Almond - Won-pyung Sohn & Sandy Joosun Lee

Almond

By Won-pyung Sohn & Sandy Joosun Lee

  • Release Date: 2020-05-05
  • Genre: Literary Fiction
4.5 Score: 4.5 (From 160 Ratings)

Description

A BTS fan favorite! A WALL STREET JOURNAL STORIES THAT CAN TAKE YOU ANYWHERE PICK * ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY'S STAY HOME AND READ PICK * SALON'S BEST AND BOLDEST * BUSTLE'S MOST ANTICIPATED 

The Emissary meets The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime in this poignant and triumphant story about how love, friendship, and persistence can change a life forever.

This story is, in short, about a monster meeting another monster. 

One of the monsters is me.

Yunjae was born with a brain condition called Alexithymia that makes it hard for him to feel emotions like fear or anger. He does not have friends—the two almond-shaped neurons located deep in his brain have seen to that—but his devoted mother and grandmother provide him with a safe and content life. Their little home above his mother’s used bookstore is decorated with colorful Post-it notes that remind him when to smile, when to say "thank you," and when to laugh.

Then on Christmas Eve—Yunjae’s sixteenth birthday—everything changes. A shocking act of random violence shatters his world, leaving him alone and on his own. Struggling to cope with his loss, Yunjae retreats into silent isolation, until troubled teenager Gon arrives at his school, and they develop a surprising bond.

As Yunjae begins to open his life to new people—including a girl at school—something slowly changes inside him. And when Gon suddenly finds his life at risk, Yunjae will have the chance to step outside of every comfort zone he has created to perhaps become the hero he never thought he would be.

Readers of Wonder by R.J. Palaccio and Ginny Moon by Benjamin Ludwig will appreciate this "resonant" story that "gives Yunjae the courage to claim an entirely different story." (Booklist, starred review)

Translated from the Korean by Sandy Joosun Lee.

Reviews

  • Perfect

    5
    By lsmarquez
    I loved every second of this book. Just read it. It took me about 3 hours to finish - I didn’t put it down once. For every emotion the character cannot feel you’ll feel it tenfold. I have nothing but praises and I wish a review could do it justice but I just hope you’ll take the plunge and read it.
  • stunning.

    5
    By anainwaves
    when i tell you the entire book made me feel things, i felt things literally. i spent hours reading this. i was so attached. i remember crying for some parts. it broke me, but in a good way. the story was written beautifully. i really enjoyed reading this!
  • Thought provoking

    5
    By Dark Fang
    What a wonderful way to tell a story and get you to think about the emotions we feel and don’t feel. Why we might feel them. What people and situations draw out those emotions.
  • i’m crying sm

    5
    By audr3y <3
    STOPPP CAUSE THE ENDING HAS ME ON THE FLOOR
  • Heart healing time

    5
    By ellie_luv
    The book was enjoyable, nothing too long, but it’s enough to create tears and get attached to the story. I had a wonderful time reading the book and wish the book was longer because I’m attached to it now.
  • LOVED IT!

    5
    By gracemendez
    Absolutely beautiful. Cried like a baby. Read it in like 3-4 hours. Really gripping and easy to read yet powerful and deep. Everyone should read!
  • Very Interesting Read

    5
    By QuinMicronesianArmy💜
    Yunjae and Gon’s friendship is something we kids today call “goals”😩😢❤️
  • Beautiful

    5
    By Tris 😈
    The story had so many twist and turns, I loved how he was finding himself throughout the story. Most definitely worth reading!!
  • goodness

    5
    By pommechu
    I haven’t been able to dive into a book in such a long time - I loved all the characters so much and wow...such amazing writing. I ended up in TEARS 🥺
  • Couldn’t put it down

    5
    By marasanchez
    It took me like 5 hours to finish this book because of how easy yet engaging the writing is! The story is overall great and definitely got me reflecting a lot about human interaction and emotions, definitely recommend it!

Comments