Erin Gruwell

Erin Gruwell is a first-year English teacher. Because she doesn't have any seniority in the school system yet, she's give the tough students, the "unteachable" ones. Other teachers tell her to let them slide by, wait until she has more seniority, then begin her teaching career once she has "good students." Ms Gruwell decides on a different strategy.

While teaching at Wilson High, she discovers that her students are unacquainted with the Holocaust. She embarks on transforming her teaching style to one that her students can better relate. This causes her to choose books with characters in similar situations as her students. Her theme becomes not one of teaching English, but using English to teach tolerance.

She quickly learns that she won't receive any financial backing to purchase books for these students, so she becomes a weekend concierge at a local Marriott Hotel and eventually works part...