
Mia and Mango and the rest of their family are believable and warm. It's really a sweet, if slightly heartbreaking tale.
I'm also contemplating the false binary of disabilities and gifts. Mia has learning challenges because of the colors and sounds she associates with letters, numbers, and colors, but her world has more dimensions to it than that of a neurotypical.
DEAR MIA,
JERRY TOLD US ALL ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR CAT. I'M SORRY FOR YOU, BUT I THINK YOU STILL SHOULD HAVE COME TO THE MEETING. I GUESS YOU REALLY LIKE CATS. I'M ALLERGIC, SO I CAN'T SAY I LIKE THEM TOO MUCH. IT WAS NICE KISSING YOU. I HOPE WE CAN DO IT AGAIN SOMETIME. WRITE SOONM, OKAY?
YOURS TRULY,
ADAM
I'm tempted to print out his letter just so I can crumple it into a tiny ball.