Chicago students protest book ban on Persepolis

Librarian Jarrett Dapier's graphic novel tells a fictionalized account of real-life events in 2013 that restricted access to Marjane Satrapi's memoir in Chicago Public Schools.

Mar. 12, 2026 at 5:36pm

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In 2013, Chicago Public Schools (CPS) suddenly restricted access to Marjane Satrapi's memoir Persepolis, a graphic novel that tells the story of a young girl and her family during the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran, without explanation. Jarrett Dapier's debut young adult graphic novel, "Wake Now in the Fire," is a fictionalized account of the student-led protests and actions that followed the book ban. The novel focuses on high school student Aditi and her classmates as they navigate the fallout from the ban, organize demonstrations, and fight for their right to access the book.

Why it matters

The Persepolis ban in Chicago foreshadowed a growing trend of targeted attempts to censor books in schools and libraries across the United States. The student-led protests depicted in the novel highlight the importance of young people standing up for their right to access diverse and challenging literature, even in the face of censorship efforts.

The details

In Dapier's novel, fictional high school student Aditi is powerfully affected by the Persepolis ban, having moved from Mumbai where she was limited to checking out only one book per day, to Chicago where she could access up to 30 books at a time. The novel follows Aditi and her classmates as they investigate the CPS decision-making process, organize a walkout, and work to disseminate information about the ban's impact on students. While dealing with the book ban, the students also navigate typical high school challenges like grades, college applications, and personal conflicts.

  • In 2013, Chicago Public Schools restricted access to Marjane Satrapi's memoir Persepolis in some classrooms.
  • In March 2013, two Lane Technical College Preparatory High School seniors appeared on Chicago Tonight to discuss the Persepolis ban and the student-led protests.

The players

Aditi

A fictional high school student who is powerfully affected by the Persepolis ban and becomes more involved in her community as a result.

Jarrett Dapier

The author of the young adult graphic novel "Wake Now in the Fire," which is a fictionalized account of the real-life Persepolis ban in Chicago Public Schools.

Marjane Satrapi

The author of the memoir Persepolis, which was banned by Chicago Public Schools in 2013.

Katie McDermott

A senior at Lane Technical College Preparatory High School who spoke out against the Persepolis ban in a March 2013 episode of Chicago Tonight.

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What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow the Persepolis ban to remain in place for grades below 8th.

The takeaway

This case highlights the importance of young people standing up for their right to access diverse and challenging literature, even in the face of censorship efforts. The student-led protests depicted in the novel demonstrate the power of youth activism in fighting for intellectual freedom.