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First Second Books

Logo: The logo is from the following website: http://www.firstsecondbooks.com, Non-free logo, via Wikipedia3

Graphic novel publisher

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.2 Wikipedia text CC BY-SA 4.0

Last updated Oct 21, 2026.

Overview

2006Founded1

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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.2

The story

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 published American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang, the first graphic novel ever nominated for a National Book Award, and the first ever to win the American Library Association's Michael L. Printz Award.

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.

In 2024, First Second launched 23rd Street Books, an imprint for adult-oriented graphic novels.

From Wikipedia’s article on First Second Books, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.4

Products and brands

  • comic
  • graphic novel

Listed on Wikidata.1

Before 2010

Abadzis, Nick (2007). Laika.

Guibert, Emmanuel (2008). Alan's War: The Memories of G.I. Alan Cope.

Guibert, Emmanuel; Lefèvre, Didier; Lemercier, Frédéric (2009). The Photographer.

Mechner, Jordan; Sina, A.B.; Pham, LeUyen; Puvilland, Alex (2008). Prince of Persia.

Read the full text

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

Check, Please!: #Hockey by Ngozi Ukazu

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson and E. M. Carroll

The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang

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

From Wikipedia’s article on First Second Books, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.4

Subsidiaries and ownership

Parent company

  • Roaring Brook Press

From Wikidata.1

Timeline

  1. 2006Founded Founded1

Sources

The numbers on this page point here. Each one links to the record it came from.

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