06-05-2025
Book ban prompts Waukesha author's request to remove her name from Waukesha North Wall of Stars
Author and Waukesha North High School alumna Kathie Giorgio has asked to have her name removed from the school's Wall of Stars after the district banned her books from school libraries in the district.
The Waukesha School District said it will comply with Giorgio's request, according to an emailed statement to a reporter.
The Wall of Stars honors the accomplishments of Waukesha North High School's alumni. To be nominated, a person must have graduated at least five years ago, demonstrated citizenship during and after high school and have made a significant contribution to the community and society, according to the district's website.
Giorgio has written 15 books, comprising eight novels and seven collections of poems or short stories.
Why did Giorgio want her name removed from Waukesha North's Wall of Stars?
Giorgio was nominated and accepted to the Wall of Stars in 2020 for her success as an author and for starting her business, AllWriters Workplace and Workshop LLC, a creative writing studio in Waukesha. She has been a co-sponsor of the Southeast Wisconsin Festival of Books and a speaker at schools and other places.
"Of the awards I've gotten, it's the one that I love the most because it's personal. It's people who knew me when and basically said 'You did a good job, kid,'" Giorgio said of being named to the Wall of Stars.
In 2023, she discovered her books were among those removed from some of the school district's libraries. A librarian told Giorgio it was because they hadn't been checked out often, but she questioned that explanation because, she said, her books were on reading lists for various classes at Waukesha North.
"I knew it wasn't because of lack of circulation," Giorgio said.
Giorgio was among speakers at the school's 50th anniversary celebration in January. Speakers addressed what the school meant to them and presented gifts to the school.
"I thought, well, this is a way to get my books back in the library. What else would I give but my books?" Giorgio said.
A few days later, Giorgio said Waukesha North's principal told her the books would have to go to the district's administration for a decision on whether to accept the gift. Later, Giorgio received an email from Waukesha School District deputy superintendent of teaching and learning Jenn Gennerman saying the books would not be accepted because the district prefers books to have protagonists the same age as high school students.
But Giorgio said 11 of her 15 books do have protagonists of high school age. One, a poetry book, "Olivia in Five, Seven, Five: Autism in Haiku," is about Giorgio's daughter, Olivia, who is on the autism spectrum, and her success.
"She's a Waukesha North graduate, so not only is it about a high school kid, but it's about one of their high school kids. But, you know, not accepted," Giorgio said.
She also said that when her children attended Waukesha North, they read books such as "The Great Gatsby," "The Grapes of Wrath" and "Fahrenheit 451," which, Giorgio said, do not have high school age protagonists.
"I'm not quite sure why I was asked to speak at the 50th anniversary celebration if it wasn't because of what I've done," Giorgio said. "I guess the whole thing is confusing to me. It feels like they're saying we're proud of what you did, and we're going to put your name on the Wall of Stars, but we don't want anyone to read you, and that just feels so incongruent to me."
Giorgio then received an email from Waukesha School Board member Karrie Kozlowski saying the books were not accepted because the district likes the school's library books to be a part of the core curriculum.
"I was a part of the core curriculum at one point. My books were there, and they were taught in the classes. I don't know why they were removed. Again, the books that I saw in the media center — I don't see how manga could connect with the core curriculum," Giorgio said.
More: Everything to know about book bans in Wisconsin schools
What is the school district's response?
In a statement, the school district said it has spent "significant time, energy, and resources to establish guaranteed and viable curriculum resources across many subjects."
"Our goal is to ensure all students have a common and rigorous learning experience. Similarly, our focus has also been on ensuring that our school libraries offer age and maturity-level appropriate content. When there is a donation of books, our library media staff has practices in place for when books are donated," the district said.
The school board reserves the right to define what gifts it considers appropriate and to reject what it deems inappropriate or unsuitable, according to the district's policy on donations.
The school district has not yet responded to questions about why the books were not accepted or what process was followed in reviewing Giorgio's donation.
How does the school district decide what books are acceptable?
The criteria for selecting library materials includes that materials should be appropriate for a class or program based on its goals, objectives and guidelines; depicts cultural diversity and society's pluralistic nature in an accurate and balanced way; represents artistic, historic and literary qualities; is appropriate to the users' knowledge and maturity; represents balance and integrity in presenting differing viewpoints on controversial questions, is up-to-date, timely and/or of lasting quality, according to the district's library media services handbook.
In selecting library materials, staff should consider several factors, including assessing curricular needs; evaluating existing materials; consulting book and media reviews from reputable, professionally prepared review sources and journals; considering the total value, impact and intent of the author/artist/producer; and giving attention to the publisher/producer's reputation, the handbook said.
In addition, materials should be removed if they're worn out, out of date or if they no longer fit the school's purposes because of changes in curriculum and shifts in grades. An exception is made for books and other materials of potential literary, historical or artistic value, which may be kept if physical space allows. The library media specialist should determine what should be discarded from all district library collections, the handbook said.
Students, parents, staff or school district residents may file a complaint about library materials and should meet with the principal and other staff members to try to resolve the complaint informally.
If the complaint can't be resolved informally, the complaint goes to a committee, which will review the complaint and make a recommendation. That recommendation could be to keep the materials as is, limit access to require parent permission, move materials to a different school level (i.e. elementary, middle, high) or remove the materials because it is deemed harmful to minors.
The committee then sends its recommendation to the superintendent or designee for final review and consideration. The superintendent then documents the decision on the complaint form, which is made public on the district website.
If the person who filed the complaint is not satisfied, that person can appeal to the school board president within 10 days, and a board committee will review the appeal. The board's decision is final, the handbook said.
It is unclear whether anyone filed a complaint about Giorgio's books.
What books has Giorgio written?
"The Home for Wayward Clocks" is about how a man saves an entire town through his clock museum.
"Learning To Tell a (Life) Time" is about Cooley Dander learning of her mother's death and coming to terms with their mother's past.
"Rise from the River" follows 24-year-old Rainey Milbright as she becomes pregnant after she was raped and deals with the healing process.
"In Grace's Time" is about Grace, who's dealing with the death of her son, and Virgil, who is gay and has to decide on marrying his partner, which would require him to give up his home and business. Grace asks if she can join him on his annual cross-country trip building inventory for his doll shop.
"If You Tame Me" is about Audrey, a single woman who turned 55 and Frank, a widow, who has a crush on Audrey. Frank's first wife, whom he divorced, offers to help, while his second wife, who died three years earlier, shows up as a ghost to be Frank's dating coach.
"All Told" is about Jack, who had affairs with multiple women and the impact his affairs had.
"Hope Always Rises" is about Hope, 43, who ended her life on the banks of the Fox River in Waukesha and how she found her way in heaven.
"Don't Let Me Keep You" follows Hildy Halverson's journey through motherhood and the death of her sixth baby.
"Olivia In Five, Seven, Five; Autism In Haiku" is about Giorgio's daughter, Olivia. It is written in poetic form about a mother's love for her child with autism.
"No Matter Which Way You Look, There Is More To See" is a collection of poems about a woman's life experiences.
"When You Finally Said No" is a poetry chapbook about a teenage girl surviving gang rape, her journey on a path of promiscuity and abusive relationships and how she faces herself when she says no to abuse and submission.
"Today's Moment of Happiness Despite The News" is a year-long collection of essays sharing Giorgio's moments of happiness on Facebook while facing depression.
"Enlarged Hearts" is a series of short stories focusing on fat girls and how they're more than their bodies.
"Oddities And Endings: The Collected Stories of Kathie Giorgio" is a collection of 40 of Giorgio's short stories that have appeared in literary magazines.
"True Light Falls in Many Forms" is a poetry chapbook.
Contact Alec Johnson at (262) 875-9469 or Follow him on Twitter at@AlecJohnson12.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Waukesha author asks for name removal from alumni wall
