Annabelle Jenkins protested the removal of the graphic novel adaptation of Margaret Atwood’s 1985 novel earlier in the school year.
An Idaho high school graduate took book censorship into her own hands at her graduation ceremony earlier this month. During the May 23 graduation ceremony for the Idaho Fine Arts Academy, Annabelle Jenkins handed West Ada School District superintendent Derek Bub a copy of the graphic novel adaptation of Margaret Atwood’s 1985 novel The Handmaid’s Tale. The book had been removed from the school district’s libraries in Dec. 2023.
According to the Idaho Statesman, the novel was one of 10 books, including Water for Elephants by Sarah Gruen and Kingdom of Ash by Sarah J. Maas, to be removed from the school district. The administration concluded that the “graphic imagery contained within [the graphic novel adaptation of The Handmaid’s Tale] was not suitable for the West Ada School District student population,” per a statement from district representative Niki Scheppers.
“I just realized that I did not want to walk across that stage and get my diploma and shake the superintendent’s hand,” Jenkins told KTVB. “I just did not want to do that.”
In a TikTok Jenkins posted, which currently has over 24 million views, the graduate is seen shaking the hands of other faculty on stage during the ceremony. When she gets to Bub, Jenkins hands him a copy of The Handmaid’s Tale graphic novel instead.
“I got up there and I got the book out. I kind of showed it to the audience really quick,” she said. “He crossed his arms like this and he wouldn’t take it.” Jenkins placed the book at his feet before she walked off the stage.
The graduate said that she originally picked up the graphic novel, written by Atwood and Renée Nault, when she heard a teacher arguing with a school librarian about the book. Jenkins said that her main issue with the situation was that the teacher hadn’t actually read the book.
Scheppers told the Idaho Statesman that Jenkins’ protest “unfortunately overshadowed the celebratory occasion.”
“While we respect the right to voice concerns, it is important to maintain the focus on the achievements and hard work of our students during such significant milestones,” Scheppers continued.
Book censorship has been on the rise in recent years across the country. PEN America reported 4,349 instances of book banning, across 23 states and 53 public school districts, throughout the latter half of 2023.
Jenkins, who plans to study English and work toward a master’s degree in library science, told KTVB that she doesn’t like to “be the center of attention,” but felt the censorship was important to address. According to the Idaho Statesman, Jenkins and other students had already spoken out about the issue earlier in the school year.
“When I do things, I want it to be very purposeful. I want people to know that this is something deeply, deeply important to me,” she said. “My goal was never to be disruptive or mess up the ceremony. And I really don’t believe that I did. I mean, at the end of the day, I think that that was my time on stage and that was my moment and that was something that was important to me to do.”
