Hilo All The Pieces Fit nails the ending to this graphic novel series

I just asked our 10 year-old what he likes about the Hilo graphic novel series by Judd Winick. He gave me a series of one-word answers, like: action, funny, humor and then he said action again. He hasn’t really embraced his descriptive powers yet, so I’ll fill in the blanks. Hilo is one of the best graphic novel series of books out there for upper elementary school students through middle school. Personally, it’s one of our favorite series of books or graphic novels that has a continuous narrative. While Hilo All The Pieces Fit, seems like an ending, it might not be.

As an older reader I enjoy the way that Winick manages to give solid traits to each character. The younger characters are fully fleshed out and the only ones that are provided with surface personalities are the adults. That is 100% OK because at its heart the Hilo series is built for elementary all the way through middle school readers. It’s because it’s such an effective and well crafted graphic novel that it extends its enjoyment far past the intended audience. Much like Owly is a great all age’s graphic novel for younger elementary aged readers, the Hilo series picks up that descriptor for ages 7 and up.

Hilo All The Pieces Fit is the sixth book in the series and where the story ends. Trust is a huge theme in this book. Izzy and Razorwark are back and seemingly working together. Hilo has returned and can’t figure out why she’s so calm about the destruction that’s going on.

If you’ve read all the Hilo books until now you might be skeptical as to how the series can end. Any classic movie or TV series can tell you that finding a finale to a story is tough. You might not please he fans, it might just be a bad entry into the cannon or it might just rely too much on nostalgia.

All The Pieces Fit absolutely nails the landing. It amplifies the action and turns up the emotions that the characters have been feeling for the previous five books. The book also paces the humor very well, allowing the kids to bring the adults into the story, learning about robots, magic, talking cats and so on.

It is a bit bittersweet to see Hilo end. However, just like the underlying theme of All The Pieces Fit, trust, read the book all the way through to the end and you’ll see. Ages 7 and up will be able to read Hilo and enjoy it. Upper elementary age students through middle school will love it. This is one of those series of books that you’ll purchase and keep in your forever library.