Michael Cart

Michael Cart is a nationally recognized expert in young adult literature who has worked as a librarian, author, critic, and educator. His extensive career includes serving as the president of the Young Adult Library Services Association and director of the Beverly Hills Public Library. Cart has written or edited over 20 books focused on young adult literature, including "Young Adult Literature: From Romance to Realism" and "Cart's Top 200 Adult Books for Young Adults." He regularly contributes to Booklist magazine as a columnist and has served on multiple book award committees, including the National Book Award for Young People's Literature. His scholarly work examining LGBTQ+ representation in young adult literature has been particularly influential in the field. Cart co-authored "The Heart Has Its Reasons: Young Adult Literature with Gay/Lesbian/Queer Content" with Christine Jenkins, which became a significant reference work on the subject. The Michael L. Printz Award, established in 2000 for excellence in young adult literature, was named in honor of Cart's contributions to the field. He continues to lecture on young adult literature at UCLA and writes extensively about current trends and developments in teen literature and libraries.

From available reviews and ratings, Michael Cart's books on young adult literature and library services receive favorable feedback from librarians and educators. His works typically maintain 4+ out of 5 star ratings on Goodreads and Amazon, though with relatively small numbers of reviews. Readers appreciate: - Clear explanations of YA literature history and trends - Inclusion of diverse perspectives and LGBTQ+ topics - Practical applications for library programming - Comprehensive bibliographies and reading lists Common criticisms: - Academic writing style can be dry - Some chapters feel padded with excessive examples - High textbook prices Sample ratings: Young Adult Literature: From Romance to Realism - Goodreads: 3.9/5 (56 ratings) - Amazon: 4.3/5 (12 reviews) Cart's most-reviewed work "Top 250 LGBTQ Books for Teens" (with Christine Jenkins) averages 4.4/5 on Goodreads from 43 ratings, with readers noting its usefulness as a collection development tool.

My Father's Scar (1996) A coming-of-age novel about a gay teenager dealing with family trauma and first love while attending college.

In the Stacks: Short Stories about Libraries and Librarians (2002) An anthology of 21 short stories about libraries and librarians, selected and edited by Cart.

What's So Funny?: Wit and Humor in American Children's Literature (1995) A scholarly examination of humor in children's literature from colonial times to the present.

From Romance to Realism: 50 Years of Growth and Change in Young Adult Literature (1996) A comprehensive study of young adult literature's development from 1950-1990s.

Young Adult Literature: From Romance to Realism (2010) An updated analysis of young adult literature's evolution, expanding on Cart's earlier work.

Taking Aim: Power and Pain, Teens and Guns (2015) A collection of short stories by various authors about gun violence affecting young people.

How Beautiful the Ordinary: Twelve Stories of Identity (2009) An anthology of short stories about LGBTQ+ teens, edited by Cart.

Cart's Top 200 Adult Books for Young Adults: Two Decades in Review (2013) A curated list of adult books suitable for young adult readers with detailed annotations.