October 30, 2026

Congratulations to Tillie Walden ‘16 and Emil Wilson ’21 for making Publishers Weekly’s Best Graphic Novels of 2026 list! Tillie’s CHARITY & SYLVIA and Emil’s THE NIGHTINGALES claimed two of the coveted list’s five slots.

Published by Drawn & Quarterly, CHARITY & SYLVIA received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly, Kirkus, and landed Book Riot’s Best of 2026 list and Vermont Reads Choice for 2026. This graphic historical biography is based on the extensive archives of these two women’s writings, and their incredible lives living as an openly lesbian couple in 19th-century Vermont. You can find more about CHARITY & SYLVIA here: https://drawnandquarterly.com/books/charity-and-sylvia

In addition to being an alum, award-winning cartoonist Tillie is also a member of CCS faculty and was appointed Vermont’s fifth and youngest Cartoonist Laureate. Tillie won her first Eisner Award in 2018 for “Best Reality-Based Work” for her graphic novel memoir SPINNING (First Second), which made her, at 22, one of the youngest Eisner Award winners ever. She won her second in 2020 for ARE YOU LISTENING? (First Second/Macmillan), for the “Best Graphic Album—New Material” category.

THE NIGHTINGALES was published by Simon & Schuster and received starred reviews from Booklist, Kirkus, and Publishers Weekly. THE NIGHTINGALES began as part of Emil’s CCS thesis project. It is a coming-of-age story based on real-life experiences during the height of the AIDS epidemic in the United States. You can find more about THE NIGHTINGALES here: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Nightingales/Emil-Wilson/9781668217771

Emil is an award-winning art director, illustrator, and cartoonist based in San Francisco. While a student at CCS, Emil completed a graphic novel in verse form. He was nominated for Canada’s Broken Pencil Award and earned an Ignatz “Promising New Talent” nomination for PROBABLY THE LAST TIME.

Congrats, Tillie and Emil!