Young Adult Literature: From Romance to Realism, 3rd ed. By Michael Cart. Chicago: ALA, 2017. 328 p. Paper $68 (ISBN 978-0-8389-1462-5).

This is a timely, updated treatment of the subject of young adult (YA) literature. Cart has a wealth of experience and knowledge in YA literature, having founded and chaired the Printz Committee and authored or edited twenty-three books. He deftly organizes that knowledge into a highly accessible volume for librarians.

Cart has broken the information into two main parts: “That Was Then,” a historical look at how YA literature has become its own genre; and “This Is Now,” a look at today’s YA literature landscape. Cart takes the time to analyze the information and lay it out for readers. This material will not be useful to someone who merely wants quick lists of the best teen books to purchase. Instead, Cart takes a more in-depth look at topics such as how YA literature works in retail, focusing attention on the effects of “chick lit,” Harry Potter, Twilight, and the dystopian genre (such as the Hunger Games series). He also discusses the current age range confusion in YA literature: Should we use “young adult” as a catch-all category, or divide the genre into subgroups such as “middle school,” “teen,” and “new adult” literature? One chapter concentrates on diversity in YA literature and identifies the steps that authors and publishers are taking to increase it. The book also addresses the timely topic of LGBTQ characters in young adult literature, including intersex characters. In addition, Cart discusses other genres and other formats, such as graphic novels and manga.

This book features a clear and useful preface and a twenty-page reference section that includes all the books and articles he references throughout the text. Young Adult Literature: From Romance to Realism is a solid resource that will be helpful to librarians, students, and teachers.—Leanne Cheek, MLIS, Selector/Teen Coordinator, Pioneer Library System, Norman, Oklahoma