Do Midwesterners have a peculiar way of looking at the world? Is there something not quite right about the way they see things? For such a normal place, the heartland has produced some writers who take a most individual approach to storytelling. And the result—to the delight of readers everywhere—has been stories that reveal the mystery, joy, and enchantment in the most ordinary and incidental moments of life. These 33 exceptional tales showcase the peculiarly wonderful vision of some of the region's best-known or soon-to-be-celebrated writers. Each invites its readers to see the world through different eyes and see it anew.

Contributions by: Max Apple, Joel Brouwer, Robert Coover, Robert Day, Rikki Ducornet, Stuart Dybek, Mark Ehling, Louise Erdrich, Robin Hemley, Lily Hoang, Laird Hunt, Sandy Huss, Lily James, Janet Kauffman, Jesse Lee Kercheval, Brian Kitely, Clarence Major, Brian McMullen, Glenn Meeter, Ander Monson, Susan S. Neville, Lon Otto, Erin Pringle, Josh Russell, Scott Russell Sanders, George Saunders, Steve Tomasula, Deb Olin Unferth, Kellie Wells, Curtis White, Michael Wilkerson, Dianne Williams