The Girls in the Back of the Class

This sequel to My Posse Don't Do Homework, which has been made into a movie, captures once again the spirit of a hardworking teacher whose wit, verse and Marine training help her cope with the societal dramas that entrap her students--Northern California, inner-city ``at risk'' kids, mainly African American and Latino, enrolled in a special program to keep them in school. With cajolery, toughness and palpable affection, Johnson succeeds on many levels, as the sentiments of her students attest. Her attention is focused on the girls, whose reasons for dropping out differ from those of the boys. They find in Johnson an unconventional teacher who often bucks officialdom and takes chances on them because she believes they can succeed. Humor and sensitivity as well as an earthy sincerity engage the attention of some heavily burdened adolescents whom a fiercely committed teacher can sometimes rescue. An upbeat read. (May)