Briar Cliff Review, from its namesake university in Sioux City, IA, is a relatively well-known literary journal, founded in 1989 - a good historical run for such a concern. This issue was workmanlike entry with passable, if forgettable, offerings. The best of the lot were probably the creative non-fiction entries, curated apparently to focus on how personal struggles inform the larger political and social issues of the day. One, on ethics from Jacob Appel, tells of his observation of a mother helping her child cheat in a community contest, and the internal debate it engenders over whether to report the pair. Another, from Allison Macy-Steines, recounts the author's pain over a younger sibling's dire health condition. Again, all the entries were readable, but none in particular stayed with me. ( )