Recipient of the Milken Foundation National Educator Award, Janet Allen provides an inside look at some of the problems faced by teenagers in the classroom from the viewpoint of a teacher. This practical "how-to" book will appeal to teachers, parents, and anyone else concerned about indifferent or hostile students. The author enters the teaching profession with plans for sharing her love of literature with her high school English class. The first day shatters her dreams. Instead of having a roomful of students eager to learn, she is faced with teenagers who not only never read Shakespeare, they never read anything. Through perseverence, reflective teaching, and creativity, the author builds an environment that motivates these high school students to start down the path toward a lifelong love of literature and learning. As Ruth Ann Phimister expertly narrates this refreshing memoir, educators will learn new teaching strategies and be affirmed in the influential role they play every day.