Teen Defies Censorship: Gives Grad a Copy of Handmaid's Tale

At the recent Idaho Academy of Fine Arts graduation ceremony, graduate Annabelle Jenkins took a striking stand against book censorship. Jenkins presented West Ada School District Superintendent Derek Bub with a copy of the graphic adaptation of Margaret Atwood's iconic 1985 novel, “The Handmaid's Tale.” This act was in response to the removal of the book from school district libraries in December 2023.

The decision to remove the graphic novel “The Handmaid's Tale,” along with nine other books like “Water for Elephants” by Sarah Gruen and “A Stolen Life” by Jaycee Dugar, was made by the school district administration. They raised concerns about the graphic images in the novel, deeming them unsuitable for the student population.

Jenkins, in a TikTok video that has garnered more than 24 million views, is seen shaking hands with professors on stage during the ceremony. When she joins Superintendent Bub, instead of the usual handshake, she offers him the controversial book. Despite her refusal to accept it, Jenkins places the book at her feet before leaving the stage.

His decision to protest was prompted by a teacher's disagreement with a school librarian over the book. Jenkins expressed frustration that the teacher had not read the book before objecting to it.

In an interview with KTVB7, “I don't like being the center of attention or doing things just to get a reaction. So when I make things, I want it to be very useful. I want people to know that this is something deeply important to me. My goal was never to disrupt or spoil the ceremony. And I really don't believe I did. I mean, at the end of the day, I think it was my time on stage and it was my moment and it was something that was important for me to do.

However, school district representative Niki Scheppers lamented that Jenkins' protest overshadowed the celebratory nature of the event. “While we respect the right to voice concerns, it is important to maintain focus on the accomplishments and hard work of our students during such important milestones. »

Despite her reluctance to be in the spotlight, Jenkins, who plans to pursue an English degree and a master's degree in library science, felt compelled to address the issue of censorship. She emphasized that her actions were motivated by a deep sense of purpose and importance rather than a desire to disrupt the ceremony. Jenkins had already voiced his concerns with other students earlier in the school year, in an effort to maintain freedom of access to diverse literature.

Book censorship has become increasingly prevalent nationwide, as evidenced by 4,240 ban cases reported across 23 states and 53 public school districts during the second half of 2023, as documented by Unite Against Book Bans .

Published in 1985, “The Handmaid's Tale” by Canadian author Margaret Atwood is a dystopian novel set in near-future New England, within a patriarchal and totalitarian theonomic state called the Republic of Gilead. This award-winning book has sold millions of copies and was turned into a popular television series, which currently has five seasons.