Hilo, The Great Big Boom-a funny, go-to graphic novel for ages 7 and up

We’ve been late to good parties before and it’s frustrating. Hilo, The Great Big Boom by Judd Winick is the third book in the Hilo series and I’m just joining this party. Is it an apt metaphor to compare a graphic novel to a party?  Let’s define party as having a fun time, smiling when you’re listening to their stories, not wanting it to end and liking the characters who are there with you. Using that, as well as a slightly boarder definition of party, Hilo, The Great Big Boom is something that kids 7 and up will absolutely love.

The first two inside pages of the book features a who’s-who of authors heaping praised on the Hilo books. Kids though will pay closer attention to the blurbs from their peers, like 8 year old Nate who said “I Love this book because it is exciting and funny”. Young Nate hits the nail on the head as to why anyone, but especially kids will enjoy this book.

Nate is a robot from another dimension who lives on Earth and has two human friends, Gina and D.J. He can fly, has a secret lab in his basement where he builds things and eats mangoes. However, Nate has secrets about his past that he’s unable to remember, some of which revolve around an evil robot who is at war with everyone in Hilo’s world.

The Great Big Boom picks up immediately where the second book, Saving The Whole Wide World ended. Gina has been sucked into a portal, leaving Hilo and D.J. in the middle of a field with the U.S. Army surrounding them. The two friends are taken into custody and the great mystery of Hilo’s past, rescuing Gina and the many creatures and adventures they meet along the way enter the story.

The colors are done by Steve Hamaker and really compliment the story. When the dark reds and pinks are used in the telling of Hilo’s home world you get the feeling that Razorwark is indeed a very bad guy. Likewise, the majority of the colors in the graphic novel, older readers feel like they’re reading a series of classic comic strips that they grew up with.

Hilo, The Great Big Boom is fun. It’s the kind of graphic novel that parents will borrow from their children when they go to sleep. Then the kids will come into your room early in the morning and give you the stink eye as if to say ‘hey, ask me before you borrow my book’.

Ages 7 and up will love this book, but might have a little trouble reading it on their own or catching some of the jokes. 8 year olds will immediately get the subtle jokes, in addition to some of the artwork that lets readers into what the characters are feeling.

The Great Big Boom ends in a way that sets up a fourth book. Sometimes when a book ends like that you roll your eyes in frustration because you wanted closure. Other times you look forward, close the book and want to see what’s next for the characters. The Hilo graphic novel series are certainly the later. It’s a series kids will read over and over as they bid their time until the next one is released.