4.0
The True Meaning of Smekday
ByPublisher Description
The hilarious, genre-bending novel from bestselling author Adam rex that inspired the blockbuster feature film Home -- fully illustrated with "photos," drawings, newspaper clippings, and comics sequences.
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 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.
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 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.
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Meet readers like you in the Fable For You feed, designed to build bookish communitiesThe True Meaning of Smekday Reviews
4.0
Ali
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Ryan
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coelacanth
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“I just reread Smekday, my favorite childhood book, and found it to be just as comforting, uplifting, and hilarious as the first time around. Adam Rex presents a unique picture of the world post-alien invasion, and the story is as much about what people do in this chaotic world as it is about our heroine Gratuity and her journey. There are so many quirky little surprises that I never would have expected, but nevertheless feel effortless and natural. It’s funny, it’s satirical, it’s charming and heartwarming. Worth a read, and a reread, and more rereads besides.
IMPORTANT NOTE: If I’m going to review Smekday, I have to point out its flaws too. This book is *very* much an allegory for American settler colonialism, lightened up to be funny and kid-appropriate. Sometimes that really works, sometimes it really doesn’t. The author himself even noted that his analysis fell short and he wouldn’t have written this book like this today. I recommend reading Dr. Debbie Reese’s annotations of Smekday in American Indians in Children’s Literature as a companion alongside the book (just Google “Dr. Debbie Reese The True Meaning of Smekday” to find the article online).”
BelievableChange and growDiverse representationLikeableMemorableMinor characters stand outRelatableUnforgettable protagonistAction-packedClever plottingFast-pacedSatisfying conclusionTwistyUnrealisticBeautifulExpansiveImmersive world-buildingNostalgicSetting fits the storyUnique locationDescriptiveEasy to readFunnyOriginalWhimsical toneWittyAnimal abuseBigotryHomophobiaRacismViolenceWar violence
About Adam Rex
Adam Rex is the multi-talented author of books for children, middle readers and young adults, as well as an accomplished illustrator. He has written such beloved picture books as School's First Day of School (illustrated by Christian Robinson), has created both pictures and words for favorites like Are You Scared, Darth Vader?, Nothing Rhymes with Orange, and Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich; and he has illustrated books by bestselling authors like The Legend of Rock Scissors Paper by Dreew Daywalt, Billy Twitters and His Blue Whale Problem by Mac Barnett, and Chu's Day by Neil Gaiman. The True Meaning of Smekday was his first novel, followed by Smek for President! and other books for middle and teen readers. He grew up in Phoenix, got a BFA from the University of Arizona, and now lives in Tucson.
Other books by Adam Rex
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