cover image Hilda and the Hidden People

Hilda and the Hidden People

Stephen Davies. illus by Seaerra Miller. Flying Eye, $13.95 (176p) ISBN 978-1-911171-44-7

In this trilogy opener based on new Netflix cartoon series Hilda—itself based on Luke Pearson’s Hildafolk comics—adventurer Hilda and her mother live in a wilderness outside the city Trolberg, among trolls; furry, floating “woffs”; and their ilk. When tiny eviction notices arrive at the cabin that Hilda shares with her mother and invisible elves ransack their home to enforce them, Hilda launches a crusade to stay. She befriends Alfur, an elf who assists Hilda on a quest to find an elf official who can grant the family respite; along the way, she finds evidence of a giant in the countryside. Hilda’s mother is convinced they must heed the eviction and move to Trolberg, intensifying Hilda’s desire to save her home. The story wraps up neatly, but a final twist awaits readers. Dynamic cartoon art brings the book to life, Hilda’s bravery is an inspiration, and the world’s details—the giant she chats with, the rabbit-riding elf army—will pull readers in. Ages 7–10. [em](Sept.) [/em]