Before you get too far...are you sure your chosen author has criticism!? Check the databases!
OR...Just google "American short stories about ________" and see what you can find! If you can't find a copy of the short story that way, let Mrs. Bontempo know and we may have a copy in the library or we can get one for you!
Google eBooks--Go into Advanced Search and select Full View to get entire books, otherwise you may only get portions of books or previews of books.