Young Adult Literature: From Romance to Realism / Edition 2

by Michael Cart

Overview

Today's young adult literature is every bit as complex as the audience it's written for, unflinchingly addressing such topics as homosexuality, mental illness, AIDS and drug abuse. In this much expanded revision of his 1996 book, veteran author Michael Cart shows how the best of contemporary YA lit has evolved to tackle such daunting subjects without resorting to sensationalism. He brings his historical survey of this category fully up to date, covering its explosive growth in the past decade, and advocating 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 by covering the Reading habits of today's teens Influence of new technologies and formats New YA lit awards This insightful and often humorous work presents the evolution of YA lit in an appealing way, making it equally useful for students of literary studies. You'll definitely update your recommended "to read" lists after a spin through Cart's advisory.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780838910450
Publisher:	American Library Association
Publication date:	09/01/2010
Edition description:	Second Edition
Pages:	288
Sales rank:	751,082
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.60(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Michael Cart is a nationally known expert in young adult literature, which he taught at UCLA before his recent relocation to the Midwest. A columnist and reviewer for ALA's Booklist magazine, he is also the author or editor of more than 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 is the recipient of the 2000 Grolier Award and 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.

Table of Contents

Introduction vii

Part I That Was Then

1 From Sue Barton to the Sixties 3

2 The Sixties and Seventies 17

3 The Eighties 29

4 The Early Nineties 39

5 The Rest of the Nineties 45

Part II This Is Now

6 A New Literature for a New Millennium? 59

7 A Critical Apparatus 71

8 Genre on the Agenda 75

9 Romancing the Retail 85

10 So, How Old Is Young Adult? 107

11 Meanwhile, Back in the Real World 123

12 Reality Revisited 139

13 Sex and Other Shibboleths 153

14 Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender+ Literature 161

15 Still the Controversies Continue 175

16 The Viz Biz 181

17 The New Nonfiction 201

18 Of Books and Bytes 209

References 223

Appendix The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation-A Close Reading 241

About the Author 255

Index 257

Editorial Reviews

This updated and expanded second edition of Cart's already lively and comprehensive history of young adult literature (1996) is an essential resource. It is divided into two sections ("That Was Then" and "This Is Now"), and the author once again discusses the history and current moment to offer a broad and loving overview of the rich literature. Cart provides the historical context and earliest examples of books with teenaged protagonists, titles popular with teen readers, and, finally, the materials marketed specifically to young adults, from formulaic romance to edgier, grittier realism. He then moves on to considering how the field has changed in reaction to social, literary, and educational forces. Its evolution—from new awards and diverse subject matter to changing visual forms and electronic formats—rounds out this revision. Highly accessible and thorough, the text is a staple for any study of the canon. Students and newcomers to the conversation will appreciate Cart's experience and insight. And, once again, the books he mentions as examples will send readers straight to the shelves.—Jennifer Miskec, Longwood University, Farmville, VA

School Library Journal

"This fourth edition of Cart's guide to young adult literature has been updated, lengthened, and strengthened, making it practically indispensable ... Literature, education, and library youth services students will appreciate the accessible descriptions and logical progressions from subject to subject; practicing professionals will benefit from the sections regarding representation, risky behaviors, and LGBTQIAA+ literature. This greatly expanded edition belongs in most academic and professional collections."
— Booklist

From the Publisher