It is uncommon to see the level of honest self-examination that exists in Secrets from the Teachers' Lounge, a fictional memoir that depicts a startling cross-section of the daily challenges faced by teachers and administrators in the public school system. The stories, unlike those found in many teacher biographies, are not primarily funny. Teaching is a difficult job, especially for those who take on the more "difficult" kids, and dealing with the struggles of one's students-at home and in the classroom-is what differentiates a good teacher from a great one.

The short stories in Secrets from the Teachers' Lounge deal with sensitive subjects that contribute to the performance, or lack thereof, of the author's students. From the death of a family member to abuse to the inability to adapt to a strange new culture, the events that take place are treated with the seriousness they deserve.

But the lives of the students aren't the only ones examined. Teachers and administrators are not perfect, and even the most veteran educator makes bad decisions on occasion. Green is able to look back on her mistakes with clarity and accept that she wasn't always the hero in her story.