Reviews tagging 'Mass/school shootings'

Almond by Won-pyung Sohn

9 reviews

veronica214's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful fast-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

The story follows a teenager who was born with almond-sized amygdala (the part of the brain that processes emotions.) He doesn't feel fear, anger, sadness,  or happiness. However, a series of life changing events may be changing that. 

I liked the story enough, but wasn't a huge fan of the ending. Almost everything magically worked out ok and resulted in a happy ending. That part just didn't feel super realistic. Also, the translation was a little off at times.

 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Animal death, and Animal cruelty

Moderate: Blood, Mass/school shootings, and Cursing

ciarag88's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Mass/school shootings, Gun violence, Bullying, Death, Terminal illness, and Death of parent

Minor: Toxic friendship, Violence, and Animal cruelty

This book is so sweet and heartwarming. I had heard good reviews on this book and I am so glad I read it as I had never read a book such as this before. I love how it is fast paced and is written in short chapters. Beautifully translated, did not lose its meaning.

the ending is a bit too perfect, but it is a young adult book. The violent scene with Gon came out of nowhere also, but I am glad his mother woke up to see him evolved as she always wanted him to be

growing_haru's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Blood, and Violence

Minor: Animal cruelty, Bullying, Mass/school shootings, and Animal death

o3tri's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Death

Moderate: Bullying, Mass/school shootings, and Blood

martapsalvado's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

A good book but too graphic and tragic for my little sensitive heart

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Murder, Mass/school shootings, and Death

Moderate: Death of parent and Forced institutionalization

mykes's review against another edition

reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Kidnapping, Blood, Body horror, Mass/school shootings, Murder, Torture, Toxic friendship, Bullying, Death, Gore, Violence, Mental illness, and Physical abuse

madeleinem13's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I really loved this book. The story was really interesting, and although sad at many parts, it still had a hopeful outlook. The writing was really engaging, but there were a few parts that were too descriptive that lost me. I really loved the ending and how it all tied together. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Death of parent, Death, and Mass/school shootings

icarusandthesun's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

so. beautiful. great heavens.
first of all, the motive behind this book is absolutely heartwarming and i am so in love with the characters. they were unique and seething with beauty and life. especially yunjae was deeply relatable for me, and i thought it was an absolute treat to explore his brain and how he perceives things. it was so nice to read about loss and feelings from an objective point of view.
i'm also a huge fan of short chapters, since they just keep me going, which this one undoubtedly did. the relationship dynamics were really nice as well, adventurous and new.
the only thing i didn't quite like was the love interest. her character is fine and has some depth, however yunjae falling for her so easily felt strangely out of character and i thought it ruined the idyll of his character a little bit. the love interest simply wasn't necessary in my opinion.
the ending totally made up for that though. it was soooo sad and satisfying. such a gracious book.

:) my fav quote:

so i don't know why people laugh or cry. joy, sorrow, love, fear—all these things are vague ideas to me. the words "emotion" and "empathy" are just meaningless letters in print.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Mental illness, Violence, Physical abuse, and Chronic illness

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Child death, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Bullying, Child abuse, and Medical content

Minor: Gun violence, Mass/school shootings, and Alcohol

leahrosiee's review

challenging emotional reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Murder, Mental illness, Bullying, Death, Cursing, Blood, Grief, Medical content, and Violence

Moderate: Child abuse and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Kidnapping and Mass/school shootings