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.
Download the free Fable app
Stay organized
Keep track of what you’re reading, what you’ve finished, and what’s next.
Build a better TBR
Swipe, skip, and save with our smart list-building tool
Rate and review
Share your take with other readers with half stars, emojis, and tags
Curate your feed
Meet readers like you in the Fable For You feed, designed to build bookish communitiesStay organized
Keep track of what you’re reading, what you’ve finished, and what’s next.Build a better TBR
Swipe, skip, and save with our smart list-building toolRate and review
Share your take with other readers with half stars, emojis, and tagsCurate your feed
Meet readers like you in the Fable For You feed, designed to build bookish communitiesThe True Meaning of Smekday Reviews
4.0
Kaitlyn Smith
Created 6 months agoShare
Report
“I read this book because Home is one of my son's favorite movies right now. While the movie retains little of the actual story, the departures made allowed the movie to be a more concise, kid friendly, all tied up in a neat bow kind of movie. The book provides more complex characters and relationships more for a middle grade audience specifically.
One thing in particular that I enjoyed was the main Boov ("Oh" in the movie) was named "J-Lo" in the book. They even referred to the confusion with Jennifer Lopez repeatedly. Then when making the movie, they cast the real J-Lo as Tip's mom.
Highly recommend to middle grade readers as it is entertaining, but also has depth and humor. The characters deal with some pretty big issues, including racism, sexism, conspiracy theories, and other big issues, but in a relatively light way. That may be off-putting to some people, but I think it is a good way to start conversations with kids on these topics in a natural way as a parent.
It's a fun introduction to sci-fi to some who may not be ready to dive into other worlds and planets. Creative world building made this book fun, too.”
Keenan
Created over 2 years agoShare
Report
Claudia Fenske
Created about 4 years agoShare
Report
Kathrine Kaste
Created over 4 years agoShare
Report
“The is the story of Gratitude "Tip" Tucci. She is on a quest to find her mother. As the earth is taken over by the Boov, she meets one called JLo. JLo helps Tip get to Flordia and eventually find her mom. This is an action, adventure, and journey. I loved the framing device of having a letter-writing contest for a time capsule. The voice of the Boov and Tip eventually have to find against the Goorg who want to take Earth from the Humans and Boov alike. I loved this story, it was cute and sweet. The voice in this story was amazing. It was such a sweet book. I was glad I read it.”
Brenda Larsen
Created over 9 years agoShare
Report
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
Start a Book Club
Start a public or private book club with this book on the Fable app today!FAQ
Do I have to buy the ebook to participate in a book club?
Why can’t I buy the ebook on the app?
How is Fable’s reader different from Kindle?
Do you sell physical books too?
Are book clubs free to join on Fable?
How do I start a book club with this book on Fable?
Books Similar to The True Meaning of Smekday
Save to a list
0
/30
0
/100
Private List