A Mango-Shaped Space Theme of Friendship

Back in the day, the Spice Girls knew what they were talking about when they sang the line, "Friendship never ends." The truth is, we all need our friends. For Mia in A Mango-Shapes Space, Jenna is her best friend. Sure, they might go through some rough times, but they'll always be there for each other, no matter what. Their friendship gets put to the test more than once in the novel, but these girls prove they are as closely woven together as those raggedy old friendship bracelets around their wrists.

Questions About Friendship

  1. How does Mia differentiate between her school friends and Jenna? What do they have in common? What makes Jenna more special in her eyes?
  2. Why are the girls' friendship bracelets so important to them? Why do you think they get new bracelets at the end? To jumpstart your thinking for this one, swing by the "Symbols" section.
  3. What makes Jenna and Mia fight? Do you think Jenna should feel left out when Mia starts spending more time with other synesthetes? Why or why not?
  4. What kinds of lessons do Jenna and Mia teach you about our own friends and friendships?