The authors describe the steps they took to ramp up their efforts to reach out to students by retooling their teaching. Four factors became essential: the use of writing as a tool for engagement and learning, the necessity to prepare students to compete in an increasingly digitized world, the motivational appeal of the graphic novel genre, and the need to interweave the social aspects of learning with teaching. For these students, the layering of alternate texts, computer-facilitated written discussion, and digitally supported illustration proved to be an effective combination. This project engaged students and enhanced their learning because it was built upon their need to bridge school literacy with their world, allowing them find value and build connections to real life. (Contains 2 figures.)