By selecting appropriate reading materials, teachers can engage African American adolescent males with text, particularly students who have not mastered the skills, strategies, and knowledge that will lead to positive life outcomes. This approach takes into account students' four literacy needs--academic, cultural, emotional, and social--and relies on instructional practices that have proven effective with African American males. A meaningful program should include texts that lead to positive life outcomes and provide a roadmap that can help students resist nonproductive behaviors. Must-read texts for African American adolescent males have four characteristics: They are intellectually exciting for both students and teachers, serve as a roadmap and provide apprenticeship, challenge students cognitively, and help students apply skills and strategies independently. (Contains 1 footnote.)