Hilo

Review by Booklist Review

D. J. is the only ordinary person in his family. The one special thing about him was his friendship with Gina, but then she moved away. When a boy named Hilo mysteriously crashes to earth with no memory of who he is or where he came from, and gigantic alien monsters start attacking, D. J. finds his life becoming a lot more extraordinary. Winick, the celebrated creator of Pedro & Me (2000), turns his focus to kids' comics in this fun sci-fi adventure. There are somber bits D. J.'s feelings of inadequacy, Hilo's fractured memories of battle but, overall, the tone is cheerful and exciting. Readers will love the interactions between D. J. and Hilo, and all the running around after various monsters makes for a fast read that stays age-appropriate. The art is colorful and detailed, without being cluttered, and D. J.'s world is realistic, which makes the interactions with out-of-this-world Hilo all the more amusing. This is a great addition to graphic novel collections that should have a broad appeal.--Wildsmith, Snow Copyright 2015 Booklist

From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.

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Review by Publisher's Weekly Review

While D.J. Lim's friends and family are all "awesome at something," the 10-year-old sees himself as average and boring. That's until Hilo, a boy with superpowers, crash lands on planet Earth, making D.J.'s life anything but dull. Although Hilo can fly and shoot lasers from his hands, he's clueless when it comes to normal things like food and clothing, forcing D.J. to look after the shaggy-haired dynamo like he would a puppy. Hilo can't recall where he came from, but his memories slowly return as he, D.J., and D.J.'s friend Gina contend with giant robotic insects that herald something more sinister. Winick keeps the action flowing while giving his characters authentic motivations and including numerous jokes and recurring gags (Hilo's favorite human greeting is the terrified "Aaahh!" he and D.J. exchanged when they met). Though Winick's comic-strip lookalike cartoons are a tad generic, he creates a rousing adventure with a diverse cast (D.J.'s family is of Asian descent, while Gina's is African-American), and a cliffhanger ending should leave readers anticipating the next book, due in spring 2016. Ages 8-12. Agent: Jodi Reamer, Writers House. (Sept.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

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Review by School Library Journal Review

Gr 2-5-Daniel Jackson Lim, aka DJ, is an ordinary boy in a family of overachievers. He meets Hilo, a robot boy who fell to Earth from space and doesn't know where he came from or what he is doing on this planet. DJ, along with his best friend, Gina, help Hilo unlock the secrets of his past and stop the destruction of the planet. The first installment in this graphic novel series is a fast-paced adventure that is beautifully illustrated in full color and aimed at readers who would love to have a superhero friend. Captivating, silly, tender, and, most importantly, funny, this title will be popular with all readers-from reluctant to avid. The strength of friendship and cooperation is a theme throughout. With a cliff-hanger ending, the book will have kids eager for the sequel. VERDICT Diverse characters, good friends, and humorous dialogue coupled with colorful illustrations and plenty of action make this a must-have for all children's graphic novel collections.-Paula Huddy, The Blake School-Highcroft Campus, Wayzata, MN © Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

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Review by Horn Book Review

Color by Guy Major. D.J., who worries that he's not good at anything, befriends newly crashed amnesiac extraterrestrial Hilo and is pulled into a madcap adventure complete with sentient robots, giant insects, and plenty of burp jokes. Impeccable comedic timing (including clever paneling and page turns), a diverse cast, and Hilo's frenetic enthusiasm for new experiences make this series-opening graphic novel pure fun. (c) Copyright 2016. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

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Review by Kirkus Book Review

Hailing from a big family of overachievers, D.J. feels largely unexceptional until he meets a strange boy who falls from the sky and helps him realize his potential. D.J. isn't good at anything. He has two brothers and two sisters who have miles of accomplishments among them, and the only thing he considers himself adept at was a friendship with neighbor Ginabut she moved away three years ago. One day, D.J. meets a peculiar, sunny, towheaded boy who has apparently landed on Earth wearing nothing but silver underpants and recalling nothing of his previous life. D.J. immediately befriends him, and the duo becomes a threesome when Gina moves back to town. Over time, the boy's memory starts to return. He recalls his name, Hilo, and how he came to Earthand that there are dangerous robots that could annihilate the entire planet. Although D.J. may not have a list of skills he can tick off on his fingers, he learns something more important: not only is he loyal, he is brave. Winick has concocted a universally appealing tale with bright, expressive illustrations that gently reminds readers that in this era of overscheduling and insistence on perfection, sometimes just being true to yourself is important enough. D.J. and his family are Asian-American, Gina and hers are African-American, and Caucasian-looking extraterrestrial Hilo nicely rounds out the graphic novel's diversity. A wholeheartedly weird and wonderful tale of friendship, acceptance, and robots. (Graphic science fiction. 7-12) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

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