Jarrett Dapier is a Chicago-area librarian who has also written three children’s picture books, Mr. Watson’s Chickens, Jazz for Lunch!, and The Most Haunted House in America. His debut young adult graphic novel,Wake Now in the Fire, was published in February 2026.

Wake Now in the Fire begins when teachers at a Chicago high school are told that copies of Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi are no longer allowed in classrooms or the library. Soon they learn that it’s more than one school – it’s ALL Chicago public schools. Confusion abounds at all levels. Principals, teachers, and librarians don’t really know why this is happening, but they know that they have to comply with the order. That doesn’t stop some teachers and librarians from searching for ways to keep the book available. The sticking point: Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi is about survival and resistance against authoritarian power. The powers-that-be have seen this book as a threat, making it dangerous enough to ban.

When students find out that this book is being banned, some of them refuse to accept it. They will resist. As the news circulates, they plan a school-wide walkout and a library sit-in. They also work to get the information out in any way they can. For those that haven’t read Persepolis, they push them to read it.

If you have the chance, read Wake Now in the Fire by Jarrett Dapier. Told from multiple perspectives, Jarrett Dapier conducted extensive interviews with the students and teachers who were affected. Read this book if you’re looking for an inspiring portrayal of activism and reminder of why we should protect books.