"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, and angrily declared that this was precisely the sort of thing that led to the Holocaust--only to be met by uncomprehending looks. So she and her students, using the treasured books Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl and Zlata's Diary: A Child's Life in Sarajevo as their guides, undertook a life-changing, eye-opening, spirit-raising odyssey against intolerance and misunderstanding. They learned to see the parallels in these books to their own lives, recording their thoughts and feelings in diaries and dubbing themselves the "Freedom Writers" in homage to the civil rights activists "The Freedom Riders."" "With funds raised by a "Read-a-thon for Tolerance," they arranged for Miep Gies, the courageous Dutch woman who sheltered the Frank family, to visit them in California, where she declared that Erin Gruwell's students were "the real heroes." Their efforts have paid off spectacularly, both in terms of recognition--appearances on "Prime Time Live" and "All Things Considered," coverage in People magazine, a meeting with U.S. Secretary of Education Richard Riley--and educationally. All 150 Freedom Writers have graduated from high school and are now attending college." "With powerful entries from the students' own diaries and a narrative text by Erin Gruwell, The Freedom Writers Diary is an uplifting, unforgettable example of how hard work, courage, and the spirit of determination changed the lives of a teacher and her students. Book jacket."--BOOK JACKET.

Foreword / Zlata Filipovic Freshman Year Fall 1994 I.. Ms. Gruwell's Diary Entry First day of school Racial segregation at school Getting "jumped" Race riot on campus Buying a gun Death of a friend Gang initiation "Rushing" a sorority Tagging Proposition 187: Discrimination Dyslexia Juvenile hall The projects Russian roulette Freshman Year Spring 1995 II.. Ms. Gruwell's Diary Entry Romeo and Juliet: Gang rivalry Teenage love and running away Coping with weight Learning about diversity Oklahoma bombing Farewell to Manzanar: Japanese internment camps Overcoming adversity panel John Tu: Father figure vs. absent father Freshman turnaround Sophomore Year Fall 1995 III.. Ms. Gruwell's Diary Entry Homelessness Cystic fibrosis Shyness Twelve Angry Men Honors English Medieval Times Lesson on tolerance Toast for change Change for the better Testifying in murder case Teenage alcoholism Shoplifting Anne Frank's diary Teen diarists Zlata's Diary Bosnia vs. L.A. riots Peter Maass: Article on Bosnia Zlata Sophomore Year Spring 1996 A Letter to Zlata IV.. Ms. Gruwell's Diary Entry Meeting a Holocaust survivor The woman who sheltered Anne Frank's family "Moment" Zlata accepts our invitation Dinner with Zlata Diverse friendships "I am a human being" Terrorism Day of tolerance: A field trip Doing speed Basketball for Bosnia: Weight Zlata's Letter Divorce Friends join class Letter from Miep Junior Year Fall 1996 V.. Ms. Gruwell's Diary Entry Racist teacher A grandmother's death Race riot Grade accountability Suicide Running away Getting a job

Misogyny Molestation Boyfriend abuse Domestic violence Child abuse Death of brother Junior Year Spring 1997 VI.. Ms. Gruwell's Diary Entry Anne Frank's friends visit Masking fears Living in the projects Dyslexia Letter from Miep Student editing Abortion Catalysts for change Freedom Riders An American Diary . . . Voices from an Undeclared War Fund-raiser concert Freedom Writer poem Freedom Writers unite Strict father Arlington Cemetery Lincoln Memorial: Freedom Writers have a dream Covering up the swastika Hate crimes Holocaust Museum Dr. Mengele's experiment with twins Dinner with Secretary Riley "Stand" Secretary Riley receives Freedom Writers' diary Candlelight vigil Departing D.C. Returning a family hero Jeremy Strohmeyer: Murder David Cash Peace march for Sherrice Iverson Senior Class President Separation anxiety Staying together Senior Year Fall 1997 VII.. Ms. Gruwell's Diary Entry Cheryl Best: Inspiration "Eviction Notice" Financial problems Illegal immigrant The first Latina Secretary of Education Pursuing filmmaking Road not taken: Contemplating college Finding a mentor Being a mentor Los Angeles Times article A letter from prison Deadbeat dad Sorority hazing Fear of losing a father Death of a mother Senior Year Spring 1998 VIII.. Ms. Gruwell's Diary Entry Guess? sponsorship Spirit of Anne Frank Award New York City roommates Celebrating Anne Frank Abuse of power Peter Maass: The role of a journalist Book agent Getting published Basketball playoffs: Teamwork A lesson from Animal Farm Attitude adjustment Introducing Senator Barbara Boxer Attention deficit disorder Homosexuality Prom queen "Whoever saves one life saves the world entire" Breaking the c