Fiction Synesthete Characters
Patricia Lynne Duffy’s growing list of fiction books and works with synesthete-characters
A Mango-Shaped Space by Wendy Mass, (2005) (ages 8-12)
Against Nature by J.-K. Huysmans, (1884)
Amaryllis in Blueberry by Christina Meldrum, (2011)
Astonishing Splashes of Colour by Clare Morrall, (2003)
Bitter in the Mouth by Monique Truong, (2010)
The Boy with 17 Senses by Sheila Grau, (ages 8 and up)
Blue like Friday by Siobhán Parkinson, (2007)
Christopher by Richard Pryce, (1911)
The Color of Bee Larkham’s Murder by Sarah J. Harris, (2018)
The Color of Sound by Emily Barth Isler (2024) (age 12+)
The Covered Deep by Brandy Balance, (2014)
A Deal with the Devil by Marten Suter, (2008)
Dreams of Laika by Timothy Layden, (2022)
The Fallen by T. Jefferson Parker, (2006)
The Fix by David Baldacci, (2017)
Foam of the Daze by Boris Vian, (1947)
The Gift by Vladimir Nabokov, (1937)
Invitation to a Beheading by Vladimir Nabokov, (1935)
Lying Awake by Mark Salzman, (2000)
Miracle Myx by Dave Diotalevi, (2008)
The Moon Sisters by Therese Walsh, (2014)
The Noisy Paint Box by Barb Rosenstock, (ages 3-7 and up)
One Plus One Equals Blue by Mary Jane Auch, (2013) (ages 10 and up)
Painting Ruby Tuesday by Jane Yardley, (2003)
The Phantom Toll Booth by Norton Juster, (1961) (ages 10 and up)
“Phone Home” (short creative non-fiction) by Natasha Lvovich
Red Sparrow by Jason Matthews, (2013)
Saudade by Katherine Vaz, (1994)
Shalimar the Clown by Salman Rushdie, (2005)
Stella Maris by Cormac McCarthy, (2022)
The Sound of Blue by Holly Payne, (2004)
Space Boy, vol 1 by Stephen McCranie, (2018)
The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester, (1956)
Still Waters: A Mystery by Nigel McCreary, (2007)
The Synesthete by Brent Kernan, (2002)
Top Ten (graphic novel) by Gene Ha and Alan Moore, (2000)
The Valley of Astonishment by Peter Brook and Marie-Helene Estienne, (2014)
The Whole World Over by Julia Glass, (2006)
Children’s and Young Adults books with synesthete characters
Young children (Ages 4 – 8)
Sereya’s Superpower – Christy Gurley (taste-color, sound-color)
Middle Grade (Ages 8-12)
A Mango-Shaped Space – Wendy Mass (Grapheme-color, sound-color)
The Color of Sound – Emily Barth Isler (Music-color)
Rain Reign – Ann M. Martin (Heightened sensory perception)
Blue 22 – Sonya Hartnett (Emotion-color)
The Sweetest Sound – Sherri Winston (Sound-emotion-color)
Cinnamon Girl – Nicole Luiken (Taste-color-word)
Mondays are Red—Nicola Morgan (time-color, word-color)
Young Adult (Ages 12-18)
7. Ultraviolet – R.J. Anderson (Multiple types of synesthesia, especially sound-color)
8. Harmonic Feedback – Tara Kelly (Music-color, emotions as shapes)
9. Shades of Blue – Joyce Scarbrough (Emotion-color)
10. The Memory of Light – Francisco X. Stork (Emotion-color associations)
11. Golden – Jessi Kirby (Emotion-color)
12. Otherbound – Corinne Duyvis (Sensory crossover with speculative elements)
13. The Unfinished Life of Addison Stone – Adele Griffin (Multiple types of synesthesia, tied to art and music)
14. The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake – Aimee Bender (taste-emotion)
15. Amaryllis in Blueberry – Christina Meldrum (taste-emotion, sight-emotion)
16. The Giver – Lois Lowry (in this dystopian society from which all color has been removed, the main character has the capacity to perceive color)
17. The Colour of Bee Larkham’s Murder – Sarah J. Harris (sound-color)
18. Painting Ruby Tuesday – Jane Yardley (music-color)
Young Adult/Adult
The Gift by Vladimir Nabokov
Invitation to a Beheading by Vladimir Nabokov
Ada by Vladimir Nabokov
Foam of the Daze by Boris Vian
In Search of Lost Time by Marcel Proust
Christoper by Richard Pryce
Shalimar the Clown by Salman Rushdie
The Sound of Blue by Holly Payne
Lying Awake by Mark Salzman
Bitter in the Mouth by Monique Truong
The Synesthete by Brent Kernan
Top Ten (graphic novel comic book series) by Gene Ha and
The Fallen by TJ Parker
Miracle Myx by Dave Diotalevi
Saudade by Katherine Vaz
Astonishing Splashes of Color by Clare Morall
Adult
Against Nature by J-K Huysman
Still Waters by Nigel McCreary
Non-fiction (but story-like, a first person account)
7. Blue Cats and Chartreuse Kittens: how synesthetes color their worlds – Patricia Lynne Duffy (word-color, letter-color, time-color, time landscapes)