Local takes the format and tone of [a:Brian Wood|20493|Brian Wood|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1189017871p2/20493.jpg]'s [b:Demo|235648|Demo The Collected Edition|Brian Wood|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1172978621s/235648.jpg|228247] and adds two competing elements: the decade-plus maturation of a confused girl and the culture of twelve mostly-young-adult-friendly towns. At the outset, the places are the driving force in the story, but by the end, it's all about the girl, Meg. That switch, and the balancing act between the two themes, is frustrating. Some towns you see a lot of, and get a feel for, but others, like Portland, Halifax or Austin, are story-driven, and could happen almost anywhere. There's too much universality to Meg's story for the places to matter. Plus, by the end of the book, when she starts to figure things out, it's almost cruel for her wanderlust to kick in.
Despite all the criticism, I really liked the book. It lacks the verve and creativity of Demo, but Meg's plight is engaging and personally resonant. I wish Wood and Ryan Kelly could redo the beginning of the book to better reflect where the collection ends up. The New York, Chicago, Norman, and Austin issues are just wonderful, impactful character stories. Even the less connected stories, like the Missoula diner scene, work stand-alone. This is a good collection, even if it doesn't quite reach up to Demo or the glowing quotes on the backcover.