- Graphic Novels
- Ages 7–11
- Fantasy
Hilda and the Midnight Giant
Book 2 of 6 in Hilda Graphic NovelsView the full series
Part of the Hilda universeOpen the collection
A richer, more emotionally satisfying Hilda adventure about home, hidden neighbours and the tiny lives we might not notice. It keeps the wonder of the first book but adds a stronger story engine.
- Best for7–11
- FormatGraphic
- Length48 pp
- Read aloud~23 min
The vibe
What it’s like.
Style
- Conversational
- Literary
Tone
- Adventurous
- Whimsical
- Heartwarming
- Suspenseful
Themes
Experience meters
What’s it about?
The story.
Hilda's peaceful life is interrupted when tiny invisible residents begin bombarding her home with stones and eviction notices. At first the little creatures seem more nuisance than neighbour, but Hilda gradually realises there is a whole community living alongside her family, with rules, fears and grievances of their own. As she tries to understand them, another mystery emerges: a giant who appears only at midnight, visible to Hilda but almost impossible to explain to anyone else. The story blends comic misunderstanding, folklore strangeness and an unexpectedly moving reflection on home. It is still accessible and visually inviting, but the emotional stakes are stronger than in the first book, making it a particularly good choice for readers who like magical worlds with heart.
Fit check
Right for your child?
Where it lands by age
- 1
- 3
- 5
- 7
- 9
- 11
- 13
- Best fit · 7–11
- Read aloud · 6–10
- Independent · 7–11
Prose load
Light
Visual support
Very high
Reluctant-reader friendly
Very
Read-aloud quality
Workable
Works well for
- Reluctant readers
Nothing in the book is likely to concern most parents. Safe to recommend without preview.
Bedtime suitability
3 / 5 · Workable
Sensitive-child
3 / 5 · Mostly fine
Graphic intensity
3 / 5 · Some
Best for
- Magical mystery
- Emotionally warm fantasy
- Visually led readers
- Gentle peril
- Family reading
Avoid if
- Wants fast gags
- Prefers realistic stories
- Dislikes moving home themes
Particularly good for children who are…
- Reluctant reader
- Moving house
- Anxiety and worry
In the classroom
How it works in school.
Luke Pearson's enchanting Hilda graphic-novel series — a beautifully drawn reluctant-reader favourite and classroom-library cornerstone.
A book children love that happens to support school — never a stand-in for the texts a class is taught with. Reviewed for the classroom · June 2026.
Why it lands
Why they love it.
Why kids love it
The specific delight is the elf-community — Hilda discovering she's been sharing her valley with thousands of tiny invisible people who've been quietly enduring her clumsy feet for years. And then a giant in the distance, visible only at midnight. The Hilda where the world reveals its hidden lives.
- Secret world
- Adventure and freedom
- Making a difference
- Friendship and belonging
Why parents love it
The Hilda where Pearson hits his stride — invisible elves treated as a whole community with rules and grievances, and a midnight giant that turns the book into something quietly emotional. The volume that earns the series its reputation. Best after book one.
- Beautiful illustrations
- Conversation starter
- Great writing
- Bedtime appropriate
In the series
Hilda Graphic Novels.
6 books · open the series →
About the author & illustrator
Luke Pearson.
If you liked this
Three ways out of this book.
If you liked this, try…
Lateral matches. Same shelf, different texture.
Come into this from…
Easier or preparing reads — perfect lead-ins.
Where to go next…
Escalation reads — a step up in scale, silliness, or stakes.
More like this…
Books that share themes and topics with this one.
Buy or borrow
Pick up a copy.
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