The Freedom Writers Diary

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.

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!

This is the true story of a young teacher, Erin Gruwell, and diary entries from her "unteachable" students in Wilson High School in Long Beach, California. When she found a cartoon of a big lipped boy being passed around her classroom, in her rage she told her class that this stereotyping is how the Holocaust got started. When she realized that none of her students had heard of the Holocaust, she assigned the kids The Diary Of Ann Frank, and thus began her program of writing for tolerance and change, rather than violence and ignorance.

This book includes the anonymous entries, for the safety of her students, of the diary writings of her students telling of their personal issues and problems around violence, racism, gang "ethics", drugs, alcoholism, spouse abuse, child sexual abuse, and one parent families, etc. Various activities, visits to famous places, corporate help, and determined hard work changed these kids from failures and hoodlums, into productive kids pursuing college educations and "legal" careers.

Great read for educators, parents, and children who may see the connection of their problem lives to these children. The focus is for hard work, determination, courage, hope, and understanding of the humanity of all kinds of people through sharing ideas in writing rather than violence. Excellent book---good for thought for everyone!!