Cart's seventeen essays and speeches discuss the current state of YA literature; the work of pioneers like Robert Lipsyte and Robert Cormier who provided thought-provoking, realistic fiction; why librarians and other educators should embrace the graphic novel; the evolution of GLBTQ fiction, why he believes that young lives are at stake, and how literature can help these young people; and why he loves libraries and librarians. His concluding essays are devoted to remembering champions of young people, like Robert Cormier, William Morris, and Michael Printz. This is a wonderfully engaging read for anyone who is interested in young adult literature and wants to learn about its roots, its evolution, and the people who pioneered it and continue to champion it today.