First Second Books

First Second Books is an American publisher of graphic novels. An imprint of Roaring Brook Press, part of Holtzbrinck Publishers, First Second publishes fiction, biographies, personal memoirs, history, visual essays, and comics journalism. It also publishes graphic non-fiction for young readers, including the Science Comics and History Comics collections, and for adults, including the World Citizen Comics, a line of civics graphic books, and biographical works such as The Accidental Czar.

First Second Books

Parent company	Roaring Brook Press (Macmillan Publishers)
Founded	2006; 18 years ago (2006)
Country of origin	United States
Headquarters location	Equitable Building, New York City
Distribution	Worldwide
Key people	Mark Siegel
Publication types	Graphic novels
Official website	Official website

Authors and artists published by First Second include Ben Hatke,^[1] Gene Luen Yang,^[1] Jillian Tamaki,^[2] Vera Brosgol, Jen Wang, Shannon Hale, LeUyen Pham, Scott Chantler, and Japanese director Hayao Miyazaki.^[3]

First Second is headed by creative director Mark Siegel.^[4]

History

First Second launched in U.S. stores and online in May 2006.^[5] It was distributed by Macmillan in the rest of the English-speaking world. After the merger in 2010, Macmillan distributes all of the books.

In 2006, First Second published American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang,^[6] the first graphic novel ever nominated for a National Book Award,^[7] and the first ever to win the American Library Association's Michael L. Printz Award.^[8][9]

In 2015, First Second published This One Summer by cousins Jillian and Mariko Tamaki, the first book in any format ever nominated as a finalist for both the American Library Association's Randolph Caldecott Award, and the American Library Association's Edward L. Printz Award.^[10]

Series

Some of First Second's biggest hits include the InvestiGators series and the Real Friends trilogy.

Series published by First Second include:

• The Adventure Zone graphic novel series^[11]
• The Dam Keeper by Robert Kondo and Daisuke Tsutsumi
• Delilah Dirk, by Tony Cliff
• Demon, by Jason Shiga
• Cucumber Quest, by Gigi D.G.

Selected titles

Before 2010

• Abadzis, Nick (2007). Laika.
• Guibert, Emmanuel (2008). Alan's War: The Memories of G.I. Alan Cope.^[12]
• Guibert, Emmanuel; Lefèvre, Didier; Lemercier, Frédéric (2009). The Photographer.
• Mechner, Jordan; Sina, A.B.; Pham, LeUyen; Puvilland, Alex (2008). Prince of Persia.
• Sfar, Joann; Guibert, Emmanuel (2006–2008). Sardine in Outer Space.
• Sfar, Joann; Guibert, Emmanuel (2007). The Professor's Daughter.
• Yang, Gene Luen (2006). American Born Chinese.

2010s

• Anya's Ghost by Vera Brosgol
• Friends with Boys by Faith Erin Hicks
• Boxers and Saints by Gene Luen Yang
• The Cute Girl Network, by Greg Means and M. K. Reed, with art by Joe Flood
• This One Summer by Mariko Tamaki and Jillian Tamaki
• The Divine by Boaz Lavie, Asaf Hanuka, Tomer Hanuka
• Spinning by Tillie Walden
• The Hunting Accident by David Carlson and Landis Blair^[13][14][15]
• Check, Please!: #Hockey by Ngozi Ukazu^[16]
• Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson and Emily Carroll^[17]
• The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang^[17]
• Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me by Mariko Tamaki
• Kiss Number 8 by Colleen A. F. Venable

2020s

• Dragon Hoops by Gene Luen Yang

References

1. Bauer, Caitlin. "01 Creators". First Second Books. Archived from the original on February 29, 2020. Retrieved February 8, 2020.
2. "This One Summer (Review)". McMillan Publishing. Archived from the original on June 11, 2020. Retrieved February 8, 2020.
3. September 13, Christian Holub; EDT, 2022 at 12:00 PM. "See how Hayao Miyazaki's graphic novel 'Shuna's Journey' foreshadowed his classic films". EW.com. Archived from the original on October 16, 2022. Retrieved October 16, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
4. "See the Covers for 14 Graphic Novels by Gene Yang, Jason Shiga, and More". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on December 9, 2016. Retrieved December 8, 2016.
5. "Graphic Novel Publisher First Second Celebrates Ten Years". Archived from the original on December 21, 2016. Retrieved December 9, 2016.
6. "It's Time for First Second". Publishers Weekly. Archived from the original on January 29, 2022. Retrieved February 8, 2020.
7. MacDonald, Heidi (January 23, 2007). "Syndicated Comics". The Beat. Archived from the original on October 16, 2022. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
8. YALSA, Michael L. Printz Winners and Honor Books Archived March 26, 2014, at the Wayback Machine.
9. George Gene Gustines, Library of Congress Anoints Graphic Novelist as Ambassador for Young People’s Literature Archived December 2, 2022, at the Wayback Machine, The New York Times, January 4, 2016.
10. Cavna, Michael (February 2, 2015). "CALDECOTT, PRINTZ HONORS: 'This One Summer' co-authors 'grateful' for graphic-novel milestone as Honor Book". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Archived from the original on November 1, 2019. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
11. "Entertainment Weekly: First Look at First Second's Spring 2018 Graphic Novels". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on August 10, 2017. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
12. Beardsley, Eleanor (May 24, 200). "'Alan's War': A Graphic Novel Revisits WWII". WEEKEND EDITION SUNDAY. NPR.
13. "See the Covers for 14 Graphic Novels by Gene Yang, Jason Shiga, and More". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on December 9, 2016. Retrieved December 8, 2016.
14. "Book Deals: Week of October 24, 2016". Archived from the original on December 7, 2016. Retrieved December 8, 2016.
15. "First Second Exclusive: David Carlson and Landis Blair Announce the Hunting Accident, A Crime Family Drama". October 7, 2016. Archived from the original on December 20, 2016. Retrieved December 8, 2016.
16. "Fall 2018 First Second Cover Reveal". First Second Books. January 8, 2018. Archived from the original on March 13, 2018. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
17. Gagliano, Gina (May 9, 2017). "Winter 2018 First Second Cover Reveal". First Second Books. Archived from the original on January 21, 2020. Retrieved April 10, 2020.

External links

• Official website
• First Second Blog
• First Second Books at the Grand Comics Database
• First Second Books at the Comic Book DB (archived from the original)