The Best American Short Stories 2020

Starred review from October 15, 2020
These 20 masterfully crafted short stories, selected by Sittenfeld, are an incredible entry to the popular series. Coming from a diverse array of writers, they explore topics like childhood, love, privilege, and parenthood. In T.C. Boyle's "The Apartment," Monsieur R. makes a contract with the elderly Madame C., offering to pay her monthly to use her apartment in the hopes of one day inheriting her lavish residence. In "Sibling Rivalry," by Michael Byers, Peter and Julie live in a futuristic world where AI and human children have become indistinguishable. They decide to take the archaic parenting approach of raising their biological son and AI daughter to be equally independent children with unforeseen consequences. In Marian Crotty's "Halloween," a heartbroken teenage girl seeks love advice from her eccentric grandmother, an old woman who has had her share of unsuccessful relationships over the last 40 years. Sarah Thankam Matthews' "Rubberdust" explores the impulsive cruelty of children and how past guilt is not easily erased. "The Hands of Dirty Children," from Alejandro Puyana, depicts the heartbreaking reality for a group of boys living on the streets in Venezuela, and how they deal with hunger, longing, and loss. Outstanding and well worth the read.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)