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 ANTICIPATEDThe 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.
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Almond: A Novel
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 ANTICIPATEDThe 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.
Popular Reviews(4)
Reviewed by VivianYunjae has a rare brain condition called Alexithymia, which makes it hard for him to feel emotions. After a lifechanging event on his sixteens birthday, everything changes. He meets a troubled teenager called Goy, and they develop a kinda weird, but beautiful friendship. It really shows, that feeling emotions is what makes all of us human and unique, depending how strong they are. A truly beautiful novel about friendship and feeling things (or in Yunjaes case not as much)
Reviewed by ilvyBanal, a page-turner, loosing yourself, discovering your inner monster. Meanwhile you feel like understanding Korean, even if the words are English, it feels Korean…
Reviewed by Aimebelle BautistaA monster meeting another monster. What a beautiful story written with much thought and conviction. The story of Yunjae and Gon put into perspective how emotions remain at the very core of our humanity.
Reviewed by Lenkaas a bts fan, it was inevitable to write this book down on my reading list after seeing it namjoon & yoongi reading it—which happened around 2 years ago, and 10 days ago i finally started reading it. i had to keep it together on my train ride home on which i finished this book because it left me with so many thoughts and emotions. the story isn't complex, nor are the characters—but the writing got me hooked. it felt a bit rushed towards the end, i don't know how to feel about dora's role in the story, to me it seemed like a "make him have a love interest or leave" kind of thing? sure it had its purpose, but there's just something about it that made me think "eh". yunjae's and gon's dynamic was something i never knew i needed, it was so interesting to read about their friendship & character development! <spoiler>also, the way i got so nervous during the final incident with steel wire?? like i knew shit's about to happen and yunjae's awakening was predictable at this point the latest, though not in its full range, but oh boy the way i was SHAKING. i'd really love to know more, but honestly the ending was a good one for the story, could have even left it at yunjae passing out as an evil cliffhanger (i hate them but ngl in this case? why not)</spoiler> of course the book isn't perfect and has its weaknesses but i give 5 stars for how emotional it made me feel about one of the most versatile facets of us humans—how it's important to at least try to understand each other, and how beautiful it is how those connections can inspire & impact us in so many different ways. thank you namjoon & yoongi for this one, can't wait to read more bts-related books!