Gina and the Big Secret

Hilo #8

by Judd Winick

An action-packed page turner with heart! --Dav Pilkey, author of DOG MAN

Your favorite characters are BACK and on an EPIC quest to save the world in the newest book in the New York Times bestselling graphic novel series that kids and critics love!

There's a NEW Earth! The world's timeline has been turned upside down, and now magical creatures are EVERYWHERE. Gina has to fix things--FAST!

With DJ and HILO's help, can Gina find the key to turn the world back to what it was? Find out in Hilo 8--a laugh-out-loud, action-packed adventure filled with epic battles! True friendship! Good jokes! Bad jokes! Giant (hilarious) monsters! Spoiled royals! Prophecies! Good! Evil! And much, much more!

Genres: Graphic Novels, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Middle Grade, Childrens, Comics, Adventure

224 pages, Hardcover

Published February 15, 2022

About the author

Judd Winick is an American cartoonist, comic book writer, screenwriter, and former reality television personality known for his diverse contributions to storytelling across multiple media. He first entered the public eye in 1994 as a cast member on The Real World: San Francisco, where he formed a close friendship with AIDS educator Pedro Zamora, an experience that deeply influenced his later work. Winick memorialized their bond in Pedro and Me, a critically acclaimed autobiographical graphic novel that earned several literary awards and became a staple in school curricula.

Winick's career in comics took off with The Adventures of Barry Ween, Boy Genius and continued with major runs at DC Comics, including Green Lantern, Green Arrow, and Batman. His stories often explored socially relevant themes, such as HIV, homophobia, and identity. He was recognized for introducing gay characters and tackling difficult subjects with empathy and clarity. His work on Batman notably included resurrecting the character Jason Todd as the Red Hood, a storyline later adapted into the animated film Batman: Under the Red Hood, for which Winick wrote the screenplay.

Beyond comics, he created The Life and Times of Juniper Lee for Cartoon Network and served as head writer for Hulu's The Awesomes. In 2015, he launched the Hilo series, an all-ages sci-fi adventure inspired by his own children. The bestselling series has been widely praised and is expected to reach its eleventh volume in 2025.

Winick lives in San Francisco with his wife, Pam Ling, also a Real World alum, and their two children. He continues to create heartfelt and imaginative stories for audiences of all ages.

Reviews

[Panda Incognito · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm less interested in this new story arc than the previous one, but this is another great installment in the Hilo series, and I appreciate that the author hasn't aged the material up as the series has continued. This is still appropriate for young readers and a broad age range.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'd rate this title, the eighth in the series, a 3.5. How does Judd Winick do it? Each of these Hilo books gets better and better. This one kept me enthralled for the whole ride as Gina sets out to right what has gone wrong when magic was unleashed on the world and everything changed. DJ's parents are nowhere in sight, and when Gina drops in her own family, her two sisters are all lovey-dovey and supportive, which is quite a change from how they usually treat her. They even offer their cherished baubles to help Gina's cause, something that is decidedly out of character for them. But what's Gina to do? While her little corner of the world might be much improved, that isn't the case everywhere else. As she and her friends make plans, they are joined by an ally from the past and his younger sidekick and younger brother, Phillip Ignatius Sebastian Korimako, who provides plenty of amusement with his blustering speeches and lack of caution. Meanwhile, things are heating up in the kingdom of Malum where twins Zacharian and Ashlinascent and their royal mother are unsure about whether to heed the oracle's prediction that a human with magic will disrupt their way of life. There's plenty of action for those who like that sort of thing, and the illustrations are colorful and eye-catching, bringing the characters and setting to life. It's glorious to watch Gina coming into her own as she wields her magic and power. Fans of the series will relish the reference to Gina's great-great-great-grandmother and the surprise ending. How can any of wait until 2023 for the next installment?

[Karissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Series Info/Source: This is the 8th book HiLo series. I bought a copy of this book.

Thoughts: I continue to thoroughly enjoy this middle grade sci-fi/fantasy graphic novel series. These books are fun to read, hilarious, heartfelt, action-packed and just pure entertainment. The illustration is awesome, bright, colorful, and fun to look at.

In this book Gina, DJ, HiLo and crew find themselves on an alternate Earth where magic has always existed. When they run into Gina’s alternate family things really get weird and Gina and crew have to find a way to save the world….again!

This series is so much fun. I originally got these books to read with my son when he was younger, now that he is a teenager he won’t read them anymore because “they are for little kids”. Not sure what that says about me because I still absolutely adore this series. It is so much fun. I love the crazy magic and monsters and enjoy the friendships and family interactions too. Really I love everything about this series and it continues to be absolutely awesome!

My Summary (5/5): Overall this was another amazing installment in the HiLo series. I thoroughly enjoyed the action, humor, and general zaniness of this book. It is very much in keeping with the rest of the series and just absolutely hilarious. I love this series and can’t wait to see what the next book holds. I would definitely recommend to middle grade (and older) readers who enjoy zany sci-fi graphic novels with a lot of humor, action, and heart.

[Ariel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hey, awesome readers! I just read the newest Hilo book called "Gina and the Big Secret," and it's like the most epic adventure ever! Let me spill the details.

So, our favorite characters are back – Hilo, DJ, and now Gina! And guess what? The world's all topsy-turvy because of a crazy timeline twist. Imagine magical creatures everywhere – like, EVERYWHERE! It's up to Gina to fix things, and she has to do it super fast. No pressure, right?

With DJ and Hilo by her side, Gina embarks on a quest to find the key to turn the world back to normal. Can you imagine the kind of adventures they have? Spoiler alert: it involves epic battles, true friendship, good jokes, bad jokes, and giant (hilarious) monsters! It's like a rollercoaster of laughs and excitement.

The book is a graphic novel, so you get to see all the cool pictures that tell the story. The characters look awesome, and the action scenes are like whoa!

And guess what? Dav Pilkey, the author of DOG MAN, says it's an action-packed page-turner with heart. If that's not a recommendation, I don't know what is!

If you love stories with magic, epic battles, and lots of laughs, "Hilo Book 8: Gina and the Big Secret" is the book for you. It's like going on a wild adventure with your coolest friends. So, grab the book, buckle up for the ride, and get ready for the most epic quest ever! 🚀💫📖

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Luckily my kids are nice enough to share after they've requested the book to have their mom take a peek at it to read it.

Just as action-packed as ever, the threat is heating up as well as the action and humor too. In his one the readers are getting closer to understanding all of the inner workings and whether Gina aided in "breaking the world" but luckily by the end she discovers someone who will help her figure it out in addition to those awesome animal, robot, and non-human friends or hers.

The introduction of Pip is great, another character that has a voracious appetite and some goofiness.

[John Shaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilo the little robot who had to save both his world
and ours is now a real boy (because magic)
trying to live as normal a life as a former flying
robot with laser hands can.
BTW he can still fly and zap things ( Magic again ).
Spending time with his best friends D.J. and Gina.

Now the trouble no longer comes Hilo's Evil Robot Dad
causing shenanigans with giant robots.
It comes from magical BS being drawn to Gina
who apparently deeply bad assed in magic.

I have been a fan of Winick for years and
I always find my self drawn to his books.
Even those written for kids.

[Qamar · Rating 4 out of 5]

We are so proud of you for reading "Gina and the Big Secret" by Judd Winick! This story teaches us the importance of trust and honesty. Just like Gina learns to be honest with her friends, remember that telling the truth helps build strong friendships. You can practice this every day by sharing your feelings and thoughts openly with us and your friends. We love how thoughtful and honest you are becoming!

Love,
Mom and Dad

[D.T. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoy this series and the development Gina’s getting. There’s a message about not running away and giving up when things go wrong. The tension is brimming here along with the slapstick, but Winick doesn’t discount the action and emotional moments for the kiddies.

Also, I love Pip! He’s so fun.

[Read Ribbet · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the eighth book in this popular graphic novel series. This time Gina, Hilo and friends find themselves in a bit of a time warp as they try to discover what happen to Gina's family and how to make things right again. Lots of action in this graphically presented narrative. Minimal text with ample graphic support certainly makes this an accessible text for many intermediate readers.

[Kris Springer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great series. If you like heroic characters, slapstick humor and a great story about family, magic and the possible end of the world, start with the 1st one. You’ll keep going. They only take an hour or 2 to read (if you’re a grown up) and there are only 8 of them, so you can catch up fast. Can’t wait for #9!

[James DeSantis · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one becomes bit convoluted. But overall still fun thanks to the cast. And like how Hilo gets to do something. But overall it just feels way to big in scope at times, and not enough development despite some great moments like the new reality and family for Gina. Overall still enjoyable and my daughter always enjoys reading it at bedtime with me.

[Sarah Alamer · Rating 4 out of 5]

We're so proud of you for finishing "Gina and the Big Secret"! This story teaches us something important: when we make mistakes, we shouldn't run away - we should be brave and try to fix them with help from our friends. Just like Gina asked DJ and Hilo for help, you can always come to us when something goes wrong. Great job reading, sweetheart!

[Michele Knott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Happy to report that this remains my favorite graphic novel series. I adore these characters - from Gina's drive to do the right thing, to HiLo's enthusiasm for, well, everything.
The crew is back to fix the world... with some help from friends!

[Carolyn Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This entire series is heartwarming, funny, action packed, and brushes on tough stuff in a way that isn't too much for kids. I have laughed and cried at every piece of the saga. The perfect series for me and my kids to enjoy together!

[Unicorn Kisses · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another winner for me! The characters are just as hilarious as ever with some serious moments sprinkled in. I also really enjoyed how time travel is portrayed in a way that isn't at all confusing. I am so excited for the next one!!!

[Marilyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book to give as a gift for one of our eight year old great nieces. I need to read books 1 to 7 to understand the action filled plot. A science fiction graphic novel. Can be humorous yet thought provoking on efforts to gain control of Earth.

[Susan]

Don't get me wrong, I love it all, this world and its characters are amazing and wonderful and oh my goodness just THE BEST...but I do struggle with feeling like I wish they had just left it alone with the "ending" of the original Hilo story arc.

[Paul Hagenloh · Rating 5 out of 5]

good

I like it because it is a lot of work and it doesn’t have a single mess that is why it is good

[Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

OUTSTANDING, as always!

Seriously. Y'all need to be reading this series.

[Jaymie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun continuation of Gina's adventures. Looking forward to book 9.

[Renee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love these books so much.

[Ryan Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another fun installment in the Hilo series.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding as always!

[Matt Glaviano · Rating 4 out of 5]

The strongest of the graphic novels I binged this weekend. Winick combination art, well paced story, dynamic characters and humor continues to be effective. It's a pretty impressive alchemy.

[Laila · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great graphic novel series for kids, entertaining for adults too.

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adorable, hilarious and just such a pleasure to read!

[Ellon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this installment of the Hilo series! A lot happened but there is definitely more to come. It's still quirky and fun and has some good messages.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is a JOY! Perfect blend of heroics, humanity, and humor. Never afraid to take a beat for genuine emotion or an excellent joke. 2 years predicted til the next one?! Sob!

[Mary Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series so much. The big truths, the pay-attention-for-it bits of humor. So so SO good.

[raccoon reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do not like this other world. No. No. No. I'm hating that I'm having to wait till spring of 23! :(