{{short description|Graphic novel publisher}} {{Use American English|date=February 2023}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2023}} {{Infobox publisher | name = First Second Books | image = First Second Logo.png | caption = | type = | genre = | fate = | predecessor = | successor = | founded = {{start date and age|2006}} | founder = | defunct = | country = United States | headquarters = Equitable Building, New York City | locations = | distribution = Worldwide | keypeople = Mark Siegel | publications = Graphic novels | services = | owner = | parent = Roaring Brook Press (Macmillan Publishers) | divisions = | subsid = | website = {{Official website|https://firstsecondbooks.com}} }} '''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''.
Authors and artists published by First Second include Ben Hatke,<ref name=FScreators>{{cite web|url=https://firstsecondbooks.com/creators/|title=01 Creators|author=Bauer, Caitlin|website=First Second Books|access-date=February 8, 2020|archive-date=February 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200229131127/https://firstsecondbooks.com/creators/|url-status=live}}</ref> Gene Luen Yang,<ref name=FScreators /> Jillian Tamaki, Vera Brosgol, Jen Wang, Shannon Hale, LeUyen Pham, Scott Chantler, and Japanese director Hayao Miyazaki.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=September 13 |first1=Christian Holub |last2=EDT |first2=2022 at 12:00 PM |title=See how Hayao Miyazaki's graphic novel 'Shuna's Journey' foreshadowed his classic films |url=https://ew.com/books/hayao-miyazaki-shunas-journey-foreshadowed-princess-mononoke-nausicaa/ |access-date=October 16, 2022 |website=EW.com |language=en |archive-date=October 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221016222038/https://ew.com/books/hayao-miyazaki-shunas-journey-foreshadowed-princess-mononoke-nausicaa/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
First Second is headed by creative director Mark Siegel.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=http://www.ew.com/article/2016/12/08/first-second-graphic-novels-fall-2017-cover-reveals|title=See the Covers for 14 Graphic Novels by Gene Yang, Jason Shiga, and More|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=December 8, 2016|archive-date=December 9, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161209204711/http://www.ew.com/article/2016/12/08/first-second-graphic-novels-fall-2017-cover-reveals|url-status=live}}</ref>
==History== First Second launched in U.S. stores and online in May 2006.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/comics/article/70626-graphic-novel-publisher-first-second-celebrates-ten-years.html|title=Graphic Novel Publisher First Second Celebrates Ten Years|access-date=December 9, 2016|archive-date=December 21, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221014934/http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/comics/article/70626-graphic-novel-publisher-first-second-celebrates-ten-years.html|url-status=live}}</ref> 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,<ref name=":2">{{cite web|url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/comics/article/6014-it-s-time-for-first-second.html|title=It's Time for First Second|work=Publishers Weekly|access-date=February 8, 2020|archive-date=January 29, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220129040315/https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/comics/article/6014-it-s-time-for-first-second.html|url-status=live}}</ref> the first graphic novel ever nominated for a National Book Award,<ref>{{Cite web |last=MacDonald |first=Heidi |date=January 23, 2007 |title=Syndicated Comics |url=https://www.comicsbeat.com/american-born-chinese-wins-award/ |access-date=October 16, 2022 |website=The Beat |language=en-US |archive-date=October 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221016222040/https://www.comicsbeat.com/american-born-chinese-wins-award/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and the first ever to win the American Library Association's Michael L. Printz Award.<ref>YALSA, [http://www.ala.org/yalsa/booklistsawards/bookawards/printzaward/previouswinners/winners Michael L. Printz Winners and Honor Books] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140326175223/http://www.ala.org/yalsa/booklistsawards/bookawards/printzaward/previouswinners/winners |date=March 26, 2014 }}.</ref><ref name="Gustines">George Gene Gustines, [https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/04/books/library-of-congress-anoints-graphic-novelist-as-ambassador-for-young-peoples-literature.html Library of Congress Anoints Graphic Novelist as Ambassador for Young People’s Literature] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221202194928/https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/04/books/library-of-congress-anoints-graphic-novelist-as-ambassador-for-young-peoples-literature.html |date=December 2, 2022 }}, ''The New York Times'', January 4, 2016.</ref>
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.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2015/02/02/caldecott-printz-honors-this-one-summer-co-authors-grateful-for-graphic-novel-milestone-as-honor-book/|title=CALDECOTT, PRINTZ HONORS: 'This One Summer' co-authors 'grateful' for graphic-novel milestone as Honor Book|last=Cavna|first=Michael|date=February 2, 2015|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=April 14, 2018|issn=0190-8286|archive-date=November 1, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191101225035/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2015/02/02/caldecott-printz-honors-this-one-summer-co-authors-grateful-for-graphic-novel-milestone-as-honor-book/|url-status=live}}</ref>
== 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<ref>{{Cite magazine |title=Entertainment Weekly: First Look at First Second's Spring 2018 Graphic Novels |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |url=http://ew.com/books/first-second-spring-2018-cover-reveal/first-seconds-upcoming-graphic-novels/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170810014033/http://ew.com/books/first-second-spring-2018-cover-reveal/first-seconds-upcoming-graphic-novels/ |archive-date=August 10, 2017 |access-date=August 9, 2017}}</ref> * ''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 === *{{cite book|title=Laika|date=2007|author-link=Nick Abadzis|first=Nick|last=Abadzis}} * {{cite book|author-link=Emmanuel Guibert|first=Emmanuel|last=Guibert|title=Alan's War: The Memories of G.I. Alan Cope|date=2008}}<ref>{{cite news|title='Alan's War': A Graphic Novel Revisits WWII|date=May 24, 200|department=WEEKEND EDITION SUNDAY|work=NPR|first= Eleanor |last=Beardsley|url=https://www.npr.org/2009/05/24/104436362/alans-war-a-graphic-novel-revisits-wwii}}</ref> * {{cite book|title=The Photographer|date=2009 |author-link1=Emmanuel Guibert|first1=Emmanuel|last1=Guibert|author-link2=Didier Lefèvre|first2=Didier|last2= Lefèvre|first3= Frédéric |last3=Lemercier}} * {{cite book|title=Prince of Persia|date=2008|author-link1=Jordan Mechner |first1=Jordan|last1=Mechner|first2=A.B. |last2=Sina|author-link3=LeUyen Pham|first3=LeUyen|last3=Pham|first4=Alex |last4=Puvilland}} * {{cite book|author-link1=Joann Sfar|first1=Joann|last1=Sfar|author-link2=Emmanuel Guibert|first2=Emmanuel|last2=Guibert|title=Sardine in Outer Space |date=2006–2008}} * {{cite book|author-link1=Joann Sfar|first1=Joann|last1=Sfar|author-link2=Emmanuel Guibert|first2=Emmanuel|last2=Guibert|title=The Professor's Daughter|date=2007}} *{{cite book|title=American Born Chinese|date=2006|author-link=Gene Luen Yang|first=Gene Luen|last=Yang}}
=== 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<ref>{{Cite magazine |title=See the Covers for 14 Graphic Novels by Gene Yang, Jason Shiga, and More |url=http://www.ew.com/article/2016/12/08/first-second-graphic-novels-fall-2017-cover-reveals |url-status=live |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161209204711/http://www.ew.com/article/2016/12/08/first-second-graphic-novels-fall-2017-cover-reveals |archive-date=December 9, 2016 |access-date=December 8, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Book Deals: Week of October 24, 2016 |url=http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/book-deals/article/71842-book-deals-week-of-october-24-2016.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161207034227/http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/book-deals/article/71842-book-deals-week-of-october-24-2016.html |archive-date=December 7, 2016 |access-date=December 8, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=October 7, 2016 |title=First Second Exclusive: David Carlson and Landis Blair Announce the Hunting Accident, A Crime Family Drama |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2016/10/first-second-exclusive-david-carlson-and-landis-bl.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220112324/https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2016/10/first-second-exclusive-david-carlson-and-landis-bl.html |archive-date=December 20, 2016 |access-date=December 8, 2016}}</ref> * ''Check, Please!: #Hockey'' by Ngozi Ukazu<ref>{{cite web |date=January 8, 2018 |title=Fall 2018 First Second Cover Reveal |url=http://firstsecondbooks.com/uncategorized/fall-2018-first-second-cover-reveal/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180313092131/http://firstsecondbooks.com/uncategorized/fall-2018-first-second-cover-reveal/ |archive-date=March 13, 2018 |access-date=March 12, 2018 |website=First Second Books}}</ref> * ''Speak'' by Laurie Halse Anderson and Emily Carroll<ref name=":03">{{Cite web |last=Gagliano |first=Gina |date=May 9, 2017 |title=Winter 2018 First Second Cover Reveal |url=https://firstsecondbooks.com/uncategorized/winter-2018-first-second-books/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200121115123/https://firstsecondbooks.com/uncategorized/winter-2018-first-second-books/ |archive-date=January 21, 2020 |access-date=April 10, 2020 |website=First Second Books |language=en-US}}</ref> * ''The Prince and the Dressmaker'' by Jen Wang<ref name=":03" /> * ''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== {{Reflist}} {{Refbegin}} {{Refend}}
==External links== * {{Official website}} * [https://firstsecondbooks.com/blog/ First Second Blog] * {{gcdb publisher|id=2996|title=First Second Books}} * {{comicbookdb|type=imprint|id=180|title=First Second Books}}
{{Comic book publishers in North America navbox}} {{Georg von Holtzbrinck Publishing Group}} {{authority control}}
Category:First Second Books books Category:Comic book publishing companies of the United States * Category:Holtzbrinck Publishing Group