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The Freedom Writers Diary : How a Teacher and 150 Teens Used Writing to Change Themselves and the World Around Them
 

The Freedom Writers Diary : How a Teacher and 150 Teens Used Writing to Change Themselves and the World Around Them

by Freedom Writers, Zlata Filipovic

Straight from the front line of urban America, the inspiring story of one fiercely determined teacher and her remarkable students.


As an idealistic twenty-three-year-old English teacher at Wilson High School in Long beach, California, Erin Gruwell confronted a room of “unteachable, at-risk” students. One day she intercepted a note with an ugly racial caricature,... (read more)

Top tags: nonfiction,  education,  memoir,  non-fiction,  diary (all tags)

Readers

Groups

  • Great Books for Teachers Discussion Group
  • YA Books that Adults Should Read Discussion Group
  • Friendship for Universal Peace Discussion Group
  • Memorable Memoirs Discussion Group
  • Humanities Class Discussion Group
  • Bell reads Discussion Group

Other Reviews

Amazon Reviews (5)
 

Most Helpful Reviews

Liked It

Play Book Tag Shelf
  • Rated 5 stars

“Tenia F said: 5 stars
They were labeled the unteachable, at risk kids at Wilson High in Long Beach California. She was the new English teacher, the one that was handed these 'unteachables.' She was determined not to give up on them, and started having them write diary entries, and read books, such as Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl and Zlata's diary: A child's life in Sarajevo. Using these role models, these group of kids and the new teacher embarked on changing themselves, then the...”

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Didn’t Like It

Di
  • Rated 2 stars

“http://www.liveandletdi.com/my_weblog/2006/09/the_freedom_wri.html”

Di’s full review »
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Community:
  • Rated 4.154639 stars
Amazon:
  • Rated 4.25 stars
  

Newest Comments

  • capulea

    capulea said:

    “have seen the movie? the movie is nice but the book is still better 'cause it's more indetailed... Im making a reflection for this movie/book... i find it nice... ”

    posted Tuesday, March 25 2008
  • ayla m

    ayla m said:

    “You have to be very mature to read this, because it is very real and goood”

    posted Wednesday, March 19 2008
  • Kathie C

    kathie c said:

    “These kids are inspiring!! To have a teacher like that - what a difference they made (make) in eachothers lifes. So many different treasures I took away with me. One I will read again!”

    posted Monday, February 11 2008
  • shravani

    shravani said:

    “this is book should be read by everyone..........................
    must read”

    posted Wednesday, October 31 2007
  • Julie D

    julie d said:

    “I've read the comments written here about the book -and how the teacher, the students were inspirational. But, what hasn't been said, and what struck me, is that none of us are any different than any of these kids. We all have our own personal struggles and isnecurites that we go through - rich, poor, wrong side of the tracks, top of the hill - doesn't matter. We each need to feel valued by someone - and that is what this teacher did - valued the person, and fostered their interests. It was the students who asked the initial questions - she just provided the resources for them to discover the answers. ”

    posted Tuesday, October 16 2007 ( | view 1 reply )
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