LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Freedom Writers Diary, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Race, Ethnicity, and Tolerance
Education and Healing
Family and Home
Violence, War, and Death
Summary
Analysis
This student feels ecstatic at being the last of the thirty-five Freedom Writers called to receive a computer. S/he cannot believe that s/he increased her/his grade point enough to receive one. S/he describes her/his admiration for John Tu, who has inspired her/him to become an entrepreneur and give back to her/his community. John Tu has given some Freedom Writers jobs at his company, giving them hope, as well as the desire to give to others, thereby maintaining a cycle of hope.
The material prize that these students receive for having high grades is not necessarily the true reward in itself, since this student seems equally excited about having improved so much academically as s/he is about receiving a computer. John Tus’s financial and emotional support demonstrates that teamwork—an essential feature of Ms. Gruwell’s teaching—is indeed a powerful tool for success.