The Faculty Lounge

YA author (Moxie; Bad Girls Never Say Die) Mathieu makes her adult debut with this story set at a public high school in Houston, with a charming cast of characters ranging from a jaded educator nearing retirement to an idealistic twentysomething experiencing impostor syndrome. They commiserate over low pay, enormous class sizes, persnickety central office bureaucrats, and local parents who lie. Despite the hassles, it’s clear the vocation is filled with purpose and meaning. The teachers deploy snark and sarcasm to blow off steam. One teacher frequently escapes to a cramped book room just for some peace and quiet. An overburdened assistant principal secretly guzzles wine in her office and receives help from a colleague. The bonds among the staff members are genuine and touching. As a teacher, Mathieu knows the dynamics well. The book’s structure works well, with each chapter focusing on a different staff member as the story advances through one full school year with some insightful flashbacks featured. The witty dialogue will keep readers’ interest, and the social observations are topical and current.