Steve chats with Jarrett Dapier, writer of the graphic novel Wake Now in the Fire, about his path to librarianship, the story of Chicago public school students fighting back against censorship, the irony of Persepolis being the target of that censorship, and what librarians can do to fight quiet censorship.

Read the transcript!

It starts as an update at one Chicago high school: copies of a certain book are no longer allowed in the classrooms or the library. But it’s not just one high school—it’s all Chicago public schools. Not even the principals know why this is happening; they just know they must comply with the order. One thing is clear: The book, which tells a story of oppression, survival, and resistance against authoritarian power, is seen as a threat, dangerous enough to ban. One other thing is clear: Some of the students aren’t going to let this go without resistance of their own.

As the extent of the ban becomes known, the students rise up. They organize a school-wide walkout and library sit-in. They publicize the banning in every forum they can: social media, the press, classes, clubs, the school paper. And most of all, they get everyone they know to read the book: Persepolis, by Marjane Satrapi.

Told from multiple perspectives, based on extensive interviews with the real-life students and teachers who were affected, and written by the librarian who exposed key information about the Chicago Public Schools censorship decision, Wake Now in the Fire is a fictionalized account of a true event that galvanized a community. With illustrations by Alex Award-winner AJ Dungo that perfectly capture the everyday joys, heartbreak, and stresses of high school, this graphic novel is an inspiring portrayal of student activism taking on one of the most urgent issues of our time, and a passionate reminder of why protecting the books we love matters.

Jarrett Dapier is an author, librarian, and lifelong drummer. His debut YA graphic novel, WAKE NOW IN THE FIRE, illustrated by AJ Dungo and edited by Ginee Seo, is about teens fighting censorship in Chicago and is based on true events. Jarrett’s picture book, MR. WATSON’s CHICKENS, illustrated by Andrea Tsurumi and published by Chronicle Books, received starred reviews in Publishers Weekly and Kirkus, received the Junior Library Guild Gold Standard distinction, and was selected by NPR and Bookpage as one of the best books of 2021. Jarrett’s picture book, JAZZ FOR LUNCH!, illustrated by Eugenia Mello and published by Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books, received a starred review in Kirkus and was a finalist for the Ezra Jack Keats awards for both writing and ​illustration.

His third picture book, THE MOST HAUNTED HOUSE IN AMERICA, is a goofy, ghostly, rhythmic romp based on Jarrett’s experience drumming while dressed as a skeleton at the White House in 2009. That book is illustrated by Lee Gatlin, published by Abrams Books, and was a 2023 Illinois Reads selection.  

Jarrett loves reading, playing the drums, visiting libraries and bookstores with friends, going to punk rock and heavy metal shows with his son, visiting historic Chicago sites with his wife, seeing theatre with his daughter (or theatre performed by his daughter),  laying on the floor with his rescue dog Loki, swimming in Lake Michigan, watching and caring for birds around Chicago, kayaking in lagoons, and eating lots of candy (Nerds Gummy Clusters, please).   

Jarrett hosts a podcast called I’m With the Banned, which is devoted to examining censorship in American culture through conversations with writers, artists, and librarians. He also drums in a band called Fascinator (you can download their 4-song EP “Trust Falls” here).

Jarrett was born with a crossed eye, a bad case of asthma, and the start of a sixth finger dangling off his left hand. He can see the hospital where he was born from his backyard.

Jarrett lives within spitting distance of Chicago in Evanston, IL.

SHOW NOTES:

Wake Now in the Fire