The Boy Who Crashed to Earth

July 6, 2015
While D.J. Lim’s friends and family are all “awesome at something,” the 10-year-old sees himself as average and boring. That’s until Hilo, a boy with superpowers, crash lands on planet Earth, making D.J.’s life anything but dull. Although Hilo can fly and shoot lasers from his hands, he’s clueless when it comes to normal things like food and clothing, forcing D.J. to look after the shaggy-haired dynamo like he would a puppy. Hilo can’t recall where he came from, but his memories slowly return as he, D.J., and D.J.’s friend Gina contend with giant robotic insects that herald something more sinister. Winick keeps the action flowing while giving his characters authentic motivations and including numerous jokes and recurring gags (Hilo’s favorite human greeting is the terrified “Aaahh!” he and D.J. exchanged when they met). Though Winick’s comic-strip lookalike cartoons are a tad generic, he creates a rousing adventure with a diverse cast (D.J.’s family is of Asian descent, while Gina’s is African-American), and a cliffhanger ending should leave readers anticipating the next book, due in spring 2016. Ages 8–12. Agent: Jodi Reamer, Writers House.

Starred review from July 15, 2015
Hailing from a big family of overachievers, D.J. feels largely unexceptional until he meets a strange boy who falls from the sky and helps him realize his potential. D.J. isn't good at anything. He has two brothers and two sisters who have miles of accomplishments among them, and the only thing he considers himself adept at was a friendship with neighbor Gina...but she moved away three years ago. One day, D.J. meets a peculiar, sunny, towheaded boy who has apparently landed on Earth wearing nothing but silver underpants and recalling nothing of his previous life. D.J. immediately befriends him, and the duo becomes a threesome when Gina moves back to town. Over time, the boy's memory starts to return. He recalls his name, Hilo, and how he came to Earth-and that there are dangerous robots that could annihilate the entire planet. Although D.J. may not have a list of skills he can tick off on his fingers, he learns something more important: not only is he loyal, he is brave. Winick has concocted a universally appealing tale with bright, expressive illustrations that gently reminds readers that in this era of overscheduling and insistence on perfection, sometimes just being true to yourself is important enough. D.J. and his family are Asian-American, Gina and hers are African-American, and Caucasian-looking extraterrestrial Hilo nicely rounds out the graphic novel's diversity. A wholeheartedly weird and wonderful tale of friendship, acceptance, and robots. (Graphic science fiction. 7-12)

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Starred review from August 1, 2015

Gr 2-5-Daniel Jackson Lim, aka DJ, is an ordinary boy in a family of overachievers. He meets Hilo, a robot boy who fell to Earth from space and doesn't know where he came from or what he is doing on this planet. DJ, along with his best friend, Gina, help Hilo unlock the secrets of his past and stop the destruction of the planet. The first installment in this graphic novel series is a fast-paced adventure that is beautifully illustrated in full color and aimed at readers who would love to have a superhero friend. Captivating, silly, tender, and, most importantly, funny, this title will be popular with all readers-from reluctant to avid. The strength of friendship and cooperation is a theme throughout. With a cliff-hanger ending, the book will have kids eager for the sequel. VERDICT Diverse characters, good friends, and humorous dialogue coupled with colorful illustrations and plenty of action make this a must-have for all children's graphic novel collections.-Paula Huddy, The Blake School-Highcroft Campus, Wayzata, MN

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 15, 2015
Grades 2-5 D. J. is the only ordinary person in his family. The one special thing about him was his friendship with Gina, but then she moved away. When a boy named Hilo mysteriously crashes to earth with no memory of who he is or where he came from, and gigantic alien monsters start attacking, D. J. finds his life becoming a lot more extraordinary. Winick, the celebrated creator of Pedro & Me (2000), turns his focus to kids' comics in this fun sci-fi adventure. There are somber bitsD. J.'s feelings of inadequacy, Hilo's fractured memories of battlebut, overall, the tone is cheerful and exciting. Readers will love the interactions between D. J. and Hilo, and all the running around after various monsters makes for a fast read that stays age-appropriate. The art is colorful and detailed, without being cluttered, and D. J.'s world is realistic, which makes the interactions with out-of-this-world Hilo all the more amusing. This is a great addition to graphic novel collections that should have a broad appeal.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)