And so this week’s moment of happiness despite the news.
Hooboy. My Monday this week was what we all claim Monday to be…hard. Stressful. An entire week in one day. And yes, I’m leading with that, to point out a moment of happiness.
I’ve written often in this blog, from its inception as Today’s Moment through its transition to This Week’s Moment, about the high school I graduated from. I went to three different high schools in my typical four-year stretch, and I credit Waukesha North High School with saving my life. For the first time ever, I felt I was in a place where I not only belonged, but I was welcomed.
I was already writing, had already been published (by the Catholic Herald Citizen, no less!), and knew that this was what I wanted for my life. When I arrived at Waukesha North, it was a veritable feast of classes for someone like me – I took creative writing, journalism, and literature classes called Growing Up In Literature And Reality, Mystery And The Macabre, and Science Fiction and Fantasy. I served in the club that put together the literary magazine – a literary magazine! – and at times, wrote for the school paper. I received amazing encouragement from the faculty, in particular, my creative writing teacher, who I am still friends with today. He told me that I had a gift, but it was my responsibility to use that gift. And so I have.
As I grew as a writer, and even before my books started coming out, I presented at Waukesha North often, in their English classes (sadly, no longer as varied and plentiful). When the books arrived, they were in the school library. I was on several class reading lists, and every semester, I was contacted by students who were reading my books for assignments. I was giving back to the school who gave so whole-heartedly to me.
And by the way – I wrote a story for that literary magazine, whose storyline leaked out to parents, who then complained that it shouldn’t be published. It was my first experience with censorship. The administration of the school backed me up, and the story appeared.
In 2020, I was nominated for and received a place on the school’s Wall of Stars – a collection of alumna that had succeeded in their fields and gave back to the community. I was beyond honored, and despite Covid, I attended the awards ceremony. The trophy sits on a shelf in my office, always within my sight. My name is on a plaque in the school’s atrium.
And in 2023, my books disappeared from the school library.
I’d heard, through a media source, that the school district performed a “sweep” – removing “questionable” books. I didn’t think my books would be included – there was no reason for them to be, and I was on the Wall of Stars. But when I called and spoke with librarians who knew me, it was confirmed that my books were included. One librarian, who didn’t know me, told someone else who called that my books were removed because of low circulation. I knew this not to be true, as I was still, up until that year, being interviewed by students fulfilling assignments.
There wasn’t really anything I could do. Research and digging revealed that the books that were removed in the sweep were donated to an organization that ships books overseas to other countries.
At least they weren’t burned.
So I moved on.
Near the end of 2024, I was asked by someone who was organizing the 50th Anniversary Celebration of my high school if I would speak at the event about what the school means to me. It was also suggested that I give a gift to the school. I agreed and thought, since I was being asked to participate, maybe things smoothed out and my books were being welcomed back. So I spoke. And I donated a copy of each of my 15 books.
Two days later, I was informed that my books had to go in front of the administration for approval. But, the principal told me, he would have me back in for photos with the books in the library as soon as they were returned with that approval.
Four months later (about two weeks ago), I was informed that the books were not being accepted. According to a deputy superintendent, they liked to have books in their library that had high school age protagonists.
Eleven of my fifteen books have high school age characters in them. One book in particular, Olivia In Five, Seven, Five; Autism In Haiku, is about not only a high school student, but now a graduate of Waukesha North High School…my daughter.
Then I was told that they like to have books in their library that fit within their core curriculum.
I told them I was ON their core curriculum with some of these books, from 2012 to 2023.
I offered a compromise – don’t put them in the library, but put them on display, in a showcase, behind glass. I was told they “don’t make a practice” of putting books on display.
So I picked up my books and brought them home. At least they weren’t shipped overseas this time.
But when I posted about this on Facebook, everything exploded. I’m followed by a lot of media sources, and before I knew it, I was interviewed by a local television station and two local newspapers. The next day, I was told I was being talked about on a local conservative radio talk show. I had a client, so I couldn’t listen, but I did tune in when the recording of it went up on the website. I listened to the introduction, laughed, and stopped listening.
Oh, man. It’s been crazy.
So where is the Moment in all this?
The Moment is in the tidal wave of support I’ve received. On social media and in personal communication, writers and readers from around the world have been sending me their outrage over what happened, and their support and encouragement for me. My website, right here, has been visited by almost 2000 people in three days. Bookstores have been calling me, asking if I have copies of my books I can bring in, because they are selling out.
You know that feeling I said I had when I first walked into my high school at the tender age of sixteen? That feeling of not only belonging, but being welcomed?
I’m there again.
But I do want to be clear on this – I do not hold my individual high school responsible at all. My love and appreciation for Waukesha North continues. What they did for me in those three semesters I was there not only changed my life, but it formed it. The school not only helped me figure out a life path, but it encouraged it and helped me develop a belief that was so strong, I walked into improbable careers. One as a writer. One as a small business owner. I will always be appreciative of Waukesha North High School. I moved back here so that my four children could attend. And despite this, I believe it’s a fine school, that is doing its best despite the shackles placed on it by the administration.
I requested that my name be removed from the Wall of Stars, and that has been granted. It didn’t seem right, to have me there, my name listed as someone to look up to, but then not to have my books in the library.
But I have my trophy, that was given to me by a school, and its administration, that believed in me. I have my experience there.
That can’t be taken away or rejected.
That’ll do.
And yes, that helps. Despite. Anyway.
The following are links to the tv interview, and the articles in the newspapers.
Channel 6 in Milwaukee:
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
Waukesha Freeman:
https://www.gmtoday.com/the_freeman/news/waukesha-north-alumna-asks-for-removal-of-her-star-on-wall-of-stars/article_9e6e95c7-2014-5f0e-9140-ae8c2f063f00.html?fbclid=IwY2xjawKJ7ndleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETE0NFpJZzIyWEVGVVNVT3ppAR6j15wNm4NQ6qOqi3RR8GJMEinzDUgj-Mxf0LgrxP6NPuGNHEaRTx-31aA5Bw_aem_J_rlGMu4M5RwbAVYBXRONA
