The Fair Garden and the Swarm of Beasts: The Library and the Young Adult. - book review

Adolescence, Spring, 2003

EDWARDS, Margaret A. The Fair Garden and the Swarm of Beasts: The Library and the Young Adult. Chicago: American Library Association, 2002. 206pp. $20.00 (p).

Maverick librarian Margaret Edwards not only threw open the gates of her fair garden of literary treasures, but she spent a life's work luring in the beasts. The Centennial Edition of this young adult services masterpiece authored by the 20th century's most revolutionary librarian presents an accessible and relevant work for the YA librarian of the 21st century. With a new introduction by Betty Carter, readers have the unique opportunity to consider today's trends in the Edwards context. This edition also includes an annotated list of all the Alex Award-winning and nominated books, and the Margaret A. Edwards Award- winning books. Celebrating the 100th anniversary of Edwards's birth, this reissue commemorates the longevity and influence of her commitment to connecting teenagers as individuals with reading and the library. It will inspire yet another generation and provide a foundation for leadership by today's new young adult librarians.