For immediate release | September 8, 2010

An updated historical survey of YA literature

CHICAGO—ALA Editions, the publishing imprint of the American Library Association, announces the release of “Young Adult Literature: From Romance to Realism,” by Michael Cart. In this much expanded revision of his 1996 book, veteran author Cart shows how the best of contemporary YA lit has evolved to tackle such daunting subjects as homosexuality, mental illness, AIDS and drug abuse without resorting to sensationalism. He also covers its explosive growth in the past decade and advocates that librarians and teachers look beyond romance and horror when advising young adults. This survey helps YA librarians who want to freshen up their readers’ advisory skills, teachers who use novels in the classroom and adult services librarians who increasingly find themselves addressing the queries of teen patrons as it covers the:

  • Reading habits of today’s teens;
  • Influence of new technologies and formats;
  • New YA lit awards.
Cart is a nationally known expert in YA literature, which he taught at UCLA. A columnist and reviewer for ALA’s Booklist magazine, he is also the author or editor of 20 books and countless articles that have appeared in The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, the San Francisco Chronicle, Parents Magazine, American Libraries, School Library Journal and elsewhere. The former president of both YALSA and ALAN, he received the 2000 Grolier Award and was the first recipient (in 2008) of the YALSA/Greenwood Publishing Group Service to Young Adults Award. He appointed and chaired the task force that created the Michael L. Printz Award and subsequently chaired the 2006 Printz Committee.
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Contact:

Rob Christopher