Question

How can these teachers overcome obstacles to literacy or resistance on the part of students?

Answer 1

Put interesting books in your classroom and then tell your classes about them. Take them one by one (maybe 10 a day every week or so), hold the book up, and tell the students what it's basically about. If you choose interesting books for your classroom, your enthusiasm for those books will be easily communicated to your students.

Here's an excellent booklist to start with:
http://als.lib.wi.us/Collegebound.html

There are many others.