Bad Houses
Failin, Oregon, is a town of left-behinds, a mecca for antique-shop junkies, and a wasteland of urban decay. Once someone manages to find a way out, they never look back. Twentysomethings Ann and Lewis aren’t so lucky; they’re each stuck with a mother unable to let go of the past. Lewis’ mother, who raised him alone under stringent house rules, has roped him into the family business of running estate sales. Ann’s mother, Danica, is a compulsive hoarder and routinely needs Ann to help take care of her until Danica starts dating a “feckless asshole” who is far angrier and more hurtful than he appears. But Ann and Lewis’ young love prevails, and they set out for a life on their own terms. McNeil’s black-and-white illustrations lovingly capture the rainy, kitsch-filled town of Failin and the expressive faces of the characters. Though the climax is a bit tidy—multiple momentous events seem to happen all at once—Ryan (Empress of the World, 2001) and McNeil’s engrossing story wonderfully illustrates Ann and Lewis’ triumphant step into the future. --Sarah Hunter