First Second Acquires Nnedi Okorafor Middle Grade Graphic Novel

First Second, Macmillan’s graphic novel imprint, has acquired Space Cat, a middle grade graphic novel by the celebrated Africanfuturist novelist and comics writer Nnedi Okorafor and artist Tana Ford. The book will be published 2024.

In a tale that incorporates Okorafor’s background as a Nigerian American, Space Cat is the story of Periwinkle the cat and his life after his family moves to a town in Nigeria. Very quickly Periwinkle realizes that something’s not quite right.

At night Periwinkle discovers that the tiny blue orange flowers he sees all around town can uproot themselves and walk around. In fact, they aren’t plants at all; they’re aliens who plan to the destroy the town.  Not to worry, it turns out that Periwinkle is a super feline—he’s Space Cat and he gets his friends together to take on these flowery alien invaders.

Nnedi Okorafor is an acclaimed novelist celebrated for her science fiction and Africanfuturist works. She has been awarded the Hugo, Nebula, World Fantasy, and many other awards. Among her novels are the Binta trilogy, the Book of Phoenix, and Who Fears Death. She has also written comics for Marvel, including Black Panther: Long Live the King (also with art by Tana Ford) and Wakanda Forever. She is also the writer of the 2019 Eisner Award winning graphic novel LaGuardia with artist Tana Ford, published by Berger Books/Dark Horse Comics.