We've got your back. With the Tough-O-Meter, you'll know whether to bring extra layers or Swiss army knives as you summit the literary mountain. (10 = Toughest)
(3) Base Camp
Ever heard of synesthesia? It's cool if you haven't, and the book does a great job of explaining exactly what it's like. Still, though, since Mia's a synesthete, sometimes it's hard to understand what she's going through since most of us don't see colors and shapes every time we turn on the radio. So we're setting this book at Base Camp because while the plot is straightforward, all the jargon about synesthesia might make you scratch your head from time to time. Fear not, though, you won't get lost thanks to Mia's helpful descriptions of exactly what it's like to see what she sees in the world.