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 bits J.'s feelings of inadequacy, Hilo's fractured memories of battle t, 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.

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