The Freedom Writers Diary (Movie Tie-in Edition): How a Teacher and 150 Teens Used Writing to Change Themselves and the World Around Them

by Erin Gruwell, The Freedom Writers, Zlata Filipović (Foreword)

458 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 24, 2007

Reviews

[Annaliese · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a difficult rate for me. Did the people in this book inspire me to keep fighting even when life gets hard? Yes. Did I connect with these people? Yes. Did it have a poignant message? Yes.

However, I had quite a bit of issues with this book:

1. As a teacher myself, it bothers me that this type of teaching where your job is your life and you do unpaid labor all for “the kids” is viewed as the norm to be a good teacher in society these days. I am not a teaching robot. I have a life and a kid and my own dreams and desires.

2. The sexual content and language was way too much that I don’t feel comfortable actually sharing it with any teenagers that I know so that defeats the purpose.

3. There was an extra 200 pages of this book with epilogue type of journal entries. 200!!!! Just give us the highlights, lady, and move on!

4. Ms. G only mainly taught one group of students. She then CLEARLY got burnt out. Though she changed their lives, she has no idea what it’s like for an everyday long-term teacher. I think she did great work, but it’s hard to really assess her success when it’s only one group of students. Also, does her school/district/state not have standards they need to follow?

[Autumn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been dying to read this story since I saw a short on Facebook. It unlocked that core memory of me watching the movie and remembering how much I loved it. Once I saw that it was a book, I knew I had to read it. I wanted to dive into the stories of the students whose lives had been changed. I wanted to know what bothered them, what they felt when things affected them. Their teacher was an amazing woman because she didn't shy away from the "trouble" students; she embraced them and made them feel wanted, loved, and heard. Each journal entry was amazing.
I did want to learn if she kept teaching or did she just went on to become fully involved with the nonprofit organization. Did she fully give up teaching and just focus on the organization?
I do believe that the ending was a bit much as it just kept going on, but other than that, it was a good book. There is language and sexual content that I would say is suitable only for about 16. But nothing that some kids haven't sadly been exposed to.

[Mitchell Dugan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the movie so was super interested in the book. Was cool to hear some of the original versions of what was shown in the movies, and as always, really enjoyed what was a much longer and fuller process than a 2hr film can show. Not naming the entries was an interesting touch, obviously for anonymity but also to indicate a level of collective and unity, and it wasn't too difficult to follow.

I will say most of the diary entries follow a similar format of using something that happened one day to share a significant moment from a student’s past, which was their way of talking about their upbringing instead of just a random day at school. This was a deeply inspiring method, but after 150 entries, then followed by the hundred pages of 20th anniversary stories, the format does get a little exhausting.

[Chelbi Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read it twice! Then went to social media to follow as many of these incredible people as I could. I love this book.