almonds

Product details

Almonds by Son Won-pyeong... The novel's protagonist is a teenager named Yoon-jae. His mother noticed his difference from his first year; he never smiles. The cause of this remained a mystery until he was diagnosed with an emotional disorder called aphasia, in which he cannot express or identify his feelings. This is attributed to an undersized amygdala. Yoon-jae benefits from training by his mother and grandmother to feign expressions and appropriate responses for various situations. However, he suddenly loses his grandmother, and then his mother falls into a coma due to a random act of violence, shattering his world and leaving him alone. The protagonist's life intersects with another teenager who suffers from temper tantrums and excessive emotional expression. They confront each other before their relationship develops, creating a tale of two monsters meeting. The novel achieved great success in Korea and internationally, selling over a million copies, being translated into 13 languages, and winning prestigious awards.