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The Freedom Writers Diary  By  cover art

The Freedom Writers Diary

By: The Freedom Writers, Erin Gruwell
Narrated by: Dominic Hoffman, Bahni Turpin, Cassandra Campbell
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Publisher's summary

Number-one New York Times best seller

The 20th anniversary edition of the classic story of an incredible group of students and the teacher who inspired them, featuring updates on the students’ lives, new journal entries, and an introduction by Erin Gruwell

Now a public television documentary, Freedom Writers: Stories from the Heart

In 1994, an idealistic first-year teacher in Long Beach, California, named Erin Gruwell confronted a room of “unteachable, at-risk” students. She had intercepted a note with an ugly racial caricature and angrily declared that this was precisely the sort of thing that led to the Holocaust. She was met by uncomprehending looks - none of her students had heard of one of the defining moments of the 20th century. So she rebooted her entire curriculum, using treasured books such as Anne Frank’s diary as her guide to combat intolerance and misunderstanding. Her students began recording their thoughts and feelings in their own diaries, eventually dubbing themselves the “Freedom Writers.”

Consisting of powerful entries from the students’ diaries and narrative text by Erin Gruwell, The Freedom Writers Diary is an unforgettable story of how hard work, courage, and determination changed the lives of a teacher and her students. In the two decades since its original publication, the book has sold more than one million copies and inspired a major motion picture Freedom Writers. And now, with this 20th-anniversary edition, listeners are brought up to date on the lives of the Freedom Writers, as they blend indispensable takes on social issues with uplifting stories of attending college - and watch their own children follow in their footsteps. The Freedom Writers Diary remains a vital listen for anyone who believes in second chances.

©1999 The Tolerance Education Foundation (P)2006 Books on Tape

What listeners say about The Freedom Writers Diary

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Freedom!

Would you listen to The Freedom Writers Diary again? Why?

Freedom is not the ability to do whatever you WANT to do. Freedom is telling your story for you and others to grow from.

If you could give The Freedom Writers Diary a new subtitle, what would it be?

Moving Forward Through My Story

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Inspirational!

This book should be required reading especially for future teachers, school administrators and high schoolers.

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Everyone should read

Absolutely incredible documentary of students who made it through their high school years with an incredible teacher that saw their potential, and helped them figure it out.

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Authentic voices

Most of this book is excerpted from teen diaries, and the authenticity of the individual voices ring clear. Inspirational but never hokey, it reveals children's pain, hope and discovery. It reaffirmed my belief that there should be no throw-away children. The movie was a pallid shadow of this intriguing book.

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9 people found this helpful

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The Freedom Writers Diary

I saw the movie with 2 friends, and we were all interested in reading the book. I particularly like audio productions, and this one was excellent. So much more depth than the movie, which is to be expected. I wish I had had a teacher like Miss Gruwell.

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I am renewed

I was able to hear my students' voices in this book and was reminded why I teach.

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Definitely made it to my top of favorite books

I loved this book! It is inspiring in so many ways! I would recommend for all ages, specifically middle school and higher. this book reminds us about how being different is beautiful and should be embracing as well as how anyone can be anything they set their mind to!

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Senior reading novel

Our group loved this book our teacher assigned it to us as our Senior reading novel for the end of the year assignment and we realized how much we got to relate to this book and loved that fact that it was so raw and told the real stories that happened without trying to change it to be more “appropriate for school” I believe every senior class should read this book before graduation!

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Excellent Book

I loved this book. It was a real awakening as to what goes on in our own back yard. The narration was great. I could not stop thinking about the kids in this book. I wish I could read a follow-up!

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10 people found this helpful

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Youth Development 101

I love it! I work with youth. So I was able to understand and relate.

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1 person found this helpful