You don't have to listen to Céline Dion to know that you don't want to be all by yourself. It's lonely, yo. And Mia in A Mango-Shaped Space is no different. She doesn't like being all alone, though she often isolates herself by keeping secrets about her condition. This makes her feel isolated from everybody she knows—including her best friend, Jenna, and her family. Mia needn't have worried so much about sharing her secret, though, because when she does, everyone is super supportive. Oops.
Questions About Isolation
- Why does Mia isolate herself from other people? How does her secret only perpetuate her loneliness? Be specific and give evidence from the text.
- In what ways does Mia's confession about her colors act as a "coming out" of sorts? Can you relate to the feeling of isolation from friends and family?
- If she could go back and do it again, do you think Mia would deal with her synesthesia all alone again? Why or why not?
- How does Mango's death isolate Mia? What helps her process this? Who helps her move on from this feeling?
Chew on This
Try on an opinion or two, start a debate, or play the devil’s advocate.
In A Mango-Shaped Space, friendship is the cure to isolation for Mia.
In A Mango-Shaped Space, self-acceptance is the cure to isolation for Mia.