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katyoctober's review against another edition
5.0
Such a lovely book! I couldn't put it down. An inspirational story.
marie_gg's review against another edition
4.0
I recently saw "Freedom Writers" (the movie with Hilary Swank), which was based on this memoir and Erin Gruwell's experiences teaching underprivileged kids in Long Beach, California. Gruwell is actually a controversial figure--take a look at some of the negative reviews on Amazon to see what I mind. I've also seen some anti-Gruwell comments on web sites as well. I think all her critics are being totally petty and ridiculous.
I found this book to be very inspiring and beautiful. I wouldn't describe it as well written or fine literature, but a simple story told from the heart. Erin Gruwell touched the lives of underprivileged kids (and continues to touch them), exposing them to literature and getting them to think differently about their lives and promoting tolerance. She has moved from teaching (while she was teaching at the high school, her fellow teachers were horrible to her because they were jealous) to training teachers.
If you want to read an inspirational story, I recommend this book.
I found this book to be very inspiring and beautiful. I wouldn't describe it as well written or fine literature, but a simple story told from the heart. Erin Gruwell touched the lives of underprivileged kids (and continues to touch them), exposing them to literature and getting them to think differently about their lives and promoting tolerance. She has moved from teaching (while she was teaching at the high school, her fellow teachers were horrible to her because they were jealous) to training teachers.
If you want to read an inspirational story, I recommend this book.
readingwithreagan's review against another edition
5.0
Really interesting to read about this story from her perspective. It was a great book :)
aminowrimo's review against another edition
3.0
I found this an interesting look at the teacher who actually taught the Freedom Writers. I'd seen the movie with Hilary Swank, but hadn't actually watched the movie, and this was an interesting look at Gruwell's life throughout (and beyond) the Freedom Writers.
Disclaimer: I am writing this "review" waaay after reading the book, so nothing is very clear any longer.
Disclaimer: I am writing this "review" waaay after reading the book, so nothing is very clear any longer.
lingfish7's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book. Erin Gruwell's story is compelling and life-changing. I was fully engaged throughout every page and inspired to be a teacher! I'm so thankful Erin was able to share her story to the world not only in the Freedom Writers but also through this auto-biography of her time as a teacher and impact in the lives of her students.
the_naptime_reader's review against another edition
2.0
I believe I added this to my to read list after reading The Freedom Writers' Diary. At the time I was in the midst of my own inner-city teaching adventure, and was inspired by the stories of her students. I found this book somewhat repetitive, as the beginning basically sums up that book, but then goes on to tell about the years that follow. Again, the students and the teaching inspiring. All the writing about her divorce, running for office, relationship with her dad seemed trite, saccharine, and forced. I felt a little deceived by the title, of Teach With Your Heart, as a good chunk had little to do with teaching, and more to do with all the hook-ups along the way that helped her out. I guess I was hoping to know more of her methodology, her philosophy, and where are the kids now...
The book confirmed that Erin had many advantages stacked in her favor to even help her achieve success, and while she attempted to try and seem humble, it seemed self-congratulatory.
Again, yay to helping kids, but boo to the Hollywood feel goody vagueness of her success. It's not necessarily always tho easy...
The book confirmed that Erin had many advantages stacked in her favor to even help her achieve success, and while she attempted to try and seem humble, it seemed self-congratulatory.
Again, yay to helping kids, but boo to the Hollywood feel goody vagueness of her success. It's not necessarily always tho easy...
lirael's review against another edition
3.0
I'm a sucker for these inspirational teaching books, I guess....
It's a good story, and I definitely admire how devoted Erin is to her high school students. However, it doesn't seem realistic for most teachers to fund raise for extravagant field trips to Washington, DC and guest speakers from as far away as Europe!
The deterioration of her marriage made me wonder if it's possible to excel at one's work while maintaining a quality relationship with one's spouse and children. I want both as much as anybody, I think, but would like to have my expectations be reasonable.
It's a good story, and I definitely admire how devoted Erin is to her high school students. However, it doesn't seem realistic for most teachers to fund raise for extravagant field trips to Washington, DC and guest speakers from as far away as Europe!
The deterioration of her marriage made me wonder if it's possible to excel at one's work while maintaining a quality relationship with one's spouse and children. I want both as much as anybody, I think, but would like to have my expectations be reasonable.
bookworm_mommy's review against another edition
Inspirational\nI wish it was more practical though...how do I do that in my own classroom and my own teaching? Is she jsut specially gifted like that? Or is it something you can learn?
themaddiest's review
3.0
Erin Gruwell's memoir of her time teaching at Wilson High School in Long Beach, California, is an emotional read. She started as a young student teacher and taught for five years, working with some of the toughest kids that the district had to offer. Teaching English and moving up each year with the same students, she was able to build an unusual rapport with her students that intensified as they went on field trips and had amazing opportunities to meet important historical figures like Miep Gies and Zlata Filipovic.
This reviewer had been eager to read a memoir of Gruwell's time in the high school classroom after reading The Freedom Writers' Diary (a compilation of Gruwell's students' diaries) and seeing the film based on the book. There were several questions I had about Gruwell and her teaching that I hoped to have answered by this book.
Gruwell's tone and writing style is fairly informal throughout the book, and perhaps simpler than most readers might expect for an English teacher who taught at the collegiate (as well as high school) level. It is clear that some issues are still painful for her (her divorce is spoken about in an almost detached way, and she always refers to her spouse as "my husband" and never by name), but she is able to give the reader enough detail about the students so that they care about what happens to them.
It is a short book to cover five years in the classroom, and some readers might be disappointed that she seems to only hit the major events, choosing not to focus on the day-to-day activities inside the classroom. While this reader would have liked to see a bit more insight into the everyday minutia of room 203, it is understandable why Gruwell chose to focus on the major accomplishments of her classes.
For the most part, this reader's most burning questions went unanswered. Perhaps the most important question is why Gruwell doesn't teach anymore, and that is largely unanswered. But it is still an inspirational read, and recommended to fans of memoirs and commentary on education in general.
For the most part, the questions went unanswered.
This reviewer had been eager to read a memoir of Gruwell's time in the high school classroom after reading The Freedom Writers' Diary (a compilation of Gruwell's students' diaries) and seeing the film based on the book. There were several questions I had about Gruwell and her teaching that I hoped to have answered by this book.
Gruwell's tone and writing style is fairly informal throughout the book, and perhaps simpler than most readers might expect for an English teacher who taught at the collegiate (as well as high school) level. It is clear that some issues are still painful for her (her divorce is spoken about in an almost detached way, and she always refers to her spouse as "my husband" and never by name), but she is able to give the reader enough detail about the students so that they care about what happens to them.
It is a short book to cover five years in the classroom, and some readers might be disappointed that she seems to only hit the major events, choosing not to focus on the day-to-day activities inside the classroom. While this reader would have liked to see a bit more insight into the everyday minutia of room 203, it is understandable why Gruwell chose to focus on the major accomplishments of her classes.
For the most part, this reader's most burning questions went unanswered. Perhaps the most important question is why Gruwell doesn't teach anymore, and that is largely unanswered. But it is still an inspirational read, and recommended to fans of memoirs and commentary on education in general.
For the most part, the questions went unanswered.
gottabekb's review
3.0
Not exactlynwhat I was expecting. I was looking for more concrete “lessons” and advice in this.
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