Sun, Mar 8, 3 - 5pm
Event Location
Booked
We're reading dangerously with Jarrett Dapier, author of the upcoming graphic novel Wake Now in the Fire, a fictionalized account of the (true) banning of Persepolis in Chicago Public Schools--and the student activists that organized a resistance.
Jarrett will kick off our read-in with a discussion of book banning, sign copies of his book, and we'll make some banned books buttons and read some banned books together in community at the bookstore. BYO banned book, or pick up one of our blind dates with a banned books at the event.
FREE event! Please RSVP on Eventbrite.
Also, we're having a giveaway at the party!
A new book banning bill has just been introduced into congress: HR 7661. This bill would make it possible--easy, even--for books with LGBTQ+ content to be banned from public schools nationwide. This is a BIG DEAL! We believe that all children should have access to books that represent who they are, the people they know, and what the world is really like.
So, we are making a request: call your congressional rep at 202-224-3121 and talk to them about HR 7661. If you oppose book banning, you oppose HR 7661. Email Betsy a screenshot of your call log showing you called congress, and we'll enter you in a raffle for one of our Blind Dates with a Banned Book. We'll select winners at the event on Sunday! (Betsy's email is betsy@bookedevanston.com)
Wake Now In The Fire
Title
Wake Now in the Fire: A Graphic Novel
Price
$24.99
Ships in 2-3 Days
In this empowering graphic novel based on a true story, a group of high schoolers in Chicago work to overturn the system-wide ban of Marjane Satrapi's Persepolis. 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.
SKU
9780593838037
Wake Now In The Fire
$24.99
Ships in 2-3 Days
Description
In this empowering graphic novel based on a true story, a group of high schoolers in Chicago work to overturn the system-wide ban of Marjane Satrapi's Persepolis. 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.
Description
In this empowering graphic novel based on a true story, a group of high schoolers in Chicago work to overturn the system-wide ban of Marjane Satrapi's Persepolis. 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.
ISBN
9780593838037
Publisher
Publication Date
February 3, 2026
Binding
Paperback
Item Condition
New
Illustrator
Aj Dungo
Language
English
Ages
14-0
Pages
464
Keywords
Young Adult Fiction | Comics & Graphic Novels | Coming of Age; Young Adult Fiction | Social Themes | Activism & Social Justice; Young Adult Fiction | School & Education | General
Show QR Code
False
RSVP Event
Off