There are novels that portray cities as magical places, others as stifling, imposing environments, and others still as a gritty but beautiful, living landscape. Cities can be the center of culture, business, arts, and are the meeting places for diversities of all kinds. Examining Images of Urban Life gathers contributions from scholars and young adult authors who consider how living in a city affects character identity and growth, and the ways authors world-build the urban setting. The book discusses what the urban landscape means, most especially to those who live in cities-and dispels the media-driven, anecdotally propagated preconceptions about city living.

This book also serves as a resource in urban settings, wherein teachers can select books that mirror and advocate for the very students sitting in their classes. The centerpiece of this collection revolves around a reconsideration of what the city represents, to its readers and to its inhabitants. Urban life is varied and rich, just as its literature is.