SUBSCRIBE
SUBSCRIBE
SLJ Blog Network +
  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Classroom Bookshelf
  • The Yarn
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About/Contact
  • Previews
  • Reviews
  • Manga
  • All Ages
  • Young Adult
  • Interviews
  • News

July 8, 2021 by Esther Keller

HiLo Vol. 7 | Review

July 8, 2021 by Esther Keller   2 comments

Book Cover HiLo vol. 7
Gina, the Girl Who Broke the World

A new story arc begins in HiLo vol. 7, but readers will have to wait a while for the next installment!

In the beginning of June, I posted to my Google classroom. The post actually had nothing to do with comics or reading—it was about Resiliency Week—but I found this comment from a student:

Hey Ms. Keller I was reading this comic book series called “Hilo” and I have to wait until February of 2022 for book 8. 🙁

That’s a long time to wait! My 9-year-old daughter had the same reaction!

HiLo vol. 7: Gina the Girl Who Broke the World
By Judd Winick
2021, Random House Graphics
Grades 3-7

The HiLo series is very popular with middle-grade readers and is a perfect summer read. The first six volumes complete a story arc and in volume 7, Gina takes center stage and starts a new story. Reading volume 7 made me think of traditional superhero comics, which have stories that ebb and flow and start anew all the time. I’m the type who often reads a few books in a series and then likes to move on, and I just got a kick at how the new story arc continued in volume 7, much like a traditional Marvel or DC comic book series.

SCROLL TO KEEP READING THIS POST

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

After HiLo defeats Razorwark, he becomes human. The Lim family adopts HiLo, but only Mrs. Lim and DJ’s sister Lisa know of HiLo’s origin. Gina is back from another universe and has acquired magical powers. When magical beings pop up in different places, Gina is left with no choice but to get involved and she, HiLo, and DJ end up protecting magical beings called Nestors, the last of their kind, from being hunted. But what are the consequences of her actions? The story leaves you with a huge cliffhanger!

Gina balances her newly developed powers with everyday life. She struggles with her place and purpose as well as her intense feelings of grief for Izzy, who lost her life (in the first story arc) to their fight with Razorwark. Gina isn’t the only one grieving for Izzy; HiLo too senses a part of Izzy in him, which gives him some ability to sense physical changes in people like a change of body temperature.

When we discussed the series, my 11-year-old son had a lackluster reaction, but he agreed when I suggested that this was just the first volume of a new story arc and just like the first six volumes built up to a new story that was filled with humor, action, and adventure, so too the next few volumes will do the same. We just aren’t experiencing them at once, as we had the first volumes, but will be reading the story piecemeal, as the new volumes are published.

Initially, I sort of agreed with my son, but after re-reading the title, I really got into the story and Gina being the lead instead of DJ and HiLo. I really feel like spring can’t come fast enough. The characters are so well developed, with humor, depth, and everything in between. They are extremely likable and readers will want to stay with them.

The action-packed artwork is bright and vibrant. The colors subtly change to match the mood of what’s going on: Sepia tones for flashbacks for Gina’s ancestors, and bold pop colors as magical wars burst through the panels.

Sorry y’all, February 2022 before the story continues. Hey Random House and Judd Winnick, can the timeline be expedited at all?

Filed under: Graphic Novels, Reviews

SHARE:

Read or Leave Comments
Graphic NovelsJudd Winickmiddle gradeRandom Housereviews

About Esther Keller

Esther Keller is the librarian at JHS 278, Marine Park in Brooklyn, NY. There she started the library's first graphic novel collection and strongly advocated for using comics in the classroom. She also curates the Graphic Novel collection for the NYC DOE Citywide Digital Library. She started her career at the Brooklyn Public Library and later jumped ship to the school system so she could have summer vacation and a job that would align with a growing family's schedule. On the side, she is a mother of 4 and regularly reviews for SLJ and School Library Connection (formerly LMC). In her past life, she served on the Great Graphic Novels for Teens Committee where she solidified her love and dedication to comics.

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Posts

May 2023

School-Live!: Letters | Review

by Esther Keller

May 2023

Dog Man: Twenty Thousand Fleas Under the Sea | Review

by Esther Keller

May 2023

Thinking of You (But Not Like In a Weird Creepy Way) | Review

by Esther Keller

May 2023

Four Eyes | Review

by Esther Keller

April 2023

Frizzy | Review

by Esther Keller

ADVERTISEMENT

SLJ Blog Network

100 Scope Notes

One Star Review, Guess Who? (#187)

by Travis Jonker

A Fuse #8 Production

Ellen Myrick Publisher Preview: Fall 2023/Winter 2024 (Part Five – Berbay, Cicada & Creston Books)

by Betsy Bird

Good Comics for Kids

Recent Graphic Novel Deals, Late May 2023 | News

by Johanna

Heavy Medal

And now there are 38: May Heavy Medal Mock Newbery Suggestions

by Emily Mroczek-Bayci

Teen Librarian Toolbox

A Case for Fun and Games, a guest post by Andrew Auseon

by Amanda MacGregor

The Classroom Bookshelf

The Classroom Bookshelf is Moving

by Erika Thulin Dawes

The Yarn

Trying Something New: SPEED ROUND w/ Marla Frazee, Doug Salati, Dan Santat, and Amina Luqman-Dawson

by Travis Jonker

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Articles on SLJ

8 Pitch-Perfect Manga for Music-Loving Teens | Mondo Manga

Best Graphic Novels 2022 | SLJ Best Books

PEN America and Trust Project Release Newsroom Transparency Tracker | News Bites

Best Graphic Novels 2021 | SLJ Best Books

Free Comics, and Resources on COVID-19, in Graphic Form

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Judd Winick says

    January 29, 2022 at 2:45 pm

    I just saw this review. THANK YOU. It’s funny, because the next book is a couple of weeks away. I appreciate how much you enjoyed book 7! I hope you like book 8! And I of course appreciate how much you enjoyed the first story arc. More fun to come! And tell your kiddo I said hi.
    Best,
    Judd

  2. isabelle reszka-stoehr says

    February 24, 2022 at 1:07 pm

    why do we have to wait so long for the next book? it is so hard waiting. exspecialy for me when i am 8 and love reading

ADVERTISEMENT

Archives

Follow This Blog

Enter your email address below to receive notifications of new blog posts by email.

This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

Primary Sidebar

  • News & Features
  • Reviews+
  • Technology
  • School Libraries
  • Public Libraries
  • Age Level
  • Ideas
  • Blogs
  • Classroom
  • Diversity
  • People
  • Job Zone

Reviews+

  • Book Lists
  • Best Books
  • Media
  • Reference
  • Series Made Simple
  • Tech
  • Review for SLJ
  • Review Submissions

SLJ Blog Network

  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal
  • Neverending Search
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Classroom Bookshelf
  • The Yarn

Resources

  • 2022 Youth Media Awards
  • The Newbery at 100: SLJ Celebrates the 100th Anniversary of the Award
  • Special Report | School Libraries 2021
  • Summer Reading 2021
  • Series Made Simple Spring 2021
  • SLJ Diverse Books Survey
  • Summer Programming Survey
  • Research
  • White Papers / Case Studies
  • School Librarian of the Year
  • Mathical Book Prize Collection Development Awards
  • Librarian/Teacher Collaboration Award

Events & PD

  • In-Person Events
  • Online Courses
  • Virtual Events
  • Webcasts
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Media Inquiries
  • Newsletter Sign Up
  • Content Submissions
  • Data Privacy
  • Terms of Use
  • Terms of Sale
  • FAQs
  • Diversity Policy
  • Careers at MSI


COPYRIGHT © 2023


COPYRIGHT © 2023