Contents

Part One Part Two Part

Chapter 1 Part Three
Chapter 19 Four
Chapter 2 Chapter 49 Chapter
Chapter 3 Chapter 20 Chapter 50
Chapter 21 63
Chapter 4 Chapter 51 Chapter
Chapter 5 Chapter 22 Chapter 52
Chapter 23 64
Chapter 6 Chapter 53 Chapter
Chapter 7 Chapter 24
Chapter 25 Chapter 54 65
Chapter 8 Chapter 55 Chapter
Chapter 9 Chapter 26
Chapter 27 Chapter 56 66
Chapter 10 Chapter 57 Chapter
Chapter 11 Chapter 28
Chapter 29 Chapter 58 67
Chapter 12 Chapter 59 Chapter
Chapter 13 Chapter 30
Chapter 31 Chapter 60 68
Chapter 14 Chapter 61 Chapter
Chapter 15 Chapter 32
Chapter 33 Chapter 62 69
Chapter 16 Chapter
Chapter 17 Chapter 34
Chapter 35 70
Chapter 18 Chapter 36 Chapter
Chapter 37 71
Chapter 38 Chapter
Chapter 39 72
Chapter 40 Chapter
Chapter 41 73
Chapter 42 Chapter
Chapter 43 74
Chapter 44 Chapter
Chapter 45 75
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
PLOT:
"ALMOND tells the story of a young boy from Korea who has a special condition called
'alexithymia.' This means that his brain works a little differently, making it hard for him to
understand or feel emotions like most people do. It's because parts of his brain called the
amygdala didn't grow the way they should have.

Imagine having a friend who feels happy when they get a present, or sad when they lose a
game. For someone with alexithymia, it's like those feelings are hard to recognize or even
feel at all.

So, in the book ALMOND, we will learn about the challenges this boy faces because of his
condition. But we will also see how he finds his own unique ways to understand the world
around him, even if emotions are a bit tricky for him. It's a story about acceptance,
empathy, and discovering what makes each of us special."
Additional information:
The amygdala is a crucial part of the brain involved in processing emotions and emotional responses.
When the amygdala is affected by a condition, various traits related to emotions and social
interactions can be affected. Some of these traits include:

1. Emotional regulation: The amygdala helps regulate emotions, so a condition affecting this area may
lead to difficulties in managing and controlling emotions effectively.

2. Empathy: The ability to understand and share the feelings of others may be affected when the
amygdala is impaired, leading to challenges in empathizing with others' emotions.

3. Fear response: The amygdala plays a central role in the brain's fear response system. Conditions
affecting this area may result in alterations in how individuals perceive and respond to threats or
fearful stimuli.
4. Social behavior: Since the amygdala is involved in processing social cues and interactions, conditions
that impact this area may influence social behavior, such as forming relationships, understanding
social norms, and interpreting social signals.

5. Memory and learning: The amygdala is also involved in memory formation, particularly for
emotionally significant events. Conditions affecting the amygdala may impact learning and memory
processes, especially those related to emotional experiences.

Overall, conditions affecting the amygdala can have a wide-ranging impact on emotional, social, and
cognitive functioning, highlighting the critical role this brain structure plays in human behavior and
experience.
What is alexithymia?
"Think of alexithymia like a ladder with different steps. Some people might be on the first step, where
they have just a little trouble understanding and talking about feelings. Others might be on a higher
step, where it's a bit harder for them.

So, just like climbing a ladder, some people might have a small challenge with feelings, and others
might have a bigger one. But no matter where you are on the ladder, there are always ways to learn
and grow, so you can understand and express your feelings better."
Can it be cured?

"Think of it like this: alexithymia isn't something that goes away like a cold. But just like learning how
to ride a bike or read better, there are ways to get better at understanding and talking about feelings.
With the help of grown-ups like therapists or counselors and practicing things like talking about how
we feel or drawing pictures, we can learn to handle alexithymia better."
Let’s check:
Scenario 1:
You're at a birthday party, and it's time to sing "Happy
Birthday" to your friend. How do you feel?
A) "I feel excited because I love singing and celebrating
with my friends!"
B) "I'm not sure how I feel. I guess I'm happy to be
here."
C) "I feel a bit shy because I don't like being the center
of attention."
D) "I don't really feel anything. Birthdays are just
another day to me."
Scenario 2:
You're playing a game with your friends, and you
accidentally lose. How do you feel?
A) "I feel a little sad because I wanted to win, but it's
okay. It's just a game."
B) "I don't really feel anything. Losing doesn't bother
me."
C) "I'm not sure. I think I might be a little mad, but I'm
also happy to be playing with my friends."
D) "I feel frustrated because I don't like losing, but I'm
trying to be a good sport."
Scenario 3:
You're at the park with your family, and it starts to rain
suddenly. How do you feel?
A) "I feel disappointed because I was having fun playing,
but it's okay. Rain can be fun too!"
B) "I don't really feel anything. Rain doesn't bother me."
C) "I'm not sure. I think I might be a little annoyed
because I wanted to stay longer, but I'm also okay with
going home."
D) "I feel frustrated because I wanted to play more, but
now we have to leave because of the rain."
Scenario 4:
You're getting ready to perform in a school play in front
of the whole school. How do you feel?
A) "I feel nervous but excited because I love acting and
showing everyone what I can do!"
B) "I don't really feel anything. Performing doesn't
bother me."
C) "I'm not sure. I think I might be a little scared, but
I'm also looking forward to it."
D) "I feel stressed because I don't like being in front of
so many people."
PART 1 Chapters 1-18

Vocabulary words:
1. Manic: showing wild and deranged excitement and energy.
2. Mausoleum: a building, especially a large and stately one, housing a tomb or tombs.
3. Trepidation: fear or agitation about something that may happen.
4. Paradox: a seemingly absurd or self-contradictory statement or proposition that when
investigated or explained may prove to be well-founded or true.
5. Alexithymia: the inability to identify and describe or express one's feelings, a personality trait
characterized by the subclinical inability to identify and describe emotions experienced by one's
self or others.
6. Equations - Mathematical expressions or statements that assert the equality of two
mathematical expressions, often involving variables.
7. Nuance - A subtle difference in or shade of meaning, expression, or sound.
8. Ultimatum - A final demand or statement of terms, the rejection of which will result in
retaliation or a breakdown in relations.
9. Superstitiously - In a manner that involves belief in supernatural causality, leading to
irrational behaviors or practices.
10. Desperation - A state of despair, typically resulting from a sense of urgency or hopelessness.
11. Semi-basement: A type of dwelling in South Korea where the living quarters are partially
underground, often characterized by small windows and limited natural light.
12. Sociological: Relating to the study of society, its institutions, structures, and processes, as well as the
patterns of social relationships and behavior within it.
13. Bereaved: People who are mourning the death of a loved one, often used as a noun to refer to those
who have suffered a loss through death.
14. Nostalgia: A sentimental longing or wistful affection for the past, typically for a period or place with
happy personal associations.
15. Ambiance: The character and atmosphere of a place, typically as created by the surrounding
environment, decor, or overall feeling.
Part OneLet us answer some
questions to fully understand this
part:
TEXT EVIDENCE:
Text evidence means finding parts in a book or article that prove
what you're saying. It could be a sentence or a quote directly
from the text. It's like using pieces of a puzzle to show why you
think something is true. This helps people understand your
ideas better and shows that you really understand the material.
1. Can you find parts of the story that show the main character doesn't seem to feel emotions like other people?

2. What examples in the story show the main character having a hard time with other kids or understanding how
they feel?

3. How does the main character's mom feel about doctors, and what parts of the story show this?

4. Can you find places where the main character talks about eating almonds and why he does it?

5. Where in the story do doctors or researchers want to study the main character, and why does his mom say no?

6. What sentences in the story show the main character feeling alone or different from other people?
1. Can you find parts of the story that show the main character doesn't seem to feel emotions like other people?

2. What examples in the story show the main character having a hard time with other kids or understanding how
they feel?

3. How does the main character's mom feel about doctors, and what parts of the story show this?

4. Can you find places where the main character talks about eating almonds and why he does it?

5. Where in the story do doctors or researchers want to study the main character, and why does his mom say no?

6. What sentences in the story show the main character feeling alone or different from other people?
13. How does Granny's attitude towards Mom's used-book store reflect her expectations for her daughter's future,
and what insight does this provide into Granny's character?

14. How does the narrator describe their emotional connection to books and the significance of reading in their
life? Provide examples from the text to support your answer.

15. Describe the family dynamics and the characters of Mom, Granny, and the narrator as depicted in the text.
How do their interactions and personalities contribute to the overall atmosphere of the story?

16. What details are provided about the main character's background and lifestyle before the incident, and how do
these details contribute to the understanding of their motives and actions?

17. How does the public's reaction to the incident shift from focusing on the crime itself to a broader analysis of
societal issues? What implications does this shift have on the narrative and its exploration of themes?

18. Reflect on the narrator's response to the tragedy and the unanswered questions they grapple with. How does
their introspection shape their perspective on the events and their determination to move forward?
What is your
stand?
The phrase "What is your stand?" is asking for your position or opinion on a
particular issue or topic. It's asking where you stand or what your viewpoint is
regarding the matter being discussed. It's a way to prompt someone to express
their perspective, beliefs, or stance on an issue. For example, if someone asks
you, "What is your stand on climate change?" they are asking for your opinion
or position on the topic of climate change.
 Is it okay for scientists to ask people with rare conditions to help with their research, even if it's
risky?

Should parents worry more about their child being liked by others?

Do you think it's fair to expect everyone to act the same, even if they're different from each other?
Homework:
Summary:
Summarize Part One using 36 sentences
- 2 sentences from each chapter
a. The first sentence is the idea
b. the second one is the brief support