Schools make great settings for novels: Between the teachers, administrators, students and parents, they are ripe with possibility for drama, conflict, power struggles and scandal. Two novels out this month are school-based, both sharp and hilariously observed. The reason they work? The authors are current or former teachers, and know whereof they write.

Minor Dramas & Other Catastrophes
Kathleen West (Berkley, out now)
Liston Heights High has all the hallmarks of a privileged school: High-achieving students, overworked teachers and helicopter parents. Isobel Johnson is a popular teacher there, but recently she’s come under fire from a small but vocal group of parents accusing her of anti-Americanism and a liberal agenda. At the same time, one of the community’s most hyper-involved moms has become obsessed with the casting of the winter musical, leading to an event that goes viral and has all the makings of a solid school scandal.

Adequate Yearly Progress
Roxanna Elden (Atria, out now)
With 11 years of experience as a public teacher and a decade of speaking to audiences about education issues, Elden has written a novel about the inner lives and daily challenges of a group of teachers at Brae Hill Valley, a struggling high school in a Texas city. While English teacher Lena tries to connect with her students, biology teacher Hernan is down the hall, nursing his crush on her. History teacher Kaytee is idealistic and focusing on her blog, while all Coach Ray wants is to have a winning team. Meanwhile, there’s a new celebrity superintendent with big plans to shake up the place — even if it means shuttering it.