Our book closets and shelves are filled with the "greats" of literature: Shakespeare, Fitzgerald, and the rest. However, when it comes to our students' lives, they often feel intimidated and/or disengaged from these classics. In this session, we will provide strategies to choose whole class texts that are accessible and engaging, how to use classic literature while still providing students choice, and several activities to take texts like Hamlet from lukewarm to sizzling in the eyes of your students!