The True Meaning of Smekday [Paperback]

Adam Rex (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up

It all starts with a school essay. 

When twelve-year-old Gratuity (“Tip”) Tucci is assigned to write five pages on “The True Meaning of Smekday” for the National Time Capsule contest, she’s not sure where to begin. When her mom started telling everyone about the messages aliens were sending through a mole on the back of her neck? Maybe on Christmas Eve, when huge, bizarre spaceships descended on the Earth and the aliens – called Boov – abducted her mother? Or when the Boov declared Earth a colony, renamed it “Smekland” (in honor of glorious Captain Smek), and forced all Americans to relocate to Florida via rocketpod? 

In any case, Gratuity’s story is much, much bigger than the assignment. It involves her unlikely friendship with a renegade Boov mechanic named J.Lo.; a futile journey south to find Gratuity’s mother at the Happy Mouse Kingdom; a cross-country road trip in a hovercar called Slushious; and an outrageous plan to save the Earth from yet another alien invasion.

Fully illustrated with “photos,” drawings, newspaper clippings, and comics sequences, this is a hilarious, perceptive, genre-bending novel by a remarkable new talent.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion Book CH; Reprint edition (May 5, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786849010
• ISBN-13: 978-0786849017
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 5.5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (39 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #78,064 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #94 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Animals > Mice, Hamsters, Guinea Pigs & Squirrels > Fiction

More About the Author

Adam Rex grew up in Phoenix, Arizona, the middle of three children. He now lives in Tucson with his physicist wife Marie.
His picture book FRANKENSTEIN MAKES A SANDWICH, a collection of stories about monsters and their problems, was a New York Times Bestseller. 2007 saw the release of his first novel, THE TRUE MEANING OF SMEKDAY.
Garlic and crosses are useless against Adam. Sunlight has been shown to be at least moderately effective. A silver bullet does the trick. Pretty much any bullet, really.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

56 of 56 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of my 10 year old's favorite books, November 25, 2007

By 

L. Cook (Arlington, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The True Meaning of Smekday (Hardcover)

My 10 year old son and I read this book together. I initially bought it because it sounded like the plot line - involving aliens, weird contraptions, and "save the world" heroics - would be right up his alley. (He's lately been into "Star Wars" related stuff.)

The book involves a cross-country trip by a 12 year old girl, her cat and a renegade alien Boov, after the invading aliens have relocated all the humans in the U.S. - first to Florida, then to Arizona. They must then go on to save the planet from the second wave of alien invaders, the Gorg. However, the main focus of the story is around how the relationship between the girl and the alien evolves. There are some great exchanges as the two travellers try to comprehend each other's cultures - as well as many pot shots at American popular culture. The drawings (including what's made to look like Polaroids from the trip) were also a big hit with my son.

We both laughed out loud throughout the book, and my son literally ripped it out of my hands on several occasions wanting to re-read a funny section to himself. We now have so many inside jokes about the Boov that my husband says he'll have to read the book too to get in on them.

37 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The True Meaning of Brilliant, November 23, 2007

By 

Mona Melendy (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The True Meaning of Smekday (Hardcover)

I find myself wishing I had half of Adam Rex's genius with language so that I could at least come close to describing how much I loved reading this book. Tip and J.Lo are a Huck and Jim for the 21st century, and their adventures are everything adventures should be: dizzying, hilarious (truly, I laughed out loud, and I almost never laugh out loud), dazzlingly brave, and crisscrossed with every possible emotion, including sorrow and the kind of fierce, fearless, loyal love only children and renegade Boov can feel. The illustrations are marvelous, but the language is what really hooked me because the language is quirky and lovely and electric and exquisite. Right word after right word after right word until the very end. Mark Twain would be proud. Mark Twain would be jealous! Everyone, everyone should read this book.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars He's Done It Again!, November 4, 2007

By 

Dan "BrosFIL" (Eloy, AZ USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The True Meaning of Smekday (Hardcover)

Adam's books are always fun to read and view. What a talent-both his sense of humor and drawing skills are outstanding! My wife and I both laughed outloud more than once during this read. We can't wait to share it with our grandchildren, read Adam's next book and meet a Boov, in that order, I hope. My advice-buy it; I'd bet you'll laugh outloud, too.