First Second Books is an American publisher of

graphic novel A graphic novel is a long-form, fictional work of sequential art. The term ''graphic novel'' is often applied broadly, including fiction, non-fiction, and anthologized work, though this practice is highly contested by comic scholars and industry ...

s. An imprint of

Roaring Brook Press A roar is a type of animal vocalization that is deep and resonating. Many mammals have evolved to produce roars and other roar-like vocals for purposes such as long-distance communication and intimidation. These include various species of big cat ...

, 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 th
Science Comics
an
History Comics
collections, and for adults, including th
World Citizen Comics
a line of civics graphic books, and biographical works such as
The Accidental Czar
'. Some of First Second's biggest hits include ''

The Adventure Zone ''The Adventure Zone'' is a weekly comedy and adventure actual play podcast based loosely upon the '' Dungeons & Dragons'' game series, along with other role-playing games. The show is distributed by the Maximum Fun network and hosted by bro ...

'' graphic novel series, the
InvestiGators
' series, and the
Real Friends
' trilogy. Authors and artists published by First Second include Ben Hatke,

Gene Luen Yang Gene Luen Yang (Chinese Traditional: 楊謹倫, Simplified: 杨谨伦, Pinyin: ''Yáng Jǐnlún''; born August 9, 1973) is an American cartoonist. He is a frequent lecturer on the subjects of graphic novels and comics, at comic book conventions a ...

Jillian Tamaki Jillian Tamaki (born April 17, 1980) is a Canadian American illustrator and comic artist known for her work in ''The New York Times'' and ''The New Yorker'' in addition to the graphic novels ''Boundless'', as well as '' Skim'' and ''This One Summ ...

Vera Brosgol Vera Brosgol, also known as the Verabee (born August 2, 1984, in Moscow), is an Eisner Award and Harvey Award winning cartoonist and a graduate in Classical Animation of Sheridan College in Canada. She currently lives in Portland, Oregon. She wor ...

, Jen Wang,

Shannon Hale Shannon may refer to: People * Shannon (given name) * Shannon (surname) * Shannon (American singer), stage name of singer Shannon Brenda Greene (born 1958) * Shannon (South Korean singer), British-South Korean singer and actress Shannon Arrum Will ...

LeUyen Pham LeUyen Pham (born September 7, 1973) is a children's book illustrator and author. She has illustrated and written more than 120 books. In 2020, she won a Caldecott Honor for her illustrations in the book '' Bear Came Along''. Life and career Pham ...

, and the legendary Japanese director

Hayao Miyazaki is a Japanese animator, director, producer, screenwriter, author, and manga artist. A co-founder of Studio Ghibli, he has attained international acclaim as a masterful storyteller and creator of Japanese animated feature films, and is widel ...

. First Second is headed by editorial director Mark Siegel.

History

First Second launched in U.S. stores and online in May 2006. 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 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 a ...

published ''

American Born Chinese American-born Chinese are the subset of Chinese Americans who were born in the US. The term may also refer to: * ''ABC'' (Jin album), a Cantonese language album by Chinese American rapper Jin, the name of which is the colloquially used acronym o ...

'' by

, the first graphic novel ever nominated for a

National Book Award The National Book Awards are a set of annual U.S. literary awards. At the final National Book Awards Ceremony every November, the National Book Foundation presents the National Book Awards and two lifetime achievement awards to authors. The N ...

, and the first ever to win the

American Library Association The American Library Association (ALA) is a nonprofit organization based in the United States that promotes libraries and library education internationally. It is the oldest and largest library association in the world, with 49,727 members ...

's Edward L. Printz Award.George Gene Gustines
Library of Congress Anoints Graphic Novelist as Ambassador for Young People’s Literature
''The New York Times'', January 4, 2016. In 2015, First Second published '' This One Summer'' by the cousins

Jillian Jillian is both a feminine given name and a surname. A spelling variant of Gillian, it originates as a feminine form of the given name Julian (given name), Julian, Julio (given name), Julio, Julius (name), Julius, and Julien (given name), Julien. ...

and

Mariko Tamaki Mariko Tamaki (born 1975) is a Canadian artist and writer. She is known for her graphic novels '' Skim'', ''Emiko Superstar,'' and '' This One Summer'', and for several prose works of fiction and non-fiction."Mariko Tamaki". CBC Radio, '' The Nex ...

, 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.

Titles (selected)

*Fall 2006 **''

'', by

*Fall 2007 **''

Laika Laika (russian: link=no, Лайка; – 3 November 1957) was a Soviet space dog who was one of the first animals in space and the first to orbit the Earth. A stray mongrel from the streets of Moscow, she flew aboard the Sputnik 2 spacec ...

'', by

Nick Abadzis Nick Abadzis ( el, Νικ Αμπατζής; born 1965)
Lambiek's ''Comiclopedia''. Retrieved Jan. 28, 2020. i ...

*Fall 2008 **''

Prince of Persia ''Prince of Persia'' is a video game franchise created by Jordan Mechner. It is built around a series of action-adventure games focused on various incarnations of the eponymous Prince, set in ancient and medieval Persia. The first two games ...

'', by

Jordan Mechner Jordan Mechner (born June 4, 1964) is an American video game designer, author, screenwriter, and filmmaker. He is best known for designing and programming the Broderbund Apple II games '' Karateka'' and ''Prince of Persia'' in the 1980s, the l ...

, A.B. Sina,

, and Alex Puvilland *Spring 2009 **''

The Photographer ''The Photographer'' is a three-part mixed media performance accompanied by music (also sometimes referred to as a chamber opera) by composer Philip Glass. The libretto is based on the life and homicide trial of 19th-century English photographer ...

'', by Emmanuel Guibert *Winter 2012 **'' Friends with Boys'' by

Faith Erin Hicks Faith Erin Hicks is a Canadian cartoonist and animator living in Vancouver, British Columbia. She has created a number of graphic novels, both as sole creator (such as ''Zombies Calling!'' and ''Friends with Boys'') and as a collaborator (''Not ...

*Summer 2013 **'' Delilah Dirk and the Turkish Lieutenant'' by Tony Cliff *Fall 2013 **'' ''Boxers'' and ''Saints'''' by

**'' The Cute Girl Network'', by Greg Means and M. K. Reed, with art by Joe Flood. *2014 **'' This One Summer'' by

and

*2015 **'' The Divine'' by Boaz Lavie, Asaf Hanuka,

Tomer Hanuka Tomer Hanuka ( he, תומר חנוכה; born 1974) is an illustrator and cartoonist. Biography At age twenty-two, Hanuka moved to New York City. Following his graduation from the School of Visual Arts in 2000, he quickly became a regular cont ...

* Spring 2016 **'' Delilah Dirk and the King's Shilling'' by Tony Cliff * Fall 2016 **'' Demon Vol. 1'' by Jason Shiga ** ''

Spinning Spin or spinning most often refers to: * Spinning (textiles), the creation of yarn or thread by twisting fibers together, traditionally by hand spinning * Spin, the rotation of an object around a central axis * Spin (propaganda), an intentionally b ...

'' by Tillie Walden ** ''

The Hunting Accident ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things that are already or about to be mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in E ...

'' by David Carlson and

Landis Blair Landis Blair (born Peter Landis Blair; 4 September 1983) is an American illustrator and comics artist. He illustrated the graphic novel ''The Hunting Accident'' and later wrote and illustrated ''The Envious Siblings and Other Morbid Nursery Rhymes ...

** '' The Dam Keeper'' by Robert Kondo and

Daisuke Tsutsumi (born November 6, 1974) is a Japanese animator and illustrator living in San Francisco, California. He is a former art director of Pixar. Biography Born and raised in Tokyo, Japan, he is married to , a jewelry artist and the niece of acclaim ...

** '' Cucumber Quest: The Doughnut Kingdom'' by Gigi D.G. ** '' Demon Vol. 4'' by Jason Shiga * Spring 2018 **'' Cucumber Quest: The Melody Kingdom'' by Gigi D.G. **'' The Dam Keeper: World Without Darkness'' by Robert Kondo and

Dice Tsutsumi (born November 6, 1974) is a Japanese animator and illustrator living in San Francisco, California. He is a former art director of Pixar. Biography Born and raised in Tokyo, Japan, he is married to , a jewelry artist and the niece of acclaimed ...

**'' The Adventure Zone: Here There Be Gerblins'' by

Clint McElroy Clinton Emil "Clint" McElroy, Jr. ( , born August 10, 1955) is an American podcaster, comic book writer and former radio personality. He is known for his work on the podcast ''The Adventure Zone'', as well as for hosting several FM radio shows ...

Griffin McElroy Griffin Andrew McElroy ( , born April 17, 1987) is an American podcaster, actor, writer, composer, and former video game journalist. He is known for his work on podcasts such as '' My Brother, My Brother and Me'' and ''The Adventure Zone'', as ...

Justin McElroy Justin Tyler McElroy ( , born November 8, 1980) is an American podcaster, comedian, and former video game journalist. He is known for his work on podcasts (such as '' My Brother, My Brother and Me'', ''The Adventure Zone'', and ''Sawbones'') an ...

, Travis McElroy, and Carey Pietsch **'' Delilah Dirk and the Pillars of Hercules'' by Tony Cliff * Fall 2018 ** '' Check, Please!: #Hockey'' by Ngozi Ukazu ** '' Cucumber Quest: The Flower Kingdom'' by Gigi D.G. *Winter 2018 **'' Speak'' by Laurie Halse Anderson and Emily Carroll **'' The Prince and the Dressmaker'' by Jen Wang **'' Cucumber Quest: The Ripple Kingdom'' by Gigi D.G.

References

External links

*
First Second Blog
* * {{authority control Comic book publishing companies of the United States * Holtzbrinck Publishing Group