Luke Pearson

I just love the Hilda stories. That doesn't keep me from taking forever to read them. I am a little embarrassed to admit how long I had this one out from the library. So I'm not going to say.

The stories are never what you expect and I'm always surprised, amazed, and in love all over again.

Hilda still misses the wild hills but she's cautiously excited when her mother encourages her to join the Sparrow Scouts. But things are quickly complicated by the appearance of a Nisse, a house spirit, and show more Hilda's inability to stop helping him despite the catastrophes that follow in his wake. Then there's her mother's eagerness to see her do well at Scouts and Hilda's nagging misery that everyone but her is getting badges. What's even worse, is that there's a dangerous black hound on the loose - is it something supernatural or just her imagination?

Pearson's art, as Hilda has moved from the wild moors to the town, has become appropriately more focused on the people she now interacts with and the tighter, more civilized environs of the town, rather than the more abstract landscapes of the hills and mountains. Hilda's emotions have become more complex as well and that's reflected in her facial expressions and those of the kids and adults she tries to relate to. Of course, there are also a lot of Nisses with full-facial hair in this story, so not so much expression there. It's a magical blend of cute and mysterious that never fails to delight.

Verdict: I keep thinking that these are so different kids won't be interested in them, but I'm proved wrong again and again. If your library doesn't own any, try the first volume and see what happens!

ISBN: 9781909263185; Published 2014 by Nobrow/Flying Eye; Purchased for the library show less

Such is the life of a reader! I picked this up after I heard they had made a Netflix show of it and because it sounded fun. It is. Hilda is a delight and her exasperation at the wood-man's appearances are a joy. I was right there with her sleeping in a tent in the rain, feeling the thrill of being safe and snug, yet so close to the elements. I found myself lingering over the panels and relishing every expression. I can't wait to pick up more of Hilda's adventures.

Without a doubt, this is the cutest Hildafolk book yet. Not only does Hilda join her world's version of the Girl Scouts (something which most kids expereicned some version of), but she encounters two kinds of magical creatures! Firs off are the Nisses, who she gets to know when she tries to help one who has been wrongfully banished from his home. Nisses live in the unused spcaes of pepoples houses (sort of an alternate dimension), where the lost things wind up when they fall behind thigns show more and disappear. Hilda's generosity gets her into trouble when the Nisse that already lives at her house does not welcome the new housemate and the two wind up trashing Hilda's house. At this point in the story Hilda also begins to have run-ins with the mysterious and dangerous Black Hound who has been lurking around the city. It turns out that the Hound is actually the childhood pet of Hilda's Nisse and it has been searching throughout the town for its old friend - and causing chaois wherever it goes! Everything finally works out in the end (I won't ruin the secret), so Hilda gains a new magical friend and gets to stay in the Sparrow Scouts with her human friends. Can't wait til the next Hildafolk book! show less

Adventurous Hilda finally gets her come-uppance in this latest installment of her escapades, when she is turned into a mountain troll and swapped for the troll-mother’s child, who is too “soft” to be a troll and would apparently do better as a human child. As much as Hilda likes her adventures and wilderness, the troll life isn’t all it’s chalked up to be, and she immediately sets out on a quest to find a way to turn herself back into a human. In typical Hilda fashion, though, the show more story is not simply about her own personal challenges, as we meet a mysterious troll who has been trapped in a cave lined with bells (a troll’s worst nightmare) and discover more about the trolls who live in the mountains which surround Hilda’s home. In her quest to regain her humanity, Hilda helps this giant troll escape from his prison only to discover that he wants to attack the nearby city of Trollberg, which predictably causes chaos for the humans who have worked for years to keep the trolls out of the city. Little did the humans know, they actually built their city over top of the trolls’ mother (the biggest troll of all), who has been sleeping peacefully for years and speaks silently to her troll children - which explains why they always want to get into the city to hear her quiet voice better. The mood is tense as the troll and human conflict reaches its height, but all is resolved through Hilda’s mediation, which she is able to accomplish by being able to speak both human and troll (she gained the ability after her magical transformation). By the conclusion of the story we see the humans and trolls living in harmony, modeling a more peaceful society and way of cooperation when we consider the impacts of colonialism, expansion, and settlement. show less