Welcome to Litsy!

As a first year teacher, I have no clue how Erin Gruwell was able to pull off this amazing feat. It''s hard not to compare myself to her and feel inadequate. I know that's not what she intended, but I feel like I could never draw that same passion and ambition from my students. Have any other teachers read this and felt that way?

replaced some of the books I culled with new ones from the library book sale! #bookhaul #Iwasgoodipromise

I've seen a few reviews talking about how it's unrealistic for teachers to sacrifice so much of their personal lives the way Ms Gruwell did. I think they missed the point of the book. It's not about her. It's about the students and all they overcame. A teacher gave her students a new perspective. In turn, the students became role models to their peers, to younger generations, to people near and far. I think the book is inspiring. :)

This is a stunning book that offers small glimpses into the world of people who are often described disenfranchised by society at-large. These micro-biographies are uplifting, heartbreaking, and filled with the promise of lives to come. I thought it was amazing. Thanks @rather_be_reading for the great gift of this book!!

“She came to America in search of the American dream. Immigrants, like my mom, came to this land looking for endless possibilities, but now those possibilities seem limited” (p. 22.)

I have watched The Freedom Writers movie so many times I‘ve lost count. It is one of my all time favorites. I‘ve wanted to read the book since I first saw it. Well, a few weeks ago I found it on ThriftBooks. I‘m so excited to finally start this book and compare it to the movie!

Tomorrow begins a new school year for me - my 21st in education. Excited to hear Manny Scott, one of the original Freedom Writers, speak at our opening ceremony. Starting this book tonight. How much can I get done by tomorrow morning?

Thanks a bunch, Danielle! 💚 I‘ve never been to California, but hope to get out there with my husband for a kid-free trip in the next couple of years. 🤞🏻

I appreciate everything you chose for me. 🤗 I really love the inclusion of a California book list. Nice touch!

@readinginthedark & @MicrobeMom - Thanks for organizing this fun swap! 🌹 #HS #hometownswap

Ok @BookishTrish @tournevis @dixi_e I'm trying to be a little more...diverse I suppose...with my pick this time around but I need your help! I grabbed these books off my shelf and I'm ok with the book being a surprise but if there is anything pictured that you have read, might want to read or absolutely DO NOT want to read, please let me know so I can pick one to send 👍
#lmpbc

So good! Sad, inspiring, such an amazing message!

So sad 😞

Next up! I love books in this format so it should be a quick read for me!
#bookjar

May was a very poor reading month for me, thanks to a family holiday to Samoa and a general reading slump. I managed three books, the one tagged, plus The Dry and My Grandmother Sends her Regards and Apologies. All were good, none were amazing. I bailed on several as well. Hope June is better. The bookish photo is of Robert Louis Stevenson's Samoan house.

I feel like a horrible person bailing on this book. I really want to hear about these kids--the intention of this collection of diaries is amazing. But it feels "fixed" (I think because the kids peer edited the diaries later, and editing for class isn't exactly the same as editing a nonfiction book). I have limited time with this copy since it's for a postal book club, but I plan to come back to it some day.

Two years ago when I was working on my thesis in education my supervisor mentioned the freedom writers to me after a conversation we had about a writing project my students were doing. I watched the film, loved it and immediately downloaded the book and promptly forgot about. I finally started it on a recent flight, it's incredible. There's something about reading the words of young people as they've written them that makes it so powerful. This is

I didn't get any reading done today, since we were looking at more houses (and found the one for us, I hope!). But tonight I might break out the next book for my #beforetheyweremovies postal book club! I saw the movie a long time ago. Have any of you read this? #bookmail

I watched the movie years before reading this book. I really enjoyed them both.

#aprilbookshowers Day 21: #subtitles

I watched the movie long time ago and couldn't get this amazing teacher out of my mind: Erin Gruwell. Devoted to the point of sacrifice, she helped her students and made them believe in their dreams and future. #octphotochallenge #girlcrush

It would be easy to become a victim of our circumstances and continue feeling sad, scared or angry; or instead, we could choose to deal with injustice humanely and break the chains of negative thoughts and energies, and not let ourselves sink into it.

My #wcw is Erin Gruwell who as a young teacher defied convention and dared to show a group of at risk kids they are worth caring about and gave them the power of writing.

A great book, but some of it seemed hard to believe. Some of it was just unbelievable (fluffed) while other stories were just too shocking. Worth the read. Ms. G seemed to give herself a savior complex as the book went on. I think I'll check out the movie now.
4/5
🌟🌟🌟🌟

Every heard of the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants? Yeah, we do that ... But with books.

Here's to a strong introduction.

Currently reading this before starting work in the English department at a school next week. Not sure about it. The voices seem to have been too heavily edited and the timeline isn't clear.