The Pushcart Prize XLIX: Best of the Small Presses 2025 Edition

by Bill Henderson

Genres: Poetry, Short Stories, Essays, Fiction

560 pages, Paperback

Published December 3, 2024

About the author

Bill Henderson (born April 5, 1941) is an American author, editor and publisher best known for his memoirs and the Pushcart Prize series.

Reviews

[derek allard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always a highlight of my reading year and while uneven (part of this series’ charm) this year had some amazing writing in it. “Gary’s Way” by Andre Dubus III, “Just This” by Pamela Painter, “Mick & Minn” by Joyce Carol Oates, who I always say I’m not crazy about but then keep reading these daring and stunningly visceral stories, were all excellent short stories, even wow short stories. The essay, “Glossary of Centralia, Pennsylvania” by Abby Manzella was a fantastic coal mining piece that never gets preachy and makes a stronger point because of the restraint. The poem, “The Virgin Mary On MTV’s Teen Mom: Nazareth” was wild with vibrant language and had the best closing line in the entire collection. But, as good, as great as all those were, the story that stood out and floored me was “The Nineteenth Sunday In Ordinary Time” by Austin Smith. The premise: at Our Lady Consoler of Farmers in Black Earth, Illinois, the crucified Christ hanging above the alter comes alive. I won’t tell you what happens in this mere four page story (by far the shortest in the collection), but it is pure magic.

[Bryan Lindsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Pushcart collection has become my favorite annual anthology and book to pick at between other books. Unlike the Best American series, The Pushcart collects fiction, essay, and poetry all in one volume, and each piece comes from a small press which, in my opinion, is where the real beating heart of contemporary literature can be found.

The closing piece of this volume, “Blackbirds” by Lindsey Drager is an arresting and sad short story. It takes the risk of inhabiting the point of view and voice of a young child, which can go horribly awry in the hands of a lesser writer, but Drager’s take is subtle and tragic. The closing image, from which the story takes its title, conveys the larger thematic intent with delicate nuance. It’s the kind of fiction that reminds us that fiction is the medium of empathy.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This wasn't my favorite edition, but it was worth checking out for Winners by Merritt Tierce alone. I also liked The Rest Is History by Peggy Shinner and Ballistics by Leslie Jill Patterson, as well as these three poems:
Black Person Head Bob by Yael Valencia Aldana
The Virgin Mary on MTV's Teen Mom: Nazareth by Adia Muhammad
If Adam Picked the Apple by Danielle Coffyn

[Subhana A · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has so many great essays stories and memoirs absolutely enjoying it

[Karen Carlson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lot to love here. My favorites included stories of community, and interesting narrations and structures. Lots of thoughtful content. A few pieces were just plain fun.
FMI see my blog posts at A Just Recompense for comments on all fiction and non-fiction.