The Faculty Lounge: A Novel BY Jennifer Mathieu

By the acclaimed author of Moxie, The Faculty Lounge is a funny, bighearted adult debut that offers a poignant glimpse into today’s pressing school issues through an ensemble of unforgettable characters.

The story unfolds at Baldwin High School in Texas, where the death of an elderly substitute teacher in the faculty lounge creates a brief stir. The incident seems trivial compared to the usual chaos of school life, but when a week later, his ashes are scattered on school grounds, the act catches the ire of some meddlesome parents. This sets off a year that is as wild and bizarre as it is tragic, mundane, beautiful, and humorous.

Amidst the ensuing hysteria and threats of disciplinary action, the novel delves into the lives of the school’s staff who, it turns out, have lives beyond the classroom. We meet a former punk band frontman turned middle-aged principal fighting the school board to keep his job, a no-nonsense school nurse who breaks the rules to help a student in need, and a disgruntled English teacher who stirs up more controversy with a misfired snarky email. There's even a teacher make-out session in a supply closet during a lockdown.

As Baldwin High navigates the messiness of the school year, the novel explores the power of human connection and the joy of finding purpose in everyday work. The Faculty Lounge is a heartwarming and insightful look at the people behind the classrooms and the complex world of education.