This book provides classroom-tested methods for engaging struggling middle grade readers--even those who appear to have given up--and fostering their success. The emphasis is on constructing respectful, encouraging learning environments that incorporate students' diverse literacies, cultural interests, and prior knowledge and skills into instruction. Chapters outline effective, innovative strategies for instruction and assessment in comprehension, vocabulary, text-based discussion, critical reading, and other core areas. Realistic classroom examples are included throughout, including applications of nontraditional texts. Other useful features include reflection questions at the end of each chapter. This book contains the following: (1) Who Are Struggling Readers?; (2) Promoting Disciplinary Reading Practices in English Language Arts; (3) Designing Classroom Environments That Support Literacy Development; (4) Engaging and Motivating Marginalized Readers; (5) Assessing Reading and Students' Funds of Knowledge Performance; (6) Implementing Reading Comprehension Strategies; (7) Using Young Adult Literature to Promote Comprehension with Struggling Readers (Lisa Scherff); (8) Culturally Grounded Vocabulary Instruction; (9) Fostering Discussions about Texts; (10) Reading Texts on the Internet; (11) Using Nonprint Media and Texts to Support Marginalized Readers (Stergios G. Botzakis); (12) Relevant Curriculum and Policy for Middle School Struggling Readers; and (13) Conclusion: Promising Readers (David W. Moore).