Book Summary and Reviews of The Faculty Lounge by Jennifer Mathieu

Book Summary

By the acclaimed author of Moxie, a funny, bighearted adult debut that is at once an ode to educators, a timely glimpse at today's pressing school issues, and a tender character study, following a sprawling cast of teachers, administrators, and staff at a Texas high school

With its ensemble of warm and unforgettable characters, The Faculty Lounge shows readers a different side of school life. It all starts when an elderly substitute teacher at Baldwin High School is found dead in the faculty lounge. After a bit of a stir, life quickly returns to normal—it's not like it's the worst (or even most interesting) thing that has happened within the building's walls. But when, a week later, the spontaneous scattering of his ashes on the school grounds catches the attention of some busybody parents, it sets in motion a year that can only be described as wild, bizarre, tragic, mundane, beautiful, and humorous all at once.

In the midst of the ensuing hysteria and threats of disciplinary action, the novel peeks into the lives of the implicated adults who, it turns out, actually have first names and continue to exist when the school day is done. We meet: a former punk band front man, now a middle-aged principal who must battle it out with the schoolboard to keep his job; a no-nonsense school nurse willing to break the rules, despite the close watch on their campus, when a student arrives at her office with a dilemma; and a disgruntled English instructor who finds himself embroiled in even more controversy when he misfires a snarky email. Oh, and there's also a teacher make-out session in a supply closet during a lockdown.

As these people continue to manage the messiness of this school year, there is the looming threat of what will become of their beloved Baldwin High. Ultimately, at the heart of this unconventional workplace novel is a story of the power of human connection and of the joy of finding purpose in what it is we do every day.

Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers!

1. "You really had to hand it to Mr. Lehrer. While dying at work is never ideal, he had the decency to do it during his off period" (pg 1). How does the opening line set the tone for the rest of the story?
2. Does Baldwin High School remind you of any place in your life, whether as a student or a professional?
3. This is a work of fiction, but one thing at least is true: our schools have become a part of the culture wars. How did seeing the politics playing out between school boards and parents make you think differently about this topic? Do you think it's fair that teachers are left to navigate this minefield?
4. "Ms. Jackson immediately understood there was something going on between [Jake and Hannah], and hoped that they would...