EarlyWord Graphic Novel contributor, Robin Brenner is a Reference/Teen Librarian at the Brookline (MA) Public Library. She was the Chair of the ALA/YALSA Great Graphic Novels for Teens Selection List Committee in 2008, was a judge for the 2007 Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, and has covered graphic novels, manga and anime for Library Journal, School Library Journal, VOYA, and GraphicNovelReporter.com. She gives lectures and workshops on graphic novels, manga, and anime all across the country. Her guide Understanding Manga and Anime was nominated for a 2008 Eisner Award. She is the editor-in-chief of No Flying No Tights, a graphic novel review site, www.noflyingnotights.com, She is a contributor to the group blog Good Comics for Kids hosted at School Library Journal.

How she describes herself:

I love any and all forms of storytelling.  I grew up listening to stories on tape and live from my family, I wanted to be a Disney animator when I grew up, and I watch a lot more television than most folks I know.  So I really don’t distinguish between formats — why limit yourself to only one or two ways to get a story?

I am pretty much never without my ipod and a book (music is a constant in my life, and I always need something to read…just in case.)  I take any excuse to dress up in a costume (cosplay http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosplay at conventions, Literary Character dress-up day at work…whatever I can get away with!).

Committee work

Graphic Novel Task Force 2003-2005

Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults 2003-2006

Great Graphic Novels for Teens 2006-2008, Chair for the last year (2008-Jan 2009)

Margaret A. Edwards Award Committee (Chair) 2010

Robin’s favorites:

Superhero — still Batgirl (a.k.a. Barbara Gordon.)

Comics writers — Greg Rucka, Brian K. Vaughan, Brian Michael Bendis, Ed Brubaker

Comics artists — Bryan Hitch, Jo Chen, Tony Harris, Chynna Clugston, Becky Cloonan

Comics writer/artists (they do both!) — Matthew Loux, Tony Cliff

Webcomic — Kate Beaton’s Hark a Vagrant

Manga creator(s) — Fumi Yoshinaga, Takehiko Inoue, Naoki Urasawa, CLAMP

Pet — I am a cat person, and am not quite sure how I lived without a cat for five years of my adult life.