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 aren’t fazed by his condition. 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. Yunjae grows up content, even happy, with his small family in this quiet, peaceful space.
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 begins to bully Yunjae.
Against all odds, tormentor and victim learn they have more in common than they realized. Gon is stumped by Yunjae’s impassive calm, while Yunjae thinks if he gets to know the hotheaded Gon, he might learn how to experience true feelings. Drawn by curiosity, the two strike up a surprising friendship. 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 in danger, it is Yunjae who will step outside of every comfort zone he has created to perhaps become a most unlikely hero.
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.
© 2020 HarperAudio (Audiobook): 9780063015128
Release date
Audiobook: 5 May 2020
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 aren’t fazed by his condition. 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. Yunjae grows up content, even happy, with his small family in this quiet, peaceful space.
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 begins to bully Yunjae.
Against all odds, tormentor and victim learn they have more in common than they realized. Gon is stumped by Yunjae’s impassive calm, while Yunjae thinks if he gets to know the hotheaded Gon, he might learn how to experience true feelings. Drawn by curiosity, the two strike up a surprising friendship. 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 in danger, it is Yunjae who will step outside of every comfort zone he has created to perhaps become a most unlikely hero.
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.
© 2020 HarperAudio (Audiobook): 9780063015128
Release date
Audiobook: 5 May 2020
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Overall rating based on 790 ratings
Thought-provoking
Heartwarming
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Thushara
26 Aug 2020
A very beautiful story! Sad and hopeful
Mayurakshi
14 Feb 2023
Almond is a very beautiful coming of age novel with a unique concept. I loved loved the story and I loved Yunjae's character. Though, it did have some background stories that have been done many times and the ending too was you know the too happy ending type (cookie-cutter ending type, where everything got okay!). These were the only reason I gave this book 4 starts instead 5 but still I highly highly recommend this book.
Priti
11 Oct 2023
A coming of age tale of 2 boys , one a raging bully and other one dyslexythymic - who could feel no emotions . Both misunderstood and outcast who found an unlikely bond which brought unexpected results . And we learn that trying to comprehend people and life through the eyes of person incapable of feeling fear , love , anger or anything at all - can show us a few things we never saw .
Anubhuti
29 Jul 2023
Amazingly told!!!
Rima
11 Jan 2022
Such a perfect little novel. It teaches you empathy and kindness and how it's so important to be kind to everyone even if they donot fit our perceived societal notions.
Nandhini
15 May 2023
Paired this with the book. I read this in less than 24 hours and I rarely do that . The narrator did a very good job . Couldn’t stop listening.
Shubham
19 Mar 2024
Never thought that a book about a person who can't feel will make me feel all of those emotions!!!
English
India