Point of View

The story is written in first person from Mia's perspective. The limited perspective means the reader doesn't know anything until Mia does. For example, Mia blames herself for Mango's death and she believes that there's no explanation other than the possibility that she left Mango outside the previous evening. Other members of the family are also suffering, each thinking they might have been responsible for Mango's death, but Mia doesn't know this until she reveals her own guilt. It's only then that she learns that Zack might have let Mango outside and that her father realized Mango wasn't eating but felt he didn't pay enough attention to that.

An important part of the perspective is seen in Mia's decision to keep her synesthesia secret from everyone, including Jenna. Mia believes that no one else sees the colors and shapes, and that no one else will...