First Second Wins Three Times at Inaugural Excellence in Graphic Lit Awards

Scott Westerfield and Alex Puvilland’s Spill Zone, a haunting sci-fi thriller, was named book of the year at the inaugural Excellence in Graphic Literature Awards, one of three winning books published by First Second Books. The EGLA were presented June 16 at ceremonies held at the Denver Comic Con.

In addition to taking home the award for book of the year, First Second also published The Hunting Accident by David L. Carlson and Landis Blair, which won the EGLA for the best adult book of the year; and Real Friends by Shannon Hale and LeUyen Pham, which was awarded the EGLA for the best children’s book of the year.

The EGLA for the best middle-grade book was presented to As The Crow Flies by Melanie Gillman, the story of queer black teenage girl who spends a week at a white Christian summer camp. The book was published by Iron Circus Comics.

Home Time: Book One by Campbell Whyte, a fantasy and coming of age graphic novel published by Top Shelf, was awarded the EGLA for best Young Adult book.

And the Mosaic Award, the EGLA for a book that best represents diverse communities, was presented to The Best We Could Do by Thi Bui, a graphic memoir of her family’s escape from Vietnam and immigration to the U.S. The book is published by Abrams ComicArts.

The Excellence in Graphic Literature Awards are a new book industry-focused awards program organized by the Pop Culture Classroom, a nonprofit educational organization that oversees the Denver Comic Con.

Pop Culture Classroom director of programming Bruce MacIntosh kicked off the evening with introductory remarks. In addition, there were remarks by out-going PCC director of education Illya Kowalchui, and from the newly-appointed director of education Dr., Katie Monnin.

In addition, Darry McDaniels, better known as DMC of the pioneering rap group Run DMC, presented the Mosaic Award, And Len Vlahos, co-owner of the Tattered Cover Bookstore in Denver, presented the book of the year award.