The Freedom Writers Diary (20th Anniversary Edition): How a Teacher and 150 Teens Used Writing to Change Themselves and the World Around Them

The Freedom Writers · Erin Gruwell

Apr 2007 · Sold by Crown

About this ebook

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The twentieth 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 twentieth 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 twentieth-anniversary edition, readers 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 read for anyone who believes in second chances.

Ratings and reviews

Haven't yet to read the book but its definitely worth the read I just finished the movie and it's crazy how impactful one person can be. Truth is you should always want to be better so dont be like the last person or family member dont follow the bad foot steps just because it's getting hard try something new and try make a impact even if it's small you, you could inspire someone to read this book and the movie did for me and that in it self is something to be proud of and I may not read this book straight away but i know how the story goes I would highly recommend the read.

This movie is not only based on a true story but it is also very entertaining. Erin Gruwell chose not to listen of what other people thought of her students or what they thought of themselves. She took the time to listen to their stories and she really cared about the success and well–being of her students! This is my favorite movie ever!

I'm only 14, but this book inspired me. In my school it's full of Mexicans, in fact the whole county of Hidalgo is full of Hispanics. We are superior, but when I visit other places I am looked down upon. Reading this book taught me that we're aren't really that different.

About the author

Erin Gruwell and the Freedom Writers continue to share their stories with students and teachers from around the globe through their nonprofit, the Freedom Writers Foundation. They are the subject of the 2019 public television documentary Freedom Writers: Stories from the Heart, and the 2007 feature film Freedom Writers, starring Hilary Swank. Gruwell lives in Long Beach.