Wake Now in the Fire: A Graphic Novel

by Jarrett Dapier, A.J. Dungo (illustrator)

In this “thoughtful, personal, and deeply relevant” (Booklist, starred review) 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.

“An inspiring, clear-eyed tribute to intellectual freedom and the impact of youth-led resistance.”—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“A timely piece of literature and an urgent call to action.”—School Library Journal (starred review)

It starts as an update at one Chicago high 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 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 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 social media, the press, classes, clubs, the school paper. And most of all, they get everyone they know to read the 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.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Young Adult, Books About Books, Graphic Novels Comics, Historical Fiction, Friendship

Kindle Edition

First published February 3, 2026

About the author

Jarrett Dapier is a writer, librarian, and drummer who has loved listening to jazz all his life. He lives in Evanston, Illinois, with his family and their many pets. His favorite treat is an Art Blakey Flakey. Jazz For Lunch! is his picture book debut.

Reviews

[Joanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I devoured Wake Now in the Fire in one Sunday afternoon and evening. This graphic novel is based on the true story of the 2013 banning of Persepolis in Chicago Public Schools.

The thick, layered narrative follows more than a dozen characters at a high school—teachers, librarians, administrators, student journalists, club members, and, most importantly, the kids themselves. When their books disappeared from the library shelves, those students didn’t stay quiet. They organized sit-ins, protests, and pushback against a reluctant principal, creating a powerful blueprint for how young people can fight censorship today.

One of the most striking facts the book highlights: just eleven people were responsible for 60% of book challenges across 37 states between 2021 and 2023. As Marjane Satrapi said, “They are not so many. We are more.” These Chicago students proved it.

In a wonderfully meta way, this story defends free speech and the power of graphic novels—mediums that are accessible, engaging, and, yes, meaningful. The art here is good; the storytelling is even better. It’s monochromatic (maybe just in the ARC), and while some characters initially looked a bit similar, I quickly adjusted.

Bottom line: this one’s a winner—an inspiring, smart, and timely defense of the right to read.

[Bea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for the ARC!!!

This was a fantastic & emotional read. As a librarian I had the experience of this kind of fanatic behavior toward banning books especially when it came to marginalized voices like the ones in the book. I had no experience with this event even though I was about the same age as the seniors in this (18) so that was another insight.

Overall this book is definitely something I think everyone should read & familiarize themselves with.

This book took me by surprise in the best possible way. I had not really heard much about this particular story ahead of reading this despite being around the same age as the kids in the book when this was happening (though I had graduated a year before.) But as a kid from the south, I know the particulars that can come along with dissent in literature choices. This was a great story to read, I did so mostly in one sitting as I just got truly absorbed. I also loved the art style that the book has, it's simple enough that you don't need anything else to understand what's going on.
As far as getting this book on the rounds, as soon as it's possible I will definitely be fitting this into a recommendation for a YA crowd, honestly any crowd. I also did check out Persepolis, which I had not read before this & was glad that I did so. Overall, a fantastic insightful & well written read with the research to back it up. I'll be interested to see how this author continues their journey.

[Kary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very timely book about censorship. This particular book is about the banning of the book Persepolis from Chicago Public Schools in 2013 and how students protested. I love books that show kids as activists.

[libreroaming · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Wake Now in the Fire" is based on the true events of a 2013 book challenge, where the Chicago Public Schools district pulled the graphic novel memoir, Persepolis, and the students fought to keep the books on the shelves. Picking a similar format to the banned book offers a lot of parallels to Satrapi's own work, and the multiple stories of the students woven throughout the protest all contribute to the overarching themes of censorship, self-actualization, and the feeling of frustration that teenagers have when adults unilaterally decide to deprive them of intellectual choices under the guise of protection.

Like "Persepolis," Dungo's illustrations uses a limited color pallet of black, greys, and blues, only using red to denote the cover of "Persepolis." The stylistic choice is meaningful, however, the stripped down art style doesn't immediately entice readers who might otherwise be willing to read John Lewis' "March" trilogy or Backderf's graphic memoirs. Dungo accurately captures known faces of public figures throughout the book, but the collection of teenagers and teachers have a generic quality that can sometimes make it difficult to identify the ages, sexes, or identities of the characters. There were also some cases where the shifting POV of the panels left a disorienting feeling, like the situation where Aofie is talking with her dad and the symbolism of the open beer bottle looms to foreshadow his alcoholic crashout, but the perspective between the bottle and the dad keeps shifting in ways that I don't think were intentional. This also happens when a student decides to leave class for the protest and is exiting the door towards the left of the panel and then seen to the right, implying a shift outside of the classroom but without any background identifiers it feels muddled. Dungo has a lot of panels that are powerfully set, but also panels where giant gobs of tears drawn on a character's face seems to detract from the scene.

Dapier's writing is the real strength of the book. While it starts out slow, and unevenly, the different perspective of the teens are all worthwhile. I would say, like all stories that feature multiple plotlines, some are far stronger than others. Aofie and Kendall, who begin the book, seem to fade out of importance part of the way. I think, in part, it's because Aofie's personal struggles sideline her so significantly, so the writing makes a salient point about how well-meaning protesters can become derailed by other life events, but I also think the way things wrapped up with her dad was the weakest ending of the major characters. Weston's anxiety being sympathetically triggered by the censorship was woven in very well, paralleling Aofie's emotional turmoil over her dad. However, the strongest storyline, the one that makes it worth reading even if someone isn't enamored by the artwork and feels like the story goes slowly, is Aditi's. Aditi is the obvious student you think of who would be upset by a book ban: an immigrant girl and A+ student, whose academic track has kept her focused. But the threat of the book being taken away feels like a wake up call to reclaim her own identity as someone who read for pleasure and values the variety of perspectives that books can bring. Her inclusion in the protests starts out slow, gradually rising in importance for her to take time out of extracurricular classes and eventually volunteering to head the Banned Books Club.

Overall, an interesting multilayered perspective of how students collectively came together for a cause. The voices sound authentic and, while some storylines are stronger than others, they all have something to say. I don't think the illustrations are stylistically suited for large casts of various characters and scene changes, but it doesn't hobble the story. Highly recommend.

[Julesy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some students at Curtis Technical College Preparatory High School had the honor to read Persepolis, which was a favorite amongst the students, in 7th grade English class. It’s March 2013 and Persepolis has been banned by the Chicago Public Schools with a vague explanation that it contained violent content. The book was deemed inappropriate for 7th and 8th graders but CPS was reconsidering it for higher grades provided teachers had the “appropriate teacher training”. What is “appropriate teacher training” if teachers already have credentials and higher degrees to teach? Censoring a book with a topic about censorship. How does this make any sense? The books have been removed from the classrooms but remain in the school libraries, if a school even has a library. This was a backhanded way of CPS saying the book was not banned but the intention was clear to slowly eliminate it from their teaching and reading catalog because the number of school libraries in Chicago was dwindling. The ban greatly upset the Curtis students, the teachers who taught it, and the school’s 451 Banned Books Club. The students strategize how to bring awareness that book banning takes away rights from readers. They make posters, participate in a library sit-in, and a stage a school walkout in protest. One student contacted the author Marjane Satrapi and she responded. Satrapi’s response was provided to news media and NPR about the outrage and a staged school protest makes wind in newscasts. However, some students in the story are unable to attend the protest due to their personal struggles, such as familial alcoholism, anxiety, sexual orientation, and pressure to get perfect grades and participate in the right extracurricular activities to get into the best colleges.

This book is largely based on actual events that occurred in Chicago on March 2013 such as the protest, emails from the CPS CEO, the people and news articles from TV and newspapers. This book could represent any school system in the country that has banned or attempted to ban books because they deem it inappropriate. I am totally against book banning. All it takes is one bible-thumping parent to feed oil to feed the flame on the fire of book banning. There is an excerpt in the story where students believed that Persepolis was banned because it is a graphic novel as opposed to a novel. A parent could see the illustrations of torture leading to retention of those images in their mind as opposed to lots of narrative text. This is a valid point. I have read Persepolis years ago and it spoke of truths in Iran that were also depicted on TV news and newspaper articles. The news media have the right to free speech but not an author? I commend the author who had a personal interest in CPS’s book banning and his 12 years of work on this graphic novel depicts the history with some fictionalized accounts. The characters in the story are fictionalized to include their personal struggles as teenagers. Those struggles are real and authentic, carrying forward to today’s world. However, the events of the CPS book banning are factual. I like how the fiction is interwoven with the factual history. It made for a powerful story.

The artwork was simply drawn and minimal with massive dialog balloons that occupied much of the real estate on the panels. I was not fond of the disproportionate sizing of the dialog balloons in relation to the illustrations as it was a distraction. The color was monochrome in shades of gray. Nevertheless, these elements did not deter from the point of the entire story – book banning is simply just wrong.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a review copy.

[Dave Schaafsma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wake in the Fire: A Story of Censorship, Action, Love and Hope (2026) by Jarret Dapier and illustrated by Aj Dungo might be described as an historical fiction graphic novel about the 2013 Chicago Public School banning of Marjane Satrapi’s graphic novel Persepolis, her autobiographical fiction of growing up in the 1979 Iranian revolution. Thanks to the authors, Ten Speed Graphic and Net Galley for the opportunity to review it, which I received before the publication date, but now have finally read it. Satrapi’s book is a graphic novel, so it is appropriate that a book about the censorship of that novel is a graphic novel. Persepolis is about brutal repression and resistance, focused on the story of a young woman’s experience of that important time, and so it is appropriate that the (ironic) repression of the truth of that history be told through a focus on young people resisting that in the schools here.

The banning began by Barbara Byrd-Bennett, the CEO of the Chicago Public Schools (and maybe Mayor Rahm Emanuel) and other educational “leaders” who then tried to deny their personal involvement in the decision, though a FOIA request, once heavily redacted, revealed the truth. The book was being taught at Lane Tech High School (called Curtis for reasons of fiction, I guess) and the students, supported by teachers and librarians and others, protested and researched and reported and got the book returned to libraries and classrooms.

The book wisely focuses on the student struggle for free speech and against censorship, for a full opportunity to know history. We get to know a few students, there’s a focus on character development and relationships as we know about the lives they were living and the struggles they faced at home as they also became activists in school.

This book is too long at 464 pages to reasonably be considered for adoption in classrooms, but it is a great secondary text for teachers who are teaching Persepolis, especially in the worst time of censorship in history in libraries and schools in this country, a time of the repression of this country's racism. So it’s an inspiration. The art by award-winning Dungo (In Waves) is simple, with few backgrounds, but it is solid and there isn’t too much text. I think it should be edited down more to make it more accessible for more people, it could be more condensed, but it is still an impressive document.

Activism about graphic novels in schools was part of the student activism as well, a focus I especially appreciate as a teacher of graphic novels, promoting their use in schools for close to two decades.

*Rahm Emanuel was Mayor at the time. He has been in Japan for a few years now, an ambassador, who it is said wants to run for President. Most Chicago teachers would not vote for him, certainly. Yes, this is personal. I was here during this period in Chicago, as a Chicago teacher and teacher educator. And it is said that when he worked for President Barack Obama that it was his job to repress the investigation of American torture and prisoner abuse post 9/11 in Abu Ghraib. Connect the dots here: The main problem CPS had with Persepolis was that it talked about the torture of Satrapi’s uncle; they wanted to ban a book that discussed that, and then prevent students (and others) from knowing about US torture.

Here’s a couple articles about the censorship:

https://ncac.org/news/blog/persepolis...

https://ncac.org/news/blog/persepolis...

https://ncac.org/news/blog/how-chicag...

https://abc7chicago.com/archive/9029488/

[Robert Greenberger · Rating 4 out of 5]

For several years, I taught Marjane Satrapi’s Persepolis in my high school English classes, a chance to introduce readers to the graphic novel storytelling style while helping see what people their age endure in other countries. Last year, after a few parents complained about language and sex, I was asked to remove it from the curriculum (although I could keep it in my class library).
When I introduced the story, I referenced its international awards as well as the brief 2013 ban of the book from Chicago Public Schools. So, the parallels were not lost on me. But I never knew the full story.

Former teen librarian at the Evanston and Skokie public libraries, Dapier knows his audience, and the teenagers in this fictionalized account of the true event sound authentic. As the students at Curtis Technical College Preparatory High School arrived on Monday, March 11, 2013, we see how a memo from the district begins the sequence of events.

First, an English teacher has to take the books out of the classroom and then we discover the entire district has to comply, which involves collecting and disposing of them. She bravely preserved her class set.

As word spreads, we focus on several sets of students, including those working on the school newspaper, who begin researching the event. For whatever reason, the Chicago CEO of Schools, Barbara Byrd-Bennett, refuses to respond to requests for comment. Satrapi, though, does, and mainstream media are directed to retrieve her quote from the student journalist.

Dapier does a nice job weaving the growing student discontent into their personal lives, making things complex and realistic. Apparently, the characteristics and life events were real, although characters were changed for dramatic reasons. I appreciate seeing the classroom discussions across the disciplines to make sure all voices and opinions are reflected.

As the 451 Banned Books Club plans a Persepolis read-in and others plan a walkout protest for that Friday. We watch each student wrestle with their choice of action and its consequences. This makes the book a rich reading experience as well as a breezy one.

Dungo’s artwork is relatively simple, mixing real and cartoon elements with thick ink lines, using a limited blue palette, with just red reserved for the banned book’s cover. I wish Dungo tightened the balloon shapes, which wasted a lot of space and, instead, provided more backgrounds, making much of the story seem simplistic/ I found the balloons (but not the captions, go figure) distracting throughout.

In the Note from the Author, we discover it was Dapier who used the Freedom of Information Act to retrieve the vital documents which proved Byrd-Bennett was behind the ban, despite lying about it, and this proved to be one of many instances of her misconduct, ultimately leading to her firing.

With books still under attack across the country, this book is a vital resource that shows how students can take action, have a voice, and hold adults accountable. It’s a compelling read, one I raced through and suspect you will, too.

[Leah Harlann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for the digital ARC!

This is a very timely story that drives home the reality of people advocating for what they strongly believe in and participating in activism while still having to carry everything that is going on in their own lives day to day. ESPECIALLY so for teenagers! Adults may think that teens have life pretty easy because they don't have bills to pay or full time jobs, but we so often forget the internal turmoil that is happening at that age; the struggle to learn and shape the person you are growing into, surrounded by all of the external influences trying to mold you into one thing or another. To grow up in times of political upheaval and uncertainty adds yet another layer to this complex time in a young person's life, and Dapier illustrates it beautifully through the cast of the story. From Aoife's strained relationship with her alcoholic father to Weston's trauma following the disappearance of his cousin, everyone's personal life intersects with the ongoing battle against censorship at their school that they WANT to take a stand against. We see different adults and faculty members supporting or hindering their efforts, and it reminds me why it is so difficult to bring about change. So to read the very real story of students persevering and succeeding in the face of that, when many adults would have failed or given up, is both inspiring and depressing. Inspiring, because children are always the future, but depressing, because children should not have to be joining the battles that adults are supposed to be fighting on their behalf.

Even knowing that the personal narratives and names are fictionalized, these are very realistic events and stories that real high school students deal with every day. It reminds the readers that the people they see at protests are no different from the ones who clock into their job and "don't talk politics" when it comes to obligations to loved ones, to society, and to themselves. The biggest difference is being willing to stand up and say something when they see injustice happening.

[Rod Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm always up to read a book about fighting censorship.

This one is a historical fiction based on a real decision in 2013 to remove Marjane Satrapi's Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood from the Chicago public school curriculum due to two pages that depict torture and use profanity. The administration obfuscated, lied, and backtracked once the issue became publicized by activist students and the local press.

Here we look into the lives of some fictional students who organize and participate in the protests or report on it for the school newspaper, seeing how the book impacted them or how their own lives intersect with themes from the book.

Honestly, we spend too much time lost in the weeds of teen angst. The story is 460 pages long with dozens of students, teachers, parents, and journalists popping in and out of the pages, and it became hard to keep track of them all as we are hit with an alcoholic father, a missing person case, a kindling romance, a friendship breakup, GPA concerns, school play casting drama, etc. And the art is a little vague, often leaving distinctive hats as the best way to distinguish characters.

At least the pages are mostly lean on dialogue and captions, so the story reads quickly. And I do like how the central plot unfolds, with activism and journalism helping to expose a small-minded, authoritarian fiat.

I wish the author had told the story as it actually occurred, but I can appreciate the larger, nuanced portrait of ramifications he is trying to create.


Disclosure: I received access to a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.com.

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the message in this graphic novel. It felt especially important to me right now, here in the United States, when there are real efforts to control what students are allowed to read and learn in schools.

I appreciated seeing high school students portrayed as activists. That does happen. Teenagers organize, they walk out, and they push back when something meaningful to them is taken away. This story captures that energy and that refusal to quietly accept a book ban.

At the same time, I did feel that the story was a little too long. The core issue could probably have been explored in fewer pages. But as I think about it more, I wonder if that length was intentional. The book quietly reflects how slow and frustrating real progress can be. Change doesn’t happen in a single dramatic moment. It takes investigation, planning, setbacks, and patience, and the pacing mirrors that reality.

On the other hand, one of the things I liked most was how the book treats the students as almost-adults. By junior and senior year, they really are standing at that edge. It’s a good reminder for those of us who are older not to underestimate them.

I also appreciated that the story shows adults working alongside the students, encouraging them and helping them think through their choices about how to challenge the ban. For teens, it’s an important message too. You may have enormous energy, heart, and passion, but wisdom and experience still matter. Partnering with supportive adults can make that passion stronger and more effective.

[Steff Fox · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's an unfortunately immense level of importance to stories like this in this day and age, something that everyone should be aware of and care about. The fact of the matter is that book bans are present and prevalent today; and they are also something that everyone who cares about education should be fighting. Author, Jarrett Dapier said it best, "working together to protect our constitutional right to read what we want has never been more important than it is now."

Too many, unfortunately, have taken it upon themselves to limit what books everyone has access to, posited under the guise of "age appropriateness," a lie that has done more harm than good. What's unfortunate, too, is that these attacks have been perpetrated by a small group of controlling and organized people. Removing access to education is a heinous act, done maliciously in an attempt to prevent people from learning truths about the world. Wake Now in the Fire portrays a fight against that, orchestrated by brave students who know that censorship is unacceptable.

I deeply appreciate that books like this one exist, love that we can read them in numerous formats. Unfortunately, due to the topic it addresses, inspired by real events, this book is very likely to end up banned as well. It remains important that we fight back against it.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Michaela · Rating 5 out of 5]

In 2013, the Chicago School Board decided to quietly but thoroughly remove Persepolis from classrooms across the city. Immediately, the students refused to let that happen. Together they organized a walkout and a read in, spread the word about the book ban, and led the charge in the investigation to hold the board accountable while they attempted to dance around the issue. Wake Now in the Fire is a graphic novel that tells the story of these students and teachers who defended their right to read. The names and some of the details have been changed but the message remains the same - book banning is wrong and you have the power to stop it whether you're an adult or a high school student. The characters of this book pull you in and have you routing for them as they navigate their own life challenges while also taking on the adults in charge of their education who are avoiding being held accountable for their decisions.

There were so many moments in this book that I wanted to start cheering out loud. The immediate warnings between English teachers and librarians to protect their copies of Persepolis. The students of the school paper realizing that what they were doing mattered beyond the walls of their school. The student who realized how much she cared about libraries and intellectual freedom and decided to follow that passion.

If someone is trying to stop you from reading or accessing something, you should be running to find it to learn what they don't want you to know.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

To be transparent I requested this ARC because I lived through the era of the fight against book bans for this book, and I know the people involved even though I didn't work at that school at the time, so this topic is deeply personal to me. Needless to say, I was very excited to get a copy of Wake Now in the Fire by Jarrett Dapier. The book follows the attempt by Chicago Public Schools to ban the book Persepolis from every school in the city. Students gathered together in many ways to get the message out how unacceptable this was and to stand up for their right to read. This book does a sufficient job explaining what happened in the events around the banning. It intersperses student's life stories as it follows along with the efforts against the bans. And I appreciated the actual emails that were included as part of the book. Overall, it's very factual, which may be a little slow to follow for some students. Also it's a little hard to tell the students apart at times, but that could be because of the ARC version, and the print version will have different tones. However, it does not hamper the understanding of the story. Nevertheless, this is an informative book that is a good companion piece to consider using in classrooms. Thank you to Net Galley and the publishers for this ARC.

[Ali · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wake Now In The Fire is a fictionalized depiction of the real student fight against the banning of Marjane Satrapi’s “Persepolis” in Chicago Public Schools.

“Persepolis” was one of the first graphic novels I ever picked up and helped me fall in love with the format. Anyone who discounts graphic novels doesn’t appreciate the power of imagery. Part of why “Persepolis” was so effective was because of the visuals of life under the Iranian regime. These teens understood that and stood up for their right to read “Persepolis”.

The situations in this book were eerily prescient for what would flare up only a few years later. There are some very valuable lessons to learn from their fight and what can happen when commonplace freedoms are restricted.

I understood the deliberate choice in color (or lack thereof) in the art but it ultimately made the book a little more difficult to read as it was hard to tell some characters apart at times. I also found the personal side stories to be a little uneven.

Thank you to NetGalley and Clarkson Potter/Ten Speed Press for the opportunity to read and review.

3.5 stars rounded up.

[Maya · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a Librarian this book is EVERYTHING! While I often feel lucky working in the district I do and feel supported by my admin, we still face the fear of library closures, book bannings, and censorship of all varieties. At my school we have a unit on banned books, students often ask me why people ban books, why is a book banned, and general curiosities about book banning. I often feel like I am unable to answer their questions in a way that satisfy them. Because let's be honest the answer is never satisfying. Wake Now in the Fire is based on a true story from some time ago, but feels like it could be set today! Jarrett Dapier perfectly depicts many questions and some answers that young people every where have in regard to censorship. It speaks to how important young people's voice is and why it is so important to uncover the truth about censorship and prejudices. I am so looking forward to highlighting this book in my collection and recommending it to all readers! What an inspiring example of students making change, coming from the perfect voice, a librarian!

THank you NetGalley and Ten Speed Graphic for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Nikole (literarily_occupied) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 ⭐️

Not only does "Wake Now in the Fire" tell a fictionalized version of the March 2013 book ban of Marjane Satrapi's graphic novel "Persepolis" by the Chicago Public School System, it also touches on numerous issues such as mental health, self identity, racial profiling and oppression, freedom of speech and assembly, and so much more.

Told from the perspective of multiple individuals at different levels of involvement during this incident, the reader really gets a sense of how this ban impacted not only individuals, but the city and surrounding communities as well.

I think the author does a great job of telling this story in an informative, yet entertaining way that stays true to the real events that transpired while appealing to a broader audience.

As a librarian this story touched me deeply and stoked the fire I already have burning within me when it comes to protecting the freedom to read and access to information. I think the use of the graphic novel format was a perfect choice and I enjoyed the artwork.

[Kit Moonstar · Rating 5 out of 5]

This fantastic graphic novel tells the story of the 2013 attempt to ban Persepolis in the Chicago Public Schools, and the work local teens put in to overturning the ban. Using a combination of facts and fiction, we get a deeply personal look at the battle for the book as well as glimpses into the lives of the teens involve. All of the teens have more going on in their lives than just a decision that their school made, but they show up in different ways throughout the battle. With a limited color palette and thick line work, the focus is really drawn to the characters. It would work as an excellent companion piece to read with Persepolis as well as standing on its own as a timely read about book banning. One of the things I appreciate most about the book was both the way it showed that people can fight for the same cause in a myriad of different ways as and how institutional censorship by organizations works. It’s a fantastic read that I highly recommend. Five out of five stars.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

This graphic Novel is based on a true story about high schoolers in Chicago overturning a ban on Marjane Satrapi's Persepolis. 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. There is not much I hate more than a book ban, I buy the books in my area that have been banned (way too many) . I recently had to buy Plato’s “Republic” bc Universities in Texas can no longer teach it. So of course I want to read a book about students organizing and overturning a ban! AJ Dungo art helps tell the story through simple lines and colors that convey the emotions perfectly.

Thank you Clarkson Potter/Ten Speed Press | Ten Speed Graphic and NetGalley.#WakeNowintheFire #NetGalley

[Allison Maddox · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The function of freedom is to free someone else.” Toni Morrison

This book follows so many important storylines around students in Chicago who are all affected in different ways by the system-wide ban of Marjane Satrapi's Persepolis. The author does a great job of highlighting how book challenges and book bans influence real lives in detrimental ways- from racism and sexism and homophobia to silencing stories of people who fight against oppression. It was so encouraging to see how these teens worked together, using their own experiences and skills, to fight back against censorship. I do wish there'd been more color and/or more artistic detail, I think that would keep the story more visually interesting

Thank you NetGalley and Clarkson Potter/Ten Speed Press for the arc!

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Based on a 2013 attempt to ban Persepolis in Chicago Public Schools, this graphic novel examines the power that people have to push back against arbitrary decisions made by an organization. The teenage students in this novel immediately object to the book ban and organize to investigate and end it. The ban also creates curiosity about the book among those who haven’t read it, as all book bans should.

I particularly appreciated that some of the students were dealing with their own personal problems, yet still felt deeply about the ban and got involved. Some things are too important to ignore, and we can all take on more than we think.

This is a timely graphic novel suitable for adult and YA audiences alike. Thank you to NetGalley and Ten Speed Press for allowing me to read an ARC of this title.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am an older adult and therefore not the target reader for this book. Nonetheless, I found it much easier to follow than other graphic novels and the story came through very well. There was almost too much story for me, but I do feel that it will appeal to young readers and the events described provide a lot of fodder for discussion. As a teacher, I imagine it would be very exciting and real to use this book in a classroom to teach any number of subjects. Books like this one are vitally important in this day and age.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. I'm so happy it exists!

[Kathleen Covington]

This is absolutely wonderful! I cannot WAIT for the book to be released to get to read the rest of the book! The ARC I received was only about half the book due to platform limitations, hence the lack of star rating, but it was more than enough to tell that it's an outstanding graphic novel. The art style is simplistic and charming, and choosing to have the cover of Persepolis being the only thing in color really makes it pop. With the rise of book challenges and censorship in schools and libraries right now, Wake Now in the Fire is timely and inspiring, and I think it's going to be a hit with teenagers.

Thanks to Edelweiss for a partial ARC!

[Lizzie Figueroa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Persepolis is one of my favorite graphic novels, and I knew I had to read Jarrett Dapier’s follow-up as soon as it was published. This chunky tome follows a handful of students (all complex characters with individual challenges and interests) as they deal with the sudden removal of Persepolis from Chicago Public Schools in 2013. The story will make you angry, make you cry, and give you hope. It’s more timely than ever. When books are being banned in increasing numbers across the US, and the Iranian government continues its massacre of innocent civilians and protesters, this conversation cannot be allowed to die. This work adds another powerful voice.

[Amber Duan · Rating 5 out of 5]

a beautifully woven story of when the graphic novel Persepolis was removed from Chicago public schools in 2013 and how different students' lives were impacted during the incident. I loved how this story intersects so many critical issues and prompts readers to reflect on what it means for books to be banned. it successfully looks at the larger picture *and* zooms in on the micro personal details of each character, which really brings them to life as real kids and people. I was genuinely moved by this read, very happy I picked it up!

[Charlie - disableddaydreamer | itsbarbieparis (looking for mutuals) · Rating 4 out of 5]

thank you to netgalley and clarkson press/ten speed press for the advance reader epup.

i love the idea of this book and find it really important. to so many books like graphic novels are more accessible and easier to read, though the topics are limited. this is the first time i’ve seen many of the topics, especially so the main one, book bans.

this book is super cool and has good heart. i again enjoyed the formatting of this delivery of information. i will definitely be returning for a reread.

[Lourdes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wake Now in the Fire is a book that is very relevant to this day. Censorship is impactful to all and this book demonstrates there are different ways to protest against it. The art was simple, which I really enjoyed.

I felt conflicted when rating because while the topic matter is important, the different backstories kept distracting me from the theme. Maybe it would have been a better reading experience for myself if I had a physical copy. Needless to say, it is still a powerful book that should be read by teens/young adults.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness Jarrett this is perfect. And so, soooo Chicago. I love it. Digital advanced reader copy was auto approved by NetGalley.

I first learned of this whole thing at our library school commencement ceremony when our school dean told the entire graduating class that one of our classmates named Jarrett Dapier had won the 2016 Phillip Immroth Award for his work on the Persepolis CPS book ban. I was always a bit curious about what that was all about and now I know. U of I alumni really are the best, just sayin'.

PS: It WOULD be exactly 42 FOIA'd emails; as any good hitchhiker knows.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley for the free arc!

It was so interesting to read this graphic novel about a true story that took place in 2012 in Chicago when a group of high schoolers worked to overturn the ban of Marjane Satrapi's Persepolis. An intriguing take as it is told from multiple perspectives and based on interviews of the students and teachers involved. It was inspiring to read about the power that high schoolers had in overturning the decision.

[Lisa Davidson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is based on a true story and so well done. I was emotionally invested in the side characters' stories, and it was impressive to show how so many things can be important at once.
As a librarian, book banning is something I'm always shocked about. It's nothing but an attempt at thought control. These people, including kids, were brave to stand up against it.
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this wonderful graphic novel

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Automatically I am drawn into this story that gives an account of the decision by the Chicago Public Schools banning Marjane Satrapi's graphic novel Persepolis from their schools and how a group of high school students work to overturn this ruling. I found this graphic novel powerful. Though the main theme of the story was looking at censorship, it also portrayed the struggles, discouragements, and the pressures that the youth face. Highly recommended...4.25 stars