This article seeks to complicate the understanding of Bishop's (1990) metaphor of mirrors, windows, and sliding glass doors, with particular emphasis on sliding glass doors and the emotional connections needed for readers to move through them. The authors begin by examining the importance of the reader and the characters he or she meets. Next, the authors extend Bishop's metaphor by exploring the role of readers' emotional connections to texts and characters. The authors then make recommendations for selecting appropriate books, linking books thematically, and guiding readers in ways to respond. They conclude with a call to action for teachers to consider their responsibility to #EmpowerTheReader.