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Samuel Teer and Mar Julia, the duo behind the graphic novel Brownstone, were caught off guard when they learned on Sunday that their work had been awarded the prestigious 2025 Michael L. Printz Award. Teer, residing in Aurora, Colorado, faced a bit of a communication hiccup as his phone is configured to accept calls only from his wife and his literary agent, Jas Perry. “I noticed three missed calls, a voicemail, and a text message all in a short span,” he recounted. “Seeing ‘YALSA’ in the message led me to think it might be a scam directed at me!”
Thanks to a heads-up from Julia, who had already received the news from the Printz committee, Teer was finally able to return the call. He was met with the jubilant sounds of celebration from the committee members on the other end. “It was overwhelming to receive such heartfelt enthusiasm,” he recalled. “I expressed my gratitude and promised to prepare more words for my acceptance speech in L.A.”
Meanwhile, Julia was in the midst of moving into a new home in Baltimore when she received the award notification. “I was parked on the street, surrounded by moving boxes, when I answered an unknown number,” Julia shared. “With everything going on, I wasn’t even aware they were announcing the awards that day.”
The unexpected recognition was a delightful surprise for both creators. “I always strive to approach my work with joy, and it’s rewarding to know that readers connect with our story,” Julia noted. “I’m especially thrilled that the committee chose to honor Brownstone with this award.”
The Book Behind the Prize
Released by Versify, Brownstone is set against the backdrop of 1995 and immerses readers in themes of identity, family, cultural heritage, and the quest to belong within one’s community.
The narrative follows Almudena, a teenager who is sent to spend the summer with her Guatemalan father—whom she has never met—after her white mother departs for a dance tour. The summer unfolds as Almudena helps her father renovate his old brownstone in a largely Latinx neighborhood, all while grappling with a language barrier and familiarizing herself with the community and its diverse dynamics.
Teer, who previously published Veda: Assembly Required with Dark Horse Books, drew inspiration for Brownstone while working part-time at a hardware store. He recalled a Latin American father and daughter visiting the store, where the daughter seamlessly translated between Spanish and English. “Her ability to navigate between the two languages sparked my curiosity about their story,” said Teer, whose mother hails from Guatemala. “Her confidence in acting as a bridge between her father and others really resonated with me.”
Teer’s personal experiences also influenced the narrative. As a teenager, he experienced the challenges of visiting his grandfather in Guatemala, particularly the frustration of not speaking the language and relying on others for translation.
In 2016, Teer reached out to Julia, whose artwork had caught his attention on social media. Julia, with her diverse cultural background—having a Dominican father and an American mother of Irish and Italian descent—found common ground with Teer. “What initially drew me to Mar was their artistic style,” Teer explained. “As we collaborated, we discovered our shared mixed heritage and similar life experiences.”
For Julia, creating Brownstone marked her entry into the world of graphic novels. “I made it clear to Sam from the start that collaboration was crucial for me. Having the ability to shape illustrations and adapt them to best fit the scenes he crafted was invaluable,” she stated.
Teer emphasized the importance of collaboration in his creative process. “In graphic novel writing, my goal is always to work collaboratively,” he mentioned. “I believe in listening to and integrating input from my collaborators. This teamwork is essential for producing something that transcends individual contributions. I aim for the final product to feel like a unified creation rather than a collection of separate efforts.”
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