For librarians and teachers, Cart, an author, columnist, and reviewer specializing in young adult literature, describes the history and trends in the genre since the 1940s, noting the key themes and books of each decade, as well as today's trends. In doing so, he discusses such topics as realism, paperback series, multicultural literature, political correctness, awards, poetry, Harry Potter, Twilight, mean girls, genre fiction, crossover books, comics and other visual forms, multiple literacies, online reading, and audio books. Also explored are themes related to the realities of teen life, including diversity, violence, bullying, and sexuality. Annotation ©2010 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)