Ms. Erin Gruwell a young intelligent woman new to teaching at Wilson High School in Long Beach, California, was given a seemingly "hopeless" class. With overcomplicated home lives and routine death and tragedy these students were quick to doubt her...along with themselves. But Ms.Gruwell pushed on, she searched for certain pieces of literature hoping to reach out and really relate to her students.She had each and every student keep a personal diary telling about their lives and personal experiences..this along with many hands-on activities and lessons really helped these kids to open up and experience life in a way they may have never have. This in inspired these kids to share these ideas, and feelings with the world in hopes to change peoples lives in the way theirs were.This caught the attention of news casters and role models everywhere. Soon the chronicle of the Freedom writers diary was brought to new york for publishing and is now the novel we know and love.