Book Ban Echoes: New Novel Recounts Protest

Thirteen years ago, a Chicago school administrator's demand for all copies of Marjane Satrapi's "Persepolis" sparked a student protest. This event, an unusual case of book banning in Chicago, is now chronicled in Jarrett Dapier's graphic novel, "Wake Now in the Fire." The book honors the students' immediate rally against the confiscation, which was reportedly over a drawing of torture.

Dapier, then a librarian, was outraged and later pursued the story through graduate research and a FOIA request. His investigation revealed that the ban's origin was not parental concern but a CPS network chief, who escalated the issue to then-CPS head Barbara Byrd-Bennett. Despite initial denials, emails showed her immediate agreement to remove the book from all schools.

The graphic novel intertwines factual accounts with fictional characters, incorporating actual communications from the incident. It also touches on broader issues like the reduction of school librarians and evolving processes for curriculum challenges, noting that while book bans are rare in Chicago, nationwide challenges have significantly increased.

The book launch featured Nora Flanagan, a librarian central to the original event, discussing censorship with Dapier. Their conversation highlighted how the incident, initially swept aside by CPS, ultimately contributed to developing more robust processes for addressing curriculum challenges, emphasizing the importance of a structured approach within large school systems.