Synthesizing fifteen years of experience using Life Histories students, grades five to university, this textbook provides a framework for deepening student understandings of text and promoting classroom engagement through collaborative writing and performance. Intended for undergraduate and graduate education students, as well as practicing teachers for grades five through twelve, this textbook supports both pre-service and in-service teachers in meeting the literacy needs of diverse students through culturally responsive teaching. While practicing Life Histories, readers take on the persona of a character to write their stories and perform their narratives. In doing so, they develop empathy that helps them appreciate diverse human experiences as well as gain new and critical understandings about themselves and their world. Through Life Histories, students engage with diverse texts to make multi-layered analysis of readings, fostering empathy as well as artistic expression. Valarie Lee is Associate Professor of Literacy in the Department of Critical Literacy, Technology, and Multilingual Education at Rowan University, USA. With 28 years in high school and university teaching, Valarie researches adolescent literacy and lesson study. She is a co-founder of The Literacy Consortium and the Rowan University Writing Project. Marjorie Madden is Associate Professor of Literacy in the Department of Critical Literacy, Technology, and Multilingual Education at Rowan University, USA. With over 40 years of experience in education, Marjories's researches underserved students, inclusive literacy practices, and critical pedagogy. She co-founded The Literacy Consortium and the Rowan University Writing Project. Susan Browne is Professor of Literacy in the Department of Critical Literacy, Technology, and Multilingual Education at Rowan University, USA. Susan teaches reading courses and advises graduate thesis research. A former Philadelphia teacher, she researches critical pedagogies, urban education, and diverse youth literature. She co-founded the Rowan University Writing Project.