Codename F event reveal – Alexis Deacon & Joe Todd-Stanton: Gripping Graphic Novels

As part of Scotland’s Year of Young People 2018, Book Festival staff have been working with a group of school pupils aged 8-14 from Craigmillar in Edinburgh to co-curate a strand of events exploring the concept of freedom. The name the young people have chosen for their strand is Codename F

The Codename F young programmers have designed 9 events across the Book Festival’s public adult and children’s programmes, and the programme for schools. In a series of posts, the young people (and some of the authors featured) explain the reasoning behind their decisions. 


Alexis Deacon & Joe Todd-Stanton: Gripping Graphic Novels
Friday 24 August, 17:00 – 18:00
Baillie Gifford Imagination Lab (Charlotte Square Gardens)
£5.00 – Tickets available here from Tues 26 June

Travel back in time with stunning books from two highly talented illustrators. Two-time winner of the New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Book Award, Alexis Deacon returns with the second instalment of his medieval fantasy graphic novel Geis series. Joe Todd-Stanton’s beautiful new adventure is set in ancient Egypt and has a strong female protagonist at its core.

The Codename F young programmers wanted a wider audience to enjoy new, exciting graphic novels that combine stunning art with compelling stories. Joe Johnson’s thoughts reflected those of his other co-programmers:

The art styles in the books really intrigued me.

Both novels present engaging stories featuring strong characters dealing with issues of freedom in a refreshing new way. The Year of Young People co-programmers felt that it was important to present ideas around freedom in lots of different ways – as Atika Al-azari said:

People can’t differentiate between their freedoms and assaulting other people’s freedoms.

Come and explore freedoms in a different way on Friday 24 August. Tickets cost £5.00 and we recommend booking in advance.

You can find a full list of the Year of Young People: Codename F events here.

You can book tickets for any of the events in the Codename F strand from Tuesday 26 June online, by phone 0345 373 5888 or in person. You can find all of the booking information on the Book Festival website at www.edbookfest.co.uk/the-festival/how-to-book


About the Year of Young People 2018

In 2018, Scotland puts its young people in the spotlight, celebrating their talents, contributions and creating new opportunities for them to shine. The Year of Young People 2018 is a year-long programme of events and activities that will give young people in Scotland the opportunity to show the world what they are made of.