Preface: Reading the world / Shirley R. Steinberg -- Recognizing non-reading adolescents -- Contextualizing non-reading adolescents within historical educational structures and the literature -- The perils of contemporary educational policies for non-reading adolescents -- Democratic versus antidemocratic pedagogy for non-reading adolescents -- Reconceptualization : inclusive and empowering literacy education for non-reading adolescents -- Critical literacy instruction : joining phonics and critical language experience -- Conclusion.