Book Review: The Faculty Lounge by Jennifer Mathieu


Rating: 4.5⭐️


An exceptionally well-crafted tribute to educators, The Faculty Lounge by Jennifer Mathieu follows an ensemble cast of characters, members of faculty and staff of (fictional) Baldwin High School in Houston, Texas, through the school year in the aftermath of the sudden death of Mr. Bob Lehrer, retired English teacher, in the teacher's lounge. Mr. Lehrer devoted his life to his profession, even choosing to work as a substitute teacher post- retirement, and the school authorities agree to honor his wish that his ashes be scattered on the school grounds. Unfortunately, on the day of the ceremony, everything doesn’t quite go as planned, resulting in a mishap, the consequences of which will be felt throughout the school year.

Structured as a series of interconnected stories (each from the perspective of a different character) through the drama in the aftermath of “Ashgate” and their lives and challenges inside and outside of the classroom. Woven into these stories of empathy, kindness and human connection, is also the story of Bob Lehrer, whose life revolved around the classroom and about whom we get to know more from the recollections of those who interacted and worked with him during his tenure.

We meet the faculty and staff of the school – a diverse group of characters – those new to the profession as well as those on the brink of retirement - teachers, the school counselor, the school nurse and the janitor. I loved getting to know the characters, their personal struggles, their dreams and hopes and their reflections on their own respective careers and much more. The author writes with heart and humor but also touches upon several sensitive themes such as the immigrant experience alcoholism, loneliness, grief and teenage pregnancy, with sensitivity and compassion. We also get a glimpse into several timely and relevant issues such as internal politics, underfunding, parental interference and censorship and how these impact operations within the public school system.

This is the kind of book that you want to keep on reading. This book will resonate with those who have been a part of the teaching profession or have worked in educational institutions in any capacity. However, irrespective of whether you have experience in teaching or academic administration, his book will strike a chord with you. Overall, I found this to be a thoroughly enjoyable, poignant and thought-provoking read that I would not hesitate to recommend to those who enjoy character-driven fiction.

Many thanks to PENGUIN GROUP Dutton for the digital review copy via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

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