Comparing Diary Of Anne Frank 'And Durango Street'

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When Mrs. Gruwell first arrives at Woodrow Wilson High School, she does not know what to expect. She teaches a freshman English class with students separated into their own racial groups. It is very challenging for Mrs. Gruwell to teach her students because they refuse to work hard, and they are not united together as a classroom. Mrs. Gruwell unites her students by making them read books that relate to their life. Mrs. Gruwell assigns Durango Street, The Diary of Anne Frank, and 12 Angry Men to change and to connect to her student’s lives outside of the classroom. The first book Mrs. Gruwell assigns to her students is Durango Street, by Frank Bonham. This book is about a youth who just got out of jail, and he gets involved with gang life. In the midst of all the gang violence, the youth realizes that you can do more with your life than fighting your rival gang. This is what Mrs. Gruwell wants for her students to realize about the real world. Her students are faced with many first-world problems, primarily gang violence. Mrs. Gruwell wants them to understand that if you stay away from those problems and get your education, then you can go and do something with your life. Secondly, Mrs. Gruwell choses The Diary of Anne Frank for her class. The Diary of Anne Frank is about a …show more content…

This book is about a youth who stabbed his father, and he is getting persecuted in the courtroom for it. 12 men of the jury are selecting whether he is guilty or not guilty. 11 men think that he is guilty, and one man thinks he is innocent. Since the decision has to be unanimous, all of the men eventually flip their answers, and the kid does not get punished. This book relates to the student’s lives because all of the teachers and administrators at their school had given up on their education, except for Mrs. Gruwell. Mrs. Gruwell wants to give them a chance on their education, and the teachers, over time, start to support

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