The following version of this book was used to create the guide: Sohn, Won-pyung. Almond. Harper Via, 2020.

Won-pyung Sohn's novel Almond is written from Yunjae's first person point of view and uses an unconventional narrative structure. The following summary follows a largely linear trajectory.

Not long after Yunjae's birth, Mom begins worrying something is wrong with him. Though she tries denying the signs, Yunjae begins displaying an increasing number of disturbing symptoms, including his seeming refusal to smile. After Yunjae's father dies, Mom realizes she cannot raise Yunjae alone. She moves in with her mother, and opens a used bookstore in the same building as Granny's apartment. Around the same time, Mom begins taking Yunjae to a series of doctors. The doctors diagnose him with alexithymia, a brain condition defined by the inability to perceive or express emotions. Disinterested in turning her son into a science experiment, Mom assumes full control over Yunjae's emotional education. Yunjae remains indifferent to his mother's lessons. He does not care if he is normal or not.

At school he is the constant object of teasing and ridicule. Everyone knows something is wrong with him. Yunjae is unaffected by their unkindness. Mom and Granny are all that matter to him.

Then one year on Christmas Eve, the same day as Yunjae's birthday, Mom and Granny take Yunjae out for dinner. After paying, Mom and Granny go outside to enjoy the snow while Yunjae waits for the waiter to refill the candy bowl. When he turns around, Yunjae sees a manic man swinging a hammer and a knife. He beats Mom until she falls into a coma, and murders Granny against the glass window. Despite the brutal scene, Yunjae does nothing.

When everyone hears what happened, their gossip about Yunjae worsens. No one can believe his failure to express grief. Though Yunjae knows he is now all alone, he decides he must survive in order to preserve Mom and Granny's memories. He reopens the bookstore and returns to school in order to create some semblance of normalcy. One day, Dr. Shim, the man who owns the bakery above the shop, invites Yunjae in. He offers to financially support Yunjae and becomes his friend.

Shortly thereafter, a man named Professor Yun visits the bookstore and asks Yunjae for a favor. Because he looks so much like his son, Gon, Professor Yun wants Yunjae to visit his dying wife, posing as Gon. Gon disappeared as a child, recently resurfacing with extreme behavioral issues. Professor Yun does not think he is fit to see his mother. So Yunjae agrees. Mrs. Yun dies shortly thereafter.

Then Gon appears at school. Furious with Yunjae for taking his place as his parents' son, Gon bullies Yunjae for weeks. When he realizes he cannot get the desired response out of Yunjae, Gon's bitterness turns to curiosity. He starts visiting Yunjae at the bookstore. With Dr. Shim's help, Yunjae realizes that he and Gon want to be friends with one another. In the coming months, they grow increasingly close. Gon tries teaching Yunjae how to feel. Yunjae encourages Gon to discard his tough demeanor.

Later in the year, Dora appears at school. Yunjae is fascinated by her. They soon become friends. Their closeness develops into something deeper. Through Dora, Yunjae learns how to perceive beauty, and even begins feeling his own emotions. Dr. Shim congratulates him on his growth.

Meanwhile, Gon has become friends with a series of mischievous and violent teens. Desperate to save his friend from a bad situation, Yunjae pursues him, only to be attacked by one of Gon's new comrades, Steel Wire. Seeing his friend in pain, Gon weeps and apologizes to Yunjae.

While in the hospital healing from the wounds Steel Wire inflicted, Dr. Shim wheels Mom in to see Yunjae. She has woken from the coma and is recovering. She cries when she learns how much Yunjae has grown. After graduating from high school, Yunjae embraces life, finally feeling human.