The Faculty Lounge

To everyone who works in a school, has worked in one, or knows someone who works in one … this book is for you.

Baldwin High School, a fictional school located in Houston, TX, is put under its corporation’s intense spotlight after the death in the faculty lounge of elderly substitute teacher, Mr. Lehrer, a retired member of the school. When Mr. Lehrer’s final wish for his ashes to be scattered in the school’s courtyard goes comically wrong and earns the ire of the uppity, well-connected PTO president, beloved principal Mark Kendricks finds himself in the hot seat with Central Office. As can be expected, the drama doesn’t stop with the principal, as the small group of staff who attended the ceremony all have their own stories and complicated personalities to be revealed!

You’d think that a story launched by such a dramatic event would be about Mr. Lehrer’s death, but it really plays a minor role. It’s simply the MacGuffin used as an excuse to spotlight the lives of those present at the event they’ve come to call Ashgate, though his story threads at times into others and also receives a dedicated chapter. Another important aspect of the book is the perfectly illustrated, tenuous dynamic between schools and corporation bigwigs, who are often blissfully removed from the real-life difficulties of actually working IN a school.

At just over 300 pages, this adult fiction debut from author Jennifer Mathieu is comprised of only thirteen chapters - each a deeper dive into one of the involved faculty members. These range from idealistic newbie English teacher, Ms. Sanderson, to those like crotchety math teacher Mr. Fitzsimmons, to the revered school nurse, struggling counselor, a custodian with secrets, an assistant principal on the cusp of retirement and embattled Principal Kendricks, among others. What this book does SO well, in both a charming, funny and sometimes melancholy way, is to remind the reader that those in public education, as in any other field, are HUMAN. To be a role model for children doesn’t mean your life is perfect!

While I do think this book will resonate more with those who work in public education, I think anyone who’s experienced the workplace dynamics of a large team of people with such different personalities and a clear power hierarchy will find something they can relate to. I’ve worked as a reading interventionist at an elementary school for over a decade and several other roles before that, so although this book was set in a high school, the issues it highlighted were HIGHLY relatable, and I found myself laughing and cringing along with all of them!

If you enjoy a beautifully written, smart, character-driven novel that hits all the emotions and has a great, yet subtle sense of humor, ESPECIALLY if you work in a school or know someone who does, I highly recommend this!

★★★★ 

Thanks to Penguin Group Dutton, NetGalley and author Jennifer Mathieu for this digital ARC to honestly review. It’s out now.