This second volume of American Literature is quite excellent in it's editing and information. The writers read like a who's who of American fiction of over the last couple of centuries. The various writers, poets, authors, and others who have contributed whether it be a poem, a short story, or an essay is enormous. I had this book for American Literature II class in college. The writing in this book reflects America's taste for the various cultures, races, ethnicities, sexual preferences, backgrounds, histories, and tales of everything from identity to immigration to slavery, etc. The stories and poems in this anthology can only help us better understand America. I would give this a 5 but I think it should be a hardcover rather softcover because I got an overly used copy which fell apart in time but I would recommend this book for any high school language arts teacher and as a great library reference book.