Super Short Summary

Set in the fictional working-class town of Mohawk, New York, Richard Russo's The Risk Pool follows Ned Hall's tumultuous childhood and young adulthood as he navigates life with his negligent, hard-partying father, Sam, and his struggles after his mother, Jenny, suffers from extreme anxiety and nervousness, leading to her eventual institutionalization and Sam's return to raise Ned. The novel involves domestic violence, substance abuse, and mental health issues.