Hilo: The boy who crashed to Earth
VERDICT: Recommended
Concern Level: Low
Christian Parent Review
Concern LevelLow
Concerning & Potentially Concerning Content
The most concerning item actually comes at the end where the author is highlighted. During the short bio comic books are held in a positive light. It is important for parents to know that these young kids graphic novels are very different than the modern day comic books, which tend to be extremely dark, violent, sensual, etc. There are also a few references to things the author has worked on that are certainly not for kids, such as MTV’s The Real World (one of the original reality shows). Our copy also had a shoutout from the Big Nate author on the cover, a series we reviewed and highly suggest avoiding. The term “holy mackerel” is used many times by several different characters. Christians as a whole should be more careful with words like “holy” that have an important meaning to our faith. Definitely work talking to your young reader about. The word “dork” and “real freak” also appear. Hilo drops to earth and at first is shown in his underwear. This is drawn “cartoony” and is meant to just be funny, but good to know it is there because it goes on for a few pages. There is one short part that is a bit out of context with the rest where the main character’s older brother shows up, calls him a dork, yells at him and threatens to kick his butt (if he touches his guitar). In the preview for the next book a new character calls a bad guy a “bloated, zit-caked boils from a troll’s butt”.
VerdictRecommended
Our Thoughts
This short and light comic is an option to consider if you are looking for replacements to the series we highly recommend completely avoiding (Big Nate, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Timmy Failure – see those reviews for details). As you can see above this first title is mostly clean. It has a nice mix of action, humor and an interesting storyline. The characters are pretty solid and friendship is a focus of this first book. Even places where it could have gone into many of the immoral views of things we see so often today the author resists. At one point the main character says that school is a boring place where they try and teach you stuff all day, to which Hilo responds that that doesn’t sound boring at all. This is one you can feel good about giving your kiddos, especially if you are willing to take the time to discuss the handful of items listed above.
Plot SummaryNote: This information is typically from the publisher.Use with caution
"An action-packed page turner with heart "--Dav Pilkey, author of DOG MAN Dog Man meets Big Nate in HILO-the hilarious New York Times Bestselling GRAPHIC NOVEL SERIES kids love "A Total BLAST," says the Miami Herald BOOM CLANG CRASH D.J. and Gina are totally ordinary kids. But Hilo isn't Hilo just fell out of the sky and doesn't know where he came from, or what he's doing on Earth. (Or why going to school in only your underwear is a BAD idea ) . . . But UH-OH, what if Hilo wasn't the only thing to fall to our planet? Can the trio unlock the secrets of Hilo's past? Can Hilo SURVIVE a day at school? Find out in HILO-a laugh-out-loud, epic story of friendship Adventure (And the occasionaly mutant space robot).
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Scripture Reflection
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 'Honor your father and mother'—which is the first commandment with a promise—'so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.' Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.
— Ephesians 6:1-4
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