The Burbs : The Companion to The Old Neighborhood

Chicago’s western suburbs. Young Joe Walsh is making a go ofit at a new school, still haunted by his rough-and-tumble city upbringing. He’sgot some great opportunities—a summer seminar at one of the world’s top physicslaboratories, a hard-hitting Catholic clergyman and boxing instructor whothinks he’s got talent in the ring, and a beautiful girlfriend who’s giving himsome much-needed love and support. But the challenges of Chicago have followedhim to its outskirts; his sister’s struggling to recover after being shot byone of his former friends, his mom’s unvarnished ways are rubbing their wealthyneighbors the wrong way, and his brother’s fresh out of prison and falling intoold habits. Like many young men before him, Joe’s taking out his frustrationsin the boxing ring, and dreaming of a triumphant career—but will that, too,become a prison?

This sequel to Bill Hillmann’s The Old Neighborhood hitslike the end of a 1-2 punch. It’s another modern classic from one of the city’sbest authors, a powerful read unlike anything you’ve read before.