This Time Count Me In

About the Book

REVISED 2006 EDITION

"What ever made me transfer from St. Anne's to a public high school, Mom?"  Kate huddled on the couch, hugging her new backpack.

            "You wanted some friends who weren't all white," her mother reminded her.  "And you wanted boys in your classes, too."

Feeling very unsure of herself, Kate starts her sophomore year at Jefferson High School.  Eventually, she does find some friends—LaShonda and Cheryl, two smart and self-assured black girls.  Soon one really nice boy likes her, too.  But when she witnesses the theft of a teacher's wallet and reports it, she is thrown into a frightening new situation where she has to testify in court against the school's long-time troublemaker.  She is helped through her ordeal by La Shonda and Cheryl, along with Ron, who turns into the very special boy she had dreamed of finding.  With these three solid friends, Kate now has the strength to move ahead confidently in her new school and her new relationships. 

"This highly readable story about a sophomore girl has a likable protagonist, typical teen pursuits, and a bit of tension, humor, and romance to hold the reader."

--Booklist

"(Kate's) bravery and righteousness win her the respect of the school and she ends the term as a leader and a welcome member of the school community."  

--School Library Journal

About the Author

Phyllis Anderson Wood, winner of the Church and Synagogue Library Association's award for "significant contribution to children's literature," is the author of thirteen young adult novels, which have been popular since 1971 in schools and libraries throughout the U.S., Canada, England, Australia, and New Zealand.  Three of the titles were Junior Literary Guild selections.  Now these books, newly revised by the author, are back in print for a new generation of young readers. 

These novels were written during Mrs. Wood's years of teaching in the Jefferson High School District just outside of San Francisco.  Her students' daily lives and problems were reflected in her stories, and their reactions to her books strongly influenced the course of her writing.

Altogether, Mrs. Wood taught for thirty years in California public schools, including a two-room mountain high school, an inner-city junior high, a continuation school, adult school, and several large rural and suburban high schools.  Over the years, she also supervised and mentored thirteen teaching interns from the Stanford University School of Education, conducted in-service workshops throughout the United States, and spoke at many national conventions.

More information can be found on her website, www.phyllisandersonwood.com.