Customer Reviews

The True Meaning of Smekday

5 star:		(34)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

Oh my gosh. This book is one of THE best books I have read in my entire life. You may be thinking, well, 11 years isn't that long. But I read almost four books PER DAY.
My grandpa ordered me this book for christmas, and when I looked at the cover I didn't think I would like it very much. Once I opened it, thought, the plot, the amazingly vivid characters, and the humorous language pulled me in whithin an instant. I couldn't put it down.
This book is about an 11 year old girl named Gratuity, but her friends call her Tip. Tip's mom is abducted by a group of aliens called the Boov by a mole on her back that changes color and glows,then the Boov come to Earth, rename it Smekland in honor of the glorious King Smek. The Boov force all the humans to go to Florida, and stay there forever. One Boov named J.Lo (he's a boy, not Jennifer Lopez)befriends Tip, and, well, the whole thing gets complicated, but the book never, ever stops being humerous or gripping.

True Meaning of Smekday, TheYou know you're in for a wonderful ride when the citizens of the U.S. are all relegated to Florida by a group of invading aliens...and you haven't even gotten to page ten.

Sly digs at consumerism, Disney World, Manifest Destiny, the treatment of immigrants, Native Americans, and even No Child Left Behind give this book the zing of awesome satire, and like the best children's books, it's written on at least two different levels. Improbable as the plot sounds -- young preteen joins with Artoo-shaped alien to save the planet -- it's a wild ride and one you care about. Plus, did I mention how absolutely FUNNY this book is? The book hooked me when the young heroine, Gratuity Tucci, successfully traps one of the alien Boov (later to call himself "J. Lo," and no, I'm not kidding). The Boov threatens to shoot Gratuity, but realizes he has no phaser. Capitalizing on humans' ignorance of all things Boov, the alien threatens to zing her with his "eye lasers." Capitalizing on the Boov's ignorance of all things human, Gratuity threatens to "explode his head," explaining that humans CAN do this, but usually don't, "because it's rude." Wonderful!

This book has something crazy on every page. It has you on a hook from the very beginning.
It is not like any other book I've read. It is the weirdest story ever. The aliens in it are hilarious and made reading fun.
There were times when I wanted to scream at the main character, Gratuity for the insane things she did. I started looking for aliens everywhere!
Don't let the fact that this book is so thick scare you off. It is worth reading and you'll be sorry when it ends.
I am a third grader and I loved this book, but I think even older kids would like it.

I bought this book for my 10 year old daughter, knowing that I would also be reading it. I loved it and she will too, no doubt. Can't wait to give it to my girl. We have enjoyed the writing and the humor in Mr. Rex's other books, so getting this one wasn't a hard decision. The drawings are so fun (wish there were more!), and you will love J. Lo... who wouldn't!? Well written and very creative. I laughed outloud quite a few times. The Boov are smektacular. I personally look forward to the day they arive, just a few more years... Boov bless us, everyone.

A very fun read. This book will be appreciated by adults as well as children. Adam takes "pot shots" at a number of contemporary conventions. His illustrations add depth to the readers experience.

Make sure to set aside enough time because once you start reading you well have trouble stopping.

This book is truly amazing and I will always count it as my favorite science fiction story. If you are considering buying this book, you should. It is both hilarious and memorable, and you will probably find yourself dreaming of it and waking up to hungrily devour more of it. I simply could not put it down and I agree that this story has no age limit. Kids and adults might interpret it differently, both they both will love it. The True Meaning of Smekday is full of witty dialogue, takes at pop culture and famous people (Jennifer Lopez and Chelsea Clinton, for example), and wonderful illustrations. Some of the pictures in this book are comic book style. The others are pretend newspaper clippings and photographs from Polaroids. I discovered this book on a trip to the local bookstore. I opened up the front flap and read the product description. I was a bit confused when I got to the part about the mole (Aliens sending messages through a pimple. What's up with that?) I put it down and my attention was drawn elsewhere. I forgot it existed, really. I would not of read one of the most magnificent books EVER if on the faithful day my dad decided to purchase new books for me the book I had selected turned out to be not at all what I thought after reading an exerpt. It was terrible. I turned away and out of the corner of my eye, The True Meaning of Smekday twinkled serenely. I proceded hesitantly to read an excerpt which I found quite marvelous. Forgetting the fact I originally had not been atracted towards the book, I found myself dashing to the cash register as fast as I could. After reading it, I sat for a while, shaken from such a powerful read. I plan to make a landing tarmac in my backyard for the Boov ships. Just kidding! Enchanting and emotional, The True Meaning of Smekday will grasp you and never, ever let go.

let me just say right off the top that i am 51 years old, not quite the target audience for this book but i LOVED every minute of it! i would not hesitate to gift this to young friends or old, it is enjoyable for any age group. i bought this book purely for it's title and it paid off in spades. very well written, the plot is exciting and layered, the device of our protagonist writing her story to future generations well conceived...she is spunky and smart, the alien j.lo amusing and adorable, the dangers huge and the solution ingenious. and can i just say how much i loved the illustrations and especially the comic book explanations of things alien!!! am going to look up other adam rex books and hope he has more like this or does more like this in future. i'm a fan! hooray for judging books by their covers/titles! (and please don't let disney make this into a movie...they will wreck it!!!)