Foreword by Francesca Lia Block For more than 20 years, Michael Cart’s column for Booklist has delighted YA literature enthusiasts and bibliophiles in general with an engaging mixture of wit, insight, and good old fashioned publishing industry gossip. Spotlighting Cart’s unique perspective as both devoted book reviewer and self-proclaimed book addict, this “Carte Blanche” compilation offers readers the chance to trace the blossoming of YA lit into a bona fide phenomenon that continues to grow in popularity. In the columns gathered here, he explores reading, writing, and book collections and collecting;the past, present and future of YA lit;a multitude of genres, including historical fiction, fantasy, science fiction, humor, and comics; andmemories of notable figures in the world of publishing through tributes and memorials. These pieces remain as engaging and fun to read as when they first appeared.