Medellin, Colombia, the city made famous by the cocaine cartels. It is the home of chronic violence and misery, and is overpopulated by peasants fleeing the guerrillas. Young children and adolescents are particularly vulnerable to the street wars, and cling to anything remotely protective.

But at one high school a remarkable teacher is working on an innovative project. The teacher asks the students to commit to "a big experience - to write the most important book in the world, more important than 100 Years of Solitude! You are going to tell, the story of your life." While improving their language and writing skills, the teacher hopes the students will understand it is possible to overcome the greatest of obstacles.

Millerdad and Sandra, Maria Eugenia, Doralba and others recount the kindness of their mothers, the absence of their fathers, the fight to survive, and their will to go on. The film shows them discussing their writings in class, helping each other develop the all-important capacity, for listening.

"Highly Recommended… for High School, Undergraduate or Graduate students, especially those studying sociology, political science, or Latin American affairs or history. The picture and sound quality of this film are good. Amidst all [the] activity, excerpts from some of the students' diaries are heard in voiceover. They punctuate poignant scenes of both despair and love."—Educational Media Reviews Online