Book Club Discussion Questions and Guide for The Faculty Lounge by Jennifer Mathieu

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 either get married or break up in the summer, not during the school year" (pg 74). How do the close quarters of the school impact the teachers' personal relationships? What do you think of workplace romances?
5. Mark Kendricks sheds his punk persona as he gets older, but he still tries to hold on to some of his youthful principles. Have you ever struggled to maintain certain values, perhaps as you get older or at a job? Is letting go of some of those values sometimes necessary?
6. "In careful print, she wrote 'How Does Managing Trauma Create a Value-Added Education for Students?' She punctuated the sentence with a large smiley face" (pg 76). In what other ways are the school's experiences reconfigured to respond to the district's expectations?
7. When Mr. Fitzsimmons discovers Ms. Baker drinking wine in her office, he has a surprising reaction; rather than turning her in or turning to anger, he offers her help and support. How do you think this unexpected kindness felt to Ms. Baker?
8. How does Nurse Honeycutt balance helping her students and managing political restrictions? What responsibility does she have to her school? Do you think Nurse Honeycutt made the right decision?
9. Ms. Lovie Jackson realizes that she has become an "institution" at Baldwin High, and she seems anxious about the idea of retirement. What are the dangers of making your career such an enormous part of your life? What are the rewards? What do you think Ms. Jackson might do after she leaves Baldwin?
10. What was the impact of ending the story with a flashback in the epilogue? How did you feel after reading the book?

Unless otherwise stated, this discussion guide is reprinted with the permission of Dutton. Any page references refer to a USA edition of the book, usually the trade paperback version, and may vary in other editions.