From the post-war period to the so-called Wende, over a span of three generations during which a united Europe became a reality, a transformation occurred not only in political and economic conditions but also in the relationships between generations. This generational change, which is rarely addressed in historical discussions, is reflected in family histories and literature, particularly in children's and young adult literature across all European countries. This collection of contributions documents a symposium of children's and young adult book professionals from eight European countries and explores the question of what ideas, wishes, hopes, as well as realities and critical attitudes were conveyed to children and young people in this era through literature, and how modernization processes that accompany, reflect, or even influence societal change are also evident in children's and young adult literature of the second half of the 20th century.