Working with tweens and teens can be challenging. They can be hard to reach and sometimes frustratingly difficult to engage. As a secondary school librarian, the author has often been asked about the philosophy and practices she has implemented in her library to keep students engaged and help them remain active library users. One of the things that she loves most about her job as a school librarian, first at a middle school and now at a high school, is the challenge of creating a fresh and engaging atmosphere that brings kids to the library and encourages reading for pleasure. The author is determined to foster an environment in her school library that creates an open, welcoming, and safe environment where a culture of reading will flourish and grow. Building a reading culture at the middle or high school level does not happen overnight, and stumbling blocks will be encountered along the way. Flexibility is key. Understand that some things expected to be smashing successes may end up being the biggest failures--and that it is okay. The author once had a principal who always said even if one fails, they are failing forward. This statement became the mantra for developing a culture of reading at the author's school. In this article, the author shares her story of the essentials for building a reading culture.