I've read this book so many times and I absolutely adore it. It's a wonderful middle grade contemporary about a young girl with synesthesia. I will say right off the bat, I've heard this is not good representation of synesthesia. I don't know for sure since I have no experience with it, but that seems to be the general consensus. It doesn't negate enjoyment of the book for me, but it's definitely important to acknowledge that.

I almost gave this book four stars, but with how hard I cry for the final section, I can't justify less than five. It hits me so hard emotionally and this is why I generally avoid books that heavily feature animals. I was very grateful for my cat cuddling me. There aren't many books that make me cry this hard, especially considering how many times I've read this book.

But onto the negatives. The writing itself is a little too simplistic for my tastes. This might also have to do with the fact that the last two books I read were a classic and a literary fiction, so it was a bit of an adjustment to shift back into middle grade. I didn't mind it too much, but it was something I noticed a lot more as an adult than I did reading this book at 13. Can't really hold that against the book, though, since it's aimed at a younger audience.

I also think it's paced too quickly. The book covers a period of a few months, but it feels like it takes place in just a couple weeks. Everything is so sped up and happens in a rush. I wish it was slowed down a little, maybe even if some aspects were cut. It felt like there wasn't quite enough time dedicated to everything.

And as an adult, the bit where the 13 year old goes to an acupuncturist without her parents' knowledge/permission makes me incredibly uncomfortable. I don't think it's handled in a bad way, just man, it's so irresponsible of all the adults involved. Mia knows she's breaking the rules, but she should have been stopped. That even made me uncomfortable as a kid. I don't think I would have known how to fill out doctor's forms by myself at that age.

But all that being said, this book is lovely. The emotions hit me so hard and when I cry (sob) for the last 60 pages, it doesn't really matter if I have some minor critiques of the writing style. It's the kind of cry I really appreciate sometimes. This book touches my heart. If you enjoy heartwarming middle grade contemporaries, I can't recommend it enough (with the caveat about the synesthesia rep). It's one I've reread every couple of years since I was a kid and will probably continue to do so.