Issue 9 of PEN America: Checkpoints showcases new work by writers from all over the world examining the literal and metaphorical barriers that scar the globe. With Ian McEwan, Xiaolu Guo, Jeffrey Eugenides, Aleksandar Hemon, and many more. Writing from this issue has been included in Best American Essays and the Pushcart Prize anthology. Featuring fiction, poetry, conversation, criticism, and memoir, PEN America champions international authors and provides first-hand insight into the minds of contemporary writers through provocative symposia. In 2000, PEN America was named one of the Ten Best New Magazines by Library Journal. PEN America has been a finalist for the Utne Independent Press Award for international coverage, and work from recent issues has been selected for Best American Essays, Best American Stories, and the Pushcart Prize. PEN America: A Journal for Writers and Readers is published by PEN American Center.