Drawn together by their inspirational and inventive teacher Erin Gruwell, The Freedom Writers Diary is a collection of heart-wrenching diary entries written by under privileged children in Long Beach, California. Moved by their teacher to document their horrific experiences of growing up in vivid detail, these young children depict nineties America in a worryingly dim light. With racial segregation rife, gang warfare common and physical and sexual abuse a frequent occurrence, this book is both graphic and moving.