Almond: A Novel

By Won-pyung Sohn

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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.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Release date: May 5, 2020
• ISBN: 9780062961402

Won-pyung Sohn

Sohn Won-pyung is a film director, screenwriter, and novelist living in South Korea. She earned a BA in social studies and philosophy at Sogang University and film directing at the Korean Academy of Film Arts. She has won several prizes, including the Film Review Award of the 6th Cine21, and the Science Fantasy Writers’ Award for her movie script I Believe in the Moment. She also wrote and directed a number of short films, including Oooh You Make Me Sick and A Two-way Monologue. She made her literary debut in 2016 with Almond, her first full-length novel, which won the Changbi Prize for Young Adult Fiction. Released the following year, Counterattacks at Thirty received the Jeju 4.3 Peace Literary Prize and the 2022 Japanese Booksellers' Award.

Reviews for Almond

[Stephanie Cossio · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Es una novela increíble que te atrapa desde la primera página. Es interesante ver la relación que hay entre ambos protagonistas de la novela: el primero que por su mismo padecimiento no puede comprender o experimentar sentimientos y emociones, y el otro que no sabe como expresar y canalizar las suyas. Es verdaderamente maravilloso.

[AllOfUsAte · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

this book was so beautiful and cool i really liked the book

[nad.fman · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

It was sad and beautiful, and I cried in the end <3

[Isabelle Khamsone · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

What a wonderful little book, I adored the plot and how it touched my heart so

[pawrksoeun · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

this is a book for when you want a light read but offers a deep reflection towards life. 4.5 stars because the ending is somehow not enough for me.

[Ioana Barbu · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Very well written! Definitely a page-turner book, that can be easily read in a day.

[Julia · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

this was different from everything I’ve read before and I loved it so much!

[Winter · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

As a person who has a hard time feeling a lot of emotions and couldn't stay in an activity, I can't read any book without trying hard to, but this book is excellent despite all of its shortcomings, therefore I can't stop reading it.

[Ivan Ambrosio Cetina · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

It made me feel a lot of different things. ♡

[Nana · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I liked it, I'm currently moving into a new home and while I was unpacking I listened to this audiobook in one go without even realizing it, it's been a hectic couple of days, this book helped ♥️

[ruchis25 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A Warm and sweet story of young friendship and more.

[Victoria Hepler · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This was one of the first books that I’ve read that went entirely different route than I expected. Well it was hard for me to get into the book initially, I feel as though it ended on a note that I highly enjoyed. I also was able to follow along really well for a book that was translated from Korean. I look forward to reading more from this author.

[Noraini · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I’m overwhelmed with emotions and still can’t move on with the storyline. I’m literally agreed with the author that no one can ever know whether a story is happy or tragic. It may be impossible to categorise a story so neatly in the first place. Like takes on various flavours as it flows.

[Beluncas Book Club · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A strory about what a true friendship should be. Accepting a friend’s flaws and not judging them because of it.

[Carmencita Cirineo-Colegado · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Made me cry! I love all the emotions this book have!

[Laura M · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

After seeing the cover and reading the summary, I thought it had to be a 'Wonder' clone (mainly because of how the covers are similar). But it's not. It is a book capable of standing on its own legs, without the need for any comparison. However, just like Wonder, Almond will make you think of all those times you've been afraid of failing as a human.

[Dorothy Teeroomoolje · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

In distressing moment i found this one.I got lost in the book like a 'magic shop' . The main male character finally feels emotions but i think being initially 'numb' to pain was somehow a blessing in disguise for him.