Rascal Does Not Dream of a Knapsack Kid

Rascal Does Not Dream of… Light Novel #9

by Hajime Kamoshida, Andrew Cunningham (Translator)

Finally, the day of Mai’s high school graduation has arrived. While Sakuta eagerly waits for his girlfriend, an elementary schooler who looks exactly like her appears before him. Suspicious, and for all the wrong reasons... Meanwhile, Sakuta and Kaede’s father suddenly calls, saying that their mother wants to see her daughter. She was hospitalized because Kaede’s condition had been too much for her to bear, so what could she possibly want now? 

Genres: Light Novel, Romance, Manga, Fiction, Slice Of Life, Fantasy, Mystery

147 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 10, 2018

Reviews

[FaDoug · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spectacular! Once again, another great edition to the Rascal Does Not Dream of... series!

For this novel, I had a little trouble getting into it at first. I wasn't sure where it was going, it just didn't feel as connected as previous novels did. But once the pieces fit into place, and the story got going, I began to love it so much. And by the end, I was completely captivated once again.

Unlike the previous entries in the series, which all focused on a specific girl in Sakuta's life and her puberty syndrome, this one is all about Sakuta himself, and his relationship with his mother. I wasn't expecting this novel to take that route, I always figured Sakuta's parents were just going to be mostly background noise, like most other anime parents in stories like these.

But no, once again, Hajime Kamoshida brings new life to this series and subverted my pre-established expectations. His writing never ceases to floor me.

Overall, an amazing entry in an amazing series. This one is extremely bold with its direction, and does a lot I wasn't expecting, and I love it for that. I'm really interested to see where the series goes from here!

[hotsake (André Troesch) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a solid story, but not as heartfelt or emotional as some other books in the series.

[Victor Hdez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Las historias de Rascal siempre me han gustado. Son entretenidas. Pero como lo dije en el volumen pasado lo siento más como spinoff que como la historia principal.

En los primeros volúmenes para mi el personaje central de la historia siempre fue Shouko. Y todos les escenarios que se vieron del volumen 1 al 5, para después juntarlos todos en los volumenes 6 y 7 fueron geniales. Se siente la ausencia de Shouko en la historia.

Otro punto que creo que también se quedó de lado en este volumen es la importancia de Futaba. Siempre había dado toda una explicación del por qué podía ser el síndrome pero ahora lo sentí muy equis. Hay que recordar que Furaba es la que explica la teoría del gato, del demonio, de la teletransportacion y es quien se da cuenta sin ayuda alguna que Sakuta va a morir.

En este volumen sale una Mai de niña, de la cuál todavía no se sabe bien, a mi entender, de por qué esta apareciendo. Pero lo que no me gustó es que, por lo menos en este volumen, le dieron el rol que venía cargando Shouko grande. Tratando de salvar a Sakuta de su síndrome.

Pero en general la historia es buena y entretenida.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lately, these books always have me on the verge of tears, I thought I wouldn’t see Sakuta on another Adolescence Syndrome of his own, and yet here we are, and I seriously had no idea where this was heading or why he was making such a mess out of his reality. It seriously was a shock to discover the reason. Other than his sister and her problems, we really haven’t spend a lot of time with Sakuta’s family, and we haven’t really seen much of their parents. It was a nice change to see more of the adults for once, it opens up nice possibilities for the books to come, and it makes me wonder how many more syndromes we’ll get to see as Sakuta makes his way through adulthood. Also, Mai and Sakuta are growing into such an amazing and lovely couple, they truly love each other and do their very best to support each other. They have become one of my favourite couples ever. They’re always honest to each other and just want the other to be truly happy. I so want a happy ending for them.

[Zach · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay well this one might be my favorite one so far. It focuses on Sakuta and his relationship with his parents, specifically his mother and how that two years apart affected him. This time, it's Sakuta who has become imperceivable to everyone, except Mai. (Even though it happened previously but that was time travel and not this.) He ended up going to another universe that had a perfect life, yet he gave that up to come back to his world to fix it there. A bunch of great Mai scenes! (My Heart) and it ends with quite the timeskip which caught me off guard. One year into the future. My boy's in college now!

[Paul · Rating 2 out of 5]

Protagonist's overactive imagination can not only conjure possible futures to guide the present but also alternate presents to accept the past. In this case he feels neglected by his hospitalised mum and blames himself. Neatly ties up the family situation, shame the long-suffering dad barely gets a look-in.

There's one detail that got me. When the hero returns to his present he finds a note from his alternate self to send a letter to his girlfriend. He opens it and reads the message inside, crumples it and writes the same message but "neater". That right there is the essence of man.

[Sebastián · Rating 4 out of 5]

Este volumen realmente me sorprendio, no sabía para dónde iba a ir cuando empezó así que fue un constante adivinar hacia donde iría pero termino yendo por lugares que no pensé, el volumen por si solo es bastante sólido ya que aunque todos los acontecimientos anteriores son cruciales por si solo funciona, lo mejor de este volumen fue que se concentrará en Sakuta, ya que no habíamos tenido un volumen que lo tuviera a el como el centro así que realmente es gratificante

[-moonprismpower- · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, why does this series always have to make me cry??? This volume was focused on Sakuta and his feelings towards his mother.

Now, for the ending? I can’t believe we got a year time jump… This series has been going on long enough already and now you time jump?? (and yay! He got a year long break from adolescence syndrome LOL)
I’m very excited for the college arc though and can’t wait to see what’s going to happen with this Akagi girl next volume!

[Alejandra Chalen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Último libro del 2022.
No se si estoy demasiado sensible o algo, pero me la pase llorando en ciertas partes. Jajaja
Iba con muchas expectativas porque me habían dicho que era el mejor volúmen de toda la "serie" y no me defraudo. Estuvo bastante bueno y siento que conocí un poco mas a Sakuta. :')

[slugbiscuit · Rating 3 out of 5]

This series continues to run into overtime closing out loose ends. This time we focus on the moms with a flare up of the ole Adolescence Syndrome. It was fine overall and now that adolescence goes to age 24 apparently, the series will continue…

[Dustin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This isn't bad it's just not the most interesting volume in the series.

[Kristian Dobson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kinda just more of the same really. Hopefully this isn’t a sign that the author has run out of ideas.

[F · Rating 3 out of 5]

finally questions the elephant in the room issue of his parents, and more specifically, his mother. feels a bit late for this though; and the resolution was stupid.