The story begins with a wild chase, as Hilda and her pet, Twig, pursue a runaway bit of land that's taken off with a mini house aboard! When Hilda accidentally ventures outside the wall around town and encounters trolls, her mother has had enough. Desperately worried about Hilda's adventures, which seem to draw her farther and farther away from her mother, home, and safety, she lays down the law and confines Hilda to her room. But Hilda's spirit can't be contained and she tries to make a break for it with the help of their house spirit, Tontu. Hilda and her mother are dragged into a strange world, full of frightening creatures and without light or food. Will they be able to work together to survive and come to an understanding?
Unlike the other Hilda stories, this one ends with a startling cliffhanger, hinting at further adventures with the trolls to come. Pearson's art continues to grow and mature, not only showing a wide range of strange and fantastical creatures, but investing each of them with a personality all its own. Even the roughly-hewn stone trolls show distinct personalities and differences, although they are not anthropomorphic, clearly being alien to human emotions and concerns, they nevertheless have their own thoughts and feelings.
Verdict: Hilda may not have the wide appeal of Bone or Amulet, but it nevertheless has a charm, mystery, and delight all its own. Once you've introduced this to children who like beautiful art and complex stories, they will be eager for the next installment.
ISBN: 9781909263741; Published 2016 by Flying Eye Books; Purchased for the library; Purchased for my personal collection
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