Mia's Grandfather

1. Mia finds her cat, Mango, near her grandfather's grave shortly after his death. How does Mango help Mia deal with her grief? Why do you think she says that part of her grandfather's soul is in Mango?

Believing

2. Have you ever had an adult or friend not believe you when you tried to tell them something important? How do you think the incident in the classroom (when Mia was eight) affected her?

Cheating

3. Mia uses her ability to see numbers as colors to help her cheat on a math quiz. Do you think she is wrong to do this? Do you think Mia is taking the easy way out by using her colors? Why or why not?

Choice

4. When Mia's parents finally believe Mia and decide to take her to the doctor, she struggles with whether or not she wants to be "cured" of seeing colors. Have you ever had to choose between keeping something that makes you special and giving it up to fit in with everyone else? If so, what did you decide and why?

Mango

5. After Mia loses Mango, she realizes that she has also lost her colors. Jerry had warned her that synesthesia can be affected by traumatic events. How does this loss help Mia realize how important her synesthesia is to her?

Relationships

6. Mia's relationships with her family and friends are greatly affected when they learn about her synesthesia. Track the development of her relationships with her family members and with Jenna and Roger. How would you react if one of your friends told you he or she has synesthesia?

Synesthesia

7. Do you have synesthesia? Do you wish you did? Why or why not?