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areidbarnes's review
4.0
This book was wonderful and empowering. It made me want to right more. The messages are so beautiful and there is something for everyone to relate to. Very well edited and put together!
rjosloff's review
1.0
I will begin by stating that I did not read this entire book. I made it through 50 or 60 pages. I had not had any intent to read it, as I have heard more than enough stories about the fish out of water young white teacher who is able to "save" the inner city youth from the apparent inevitability of failure. A coworker strongly recommended the book to me and actually put it in my hand, so I decided to give it a chance.
As I read one journal entry after another, I was puzzled by the fact that every entry of every child seemed to be written in almost the same exact voice. The vocabulary and expressions used were not what I would expect to hear from a group of high school freshmen, particularly in a group of kids that was previously underachieving and hated reading and writing. Inner city dialect was juxtaposed with difficult vocabulary and phrasing that seemed adult and dated on almost every page. I skimmed through the rest of the book to see if there was any information on how the journals were edited, or if they went through any type of writing process with them (typically a journal wouldn't go through revision) but didn't see any explanation. Maybe I was just missing something. There also was not any description of how Ms. Gruwell was able to elicit the trust of all of her students so quickly (so that they would be comfortable writing about their crimes and personal issues) and get them to write pages and pages when they had refused to do any writing before. It seemed that she was able to have them writing full entries that were eloquent and insightful within the first month or two.
I know that there is truth to these stories. I know that this is a real class and Ms. Gruwell is a real teacher. I just can't get past the belief that these diaries are not fully authentic and that these words have been reshaped somewhere along the line; how can I tell how much and by whom? Why wasn't this addressed? Perhaps if the diaries were in their original form, complete with spelling and grammar errors, it would make more sense. As it was, I just couldn't trust it. These are real kids. They have real stories. I want to hear them in their words.
I would love to hear other people's opinions on this. Did anyone else have this problem?
As I read one journal entry after another, I was puzzled by the fact that every entry of every child seemed to be written in almost the same exact voice. The vocabulary and expressions used were not what I would expect to hear from a group of high school freshmen, particularly in a group of kids that was previously underachieving and hated reading and writing. Inner city dialect was juxtaposed with difficult vocabulary and phrasing that seemed adult and dated on almost every page. I skimmed through the rest of the book to see if there was any information on how the journals were edited, or if they went through any type of writing process with them (typically a journal wouldn't go through revision) but didn't see any explanation. Maybe I was just missing something. There also was not any description of how Ms. Gruwell was able to elicit the trust of all of her students so quickly (so that they would be comfortable writing about their crimes and personal issues) and get them to write pages and pages when they had refused to do any writing before. It seemed that she was able to have them writing full entries that were eloquent and insightful within the first month or two.
I know that there is truth to these stories. I know that this is a real class and Ms. Gruwell is a real teacher. I just can't get past the belief that these diaries are not fully authentic and that these words have been reshaped somewhere along the line; how can I tell how much and by whom? Why wasn't this addressed? Perhaps if the diaries were in their original form, complete with spelling and grammar errors, it would make more sense. As it was, I just couldn't trust it. These are real kids. They have real stories. I want to hear them in their words.
I would love to hear other people's opinions on this. Did anyone else have this problem?
cheyenneisreading's review
5.0
This is a heartfelt, sad and bittersweet non-fictional book that will impact and give something to every reader. This book gets down to the nitty gritty of teaching and American teenage lives in a whole new and much appreciated approach.
ohkaykayreads's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
4.0
I liked this book. I really feel like it offered a lot of insight into something that if i'm honest, I never really thought of too much before. It opened my eyes quite a bit when I read it which was a way way long time ago now. But still today I can remember certain parts and thoughts of some of the students that really impacted the way I viewed some things. Has some tear jerk-er moments for sure. Great read!
marinaxanna's review against another edition
I wish the entries were formatted in a continuous setting and actually followed people more closely to really experience their progress. I absolutely loved this book but it just costed my brain too much energy to constantly go back and forth; just when you were in the groove, it started a new entry. Regardless, it was inspiring and definitely touched my heart. I might continue where I left off in the future.
thebookkeepers's review
4.0
This was a raw look into the lives and journey of the students from Ms Gruwell’s notable Freedom Writers class which took place in the late 90s in Long Beach, CA. I always loved this movie and didn’t know that a book had been published first. The students were open and honest with their immense struggles and personal lives that provide an eye opening look into the hardships they had to overcome. It was hopeful and heartbreaking all at the same time.