Part 1: Yeah, I was the only one who didn't know.
Part 2 students are missing here
Part 3: Adult Circumstances: The World's Most Cowardly Words
Part 4 Why do you think Mom was silent?
Part 5: What was absolutely necessary

The cat disappeared, and then even the mother disappeared.
How does this world work?
Where on earth did it go wrong?

Jeong Hae-yeon has emerged as one of Korea's top writers by winning the Korea Story Contest, Yes24 Contest Grand Prize, and CJ E&M and Kakao Page Chumis (Mystery, Thriller) Contest.
This book is the author's first full-length novel for young adults published by Saenggak School.
This book, which unfolds with the author's signature speedy writing style and vivid descriptions as a middle school boy uncovers the secret hidden behind his mother's death, helps us look at the real problems facing Korea from various angles through the protagonist, a teenage boy.
In particular, by following the sharp gaze of an adolescent boy who reacts most sensitively to invisible evil, readers can guess where the pain in our society really comes from, as they watch how teenagers trapped in YouTube videos and games get caught up in some tragedy, and how adults who hide their conservatism with the word "reality" ruin this world.
The virtues of this book are not limited to the fun inherent in the genre of mystery or thriller works.


The author asks the readers:
The question is whether the themes of "dreams" and "hope" that youth literature has dealt with are too warm, and what should be talked about to achieve real dreams.
Rather than demanding answers, this book makes us consider what answers we have.
Is it possible for an individual to have a rosy future without considering the problems of the society we live in? Can we be happy or sad alone, unaffected by the lives of others? These are questions for which there are no ready answers yet, but readers will be able to follow Minwoo's path of reasoning and arrive at their own conclusions.


How can Minwoo protect himself amidst the 'adult circumstances'?

The book is set in a fictional city that reflects the reality of a world in chaos caused by a new virus.
There, a zoonotic infectious disease transmitted by cats is prevalent.
The mother of the main character, Minwoo, a third-year middle school student, is a veterinarian who is in charge of culling cats to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.
A mother who is faithful to her duties but has a very hard time getting rid of cats suddenly throws herself out the window one day.
Minwoo was having affectionate conversations with his mother right up until the moment of his suicide, so he couldn't accept reality.
In her mother's diary, which is her heirloom, she discovers sentences that seem to trace her mother's worries, along with unknown words, and some kind of secret.
Through his mother's actions and the contents of her diary while she was alive, Minwoo determines that there is a reason why his mother died.
Since it is difficult for young Min-woo to uncover the truth, he asks the police to dig up the truth, but the busy adults do not listen to Min-woo.
Neither the police, the man next door, nor even his uncle tell Minwoo the truth, saying, "You're young, so stay still."
Minwoo begins to search for answers by meeting adults who hold the key to the case to uncover the secret behind his beloved mother's death.


However, the adults who know the whole story turn their backs on Minwoo, who only needs a piece of the truth to maintain his power, to keep his socioeconomic status, and for money.
They all say they can't talk about it because it's 'adult business,' but Minwoo senses that this is an excuse to cover up his cowardice.
In this work, the author reveals not only Minwoo's growth but also the changes in adults.
The adults who had remained silent until Minwoo's mother died no longer hide quietly in the face of Minwoo's active actions.
Just as Minwoo, who only watched YouTube shorts, had his perspective on the world changed after his mother's death, adults, seeing Minwoo's proactive actions, give him small but essential clues.
The pure yearning of a boy can ultimately change everything and lead to a great transformation.
This work clearly shows us this trivial yet obvious reality.


The desire to know the truth,
Mourning for the complete loss of a loved one

For teenagers, the death of their mother is an unacceptable event.
Because losing someone who loves you is a tragedy that would make the world collapse.
On the surface, this work is a mystery and thriller about a middle school boy investigating the cause of his mother's death. However, a closer look reveals that it is also a process of mourning for her death. Minwoo, a middle school student who did fairly well in his studies and got along well with his friends, always had a peaceful daily life.
Minwoo's life was as smooth as that of other middle school students, except for the financial problems that plagued his household.
But my mother jumped out the window, and the world called it suicide.
Minwoo doesn't accept the labels people put on his mother.
Minwoo goes to find his mother's secret that no one else has heard of, and that no one else has been able to hear.
Minwoo's reasoning wasn't fun, but rather a story made by putting together scattered fragments.
So, I try to find out the story my mother wanted to tell me before she died and tell it to the people who wanted to hear it.
Sadness is not expressed by crying alone.
In that sense, this book also asks what it means to grieve after sending someone away.
This work, which tells an extremely sad story in the most delicate and refined way, allows readers to have a special experience of healing their troubled hearts.