無敵の犬の夜

無敵の犬の夜 feels like a literary punch to the face. Blistering with teen angst, insecurity, and bad manners, 小泉綾子 takes the reader deep into the world of teenage boys in rural Kita-Kyushu in her literary debut. The protagonist, 界, is a delinquent middle-schooler desperate to grow up as fast as he possibly can. A childhood accident left him missing a finger, fueling his feelings of physical inferiority and struggle to find his place in society. His life changes when he meets 橘, a cool and stylish high-school student, and becomes obsessed with his newfound role model. But everything changes when 橘 starts beefing with a Tokyo rapper named “Lil’ Sag” and 界 isn’t sure what to feel anymore…

I really enjoyed this book! The author crystallizes the essence of youth and insecurity into punchy and energetic prose with a fresh and modern storyline. Amidst all the silly posturing and attempts to be tough, there's a self-awareness and an undercurrent of poverty that makes the story both funny and slightly sad, giving it a depth of flavor. The portrayal of life in a small rural environment is compelling, but the book's second half takes a direction that, while hinted at, was something I didn’t expect it to actually commit to. This shift developed 界's character in a way that benefitted the entire story and elevated the book. However, the ending didn't quite land for me personally—it might vary depending on the reader—so I give it four stars.

This book isn't too difficult to read once you adjust to the slang and Kyushu dialect. I'd recommend it if you enjoy stories about delinquent boys like Tokyo Revengers, or if you're looking for something short, fast-paced, and different from typical 青春 stories.