- Graphic Novels
- Ages 7–11
- Science Fiction
Hilo: Gina and the Big Secret
Book 8 of 11 in HiloView the full series
A timeline-scrambling Gina adventure where magic has rewritten Earth and D.J.'s family has vanished. It is funny and accessible, but more arc-dependent than the earlier Hilo books.
- Best for7–11
- FormatGraphic
- Length224 pp
- Read aloud~1 hr45 min
The vibe
What it’s like.
Style
- Conversational
- Comedic
Tone
- Funny
- Exciting
- Adventurous
- Suspenseful
- Absurdist
Themes
Experience meters
What’s it about?
The story.
Gina's magic has changed the world, and not in a small way. Earth's timeline has been scrambled, magic is everywhere, strange creatures roam freely, D.J.'s family has disappeared, and Gina has to keep her powers secret while trying to fix everything. With Hilo and D.J. helping as best they can, Gina searches for the key that might restore reality before the new magical world becomes permanent. This eighth Hilo book continues the Gina-focused arc with big visual chaos, magical creatures, jokes and high stakes. It keeps the series' bright, funny energy but gives Gina a stronger burden of responsibility: her choices matter, and her power has consequences. The result is an excellent page-turner for existing fans, especially children who like stories where ordinary reality gets turned upside down. It is best read after book seven, since the magical crisis builds directly from that setup.
Fit check
Right for your child?
Where it lands by age
- 1
- 3
- 5
- 7
- 9
- 11
- 13
- Best fit · 7–11
- Read aloud · 7–10
- Independent · 7–11
Prose load
Light
Visual support
Very high
Reluctant-reader friendly
Very
Read-aloud quality
Strong
Works well for
- Reading aloud
- Reluctant readers
Nothing in the book is likely to concern most parents. Safe to recommend without preview.
Bedtime suitability
2 / 5 · Better outside bedtime
Sensitive-child
3 / 5 · Mostly fine
Graphic intensity
1 / 5 · None
Best for
- Magic powers
- Timeline chaos
- Funny graphic novel
- Strong girl character
- Reluctant readers
Avoid if
- Has not read book seven
- Needs standalone entry point
- Prefers robot only story
Particularly good for children who are…
- Reluctant reader
- Struggling with reading
- Making friends
- Anxiety and worry
In the classroom
How it works in school.
A funny, action-packed sci-fi comic series — a top reluctant-reader hook and classroom-library favourite.
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 weight is the magic rewriting the world — Gina's powers scrambling the timeline, DJ's family vanished, magical creatures everywhere. The Hilo where the universe gets bigger and the responsibility lands hardest on Gina.
- Friendship and belonging
- Magic powers
- Making a difference
- Proving yourself
- Secret skill
Why parents love it
The Hilo where Gina's arc takes over — magic replaces tech, Earth's timeline scrambled, the burden of fixing things shifts to her. Strong page-turner; arc-dependent and best read after the previous volume. Series stays bright.
- Shared humour
- Quick to read
- Conversation starter
In the series
Hilo.
11 books · open the series →
About the author & illustrator
Judd Winick.
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.
Buy or borrow
Pick up a copy.
- Bookshop.org ↗
- Waterstones ↗
- Amazon UK ↗
- Hive ↗
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