Homes

Many of the stories take place in the characters’ homes. With the exception of the home in “Legacy,” which is described as a castle, these homes are generally vague in terms of description. They serve both as literal and metaphorical representations of the concept of home. Although many of these characters have consistent homes and familial relationships, they often feel emotionally unsettled, both personally and interpersonally.

Towns

Many of the stories take place in nondescript towns, implicitly in the American suburbs. By invoking these towns and their populations, the stories often explore relationships between individual characters and the community as a whole. Such dynamics are relevant in stories like “The Healer” and “Loser,” in which characters alternately feel accepted and ostracized in the context of the town’s community.

Ocean House, “Skinless”

A main setting of “Skinless” is Ocean House, a home for troubled and runaway teenagers. The...