This article shares the insights of a tutor as she works with a fourth-grade African American girl. For this case study, the authors use interactive read-alouds and writing samples to document the reading and writing events of this yearlong tutorial experience. They report on the power of critical literacy to engage a developing reader and improve her comprehension. These findings suggest that taking a critical literacy lens encourages struggling readers to use their strongest assets--the power of listening and speaking. This research also provides insights for teachers in helping students of all ages experience success as they attempt to improve their reading skills.