YMMV / Hilda Tie-In Series

• Broken Base: Arguably one of the more divisive Hilda content in the franchise. Especially the S1 books. Some people like the S1 books for adapting the series into a novel and expanding the franchise. Others dislike it due to the weak pacing and how mean-spirited and out of character the characters would act in the books.
• Growing the Beard: The S2 books are generally regarded to be a step up from the S1 books, thanks to the less Off-Model and more consistent artwork, as well as the meanness of the characters being toned down from the S1 books in favor of sticking closer to the show's characterizations, leading to bouts of Character Rerailment in the process.
• So Okay, It's Average: How many feel about the novels. They do a fine enough job adapting the series to a novel format and sometimes exceed it in some areas. However, beyond offering little to distinguish themselves from the show and comics, they're held back by Off-Model art, wonky pacing, and a slew of writing and characterization issues (primarily it being too mean-spirited compared to the series). While they're not awful, they're not as good as the show or the original graphic novels.
• Unintentionally Sympathetic: Hilda is seen in this light by fans, as Frida and David dump her after their first adventure in The Great Parade, her mother is often a jerk to her (unintentionally or otherwise), and everyone (including the adults) mocks and laughs at her in The Great Parade, with Ms. Halgrim outright screaming at her even though she is crying and apologetic. While this version of Hilda is certainly more jerkish and bratty compared to the comics and show, she is still a well-meaning and good-hearted girl most of the time, which makes it easy to sympathize with her even when she is meant to be in the wrong, especially since she is more emotional at times then her show counterpart. Despite the book's attempts to portray her as a Bratty Half-Pint, fans tend to view her as The Woobie instead. The S2 novels fix this by toning down the meanness of the other characters.
• Unintentionally Unsympathetic: Fans have accused the tie-in novels (particularly the S1 novels) of making Johanna this, as she kicks Hilda while she's down, outright says that she is a terrible daughter, emotionally manipulates her at times, lies to her about the move in "The Hidden People", has no regard for her interests, and is rarely apologetic to her. While the novels intended Johanna to be a flawed but well meaning parent and she still has her good moments (such as her making a homemade badge for Hilda), her behavior to Hilda has caused fans to view her as an emotionally abusive parent instead. Hilda and the White Woff would attempt to remedy this and make her more akin to her show counterpart, which was praised by fans.

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