The texts in this collection exemplify the thematic breadth and creative diversity that have always characterized American short stories. The edition includes classics such as Ernest Hemingway's "A Clean, Well-Lighted Place" and contemporary narratives like Junot Díaz's "Nilda" and Deborah Eisenberg's "Twilight of the Superheroes." The short stories can be used throughout high school, providing numerous connections to the English curriculum and can be approached from both literary perspectives and integrated into thematic units. Notable themes include the American Dream, immigration, the global role of the USA, and the individual versus society.