Smekday Questions Answered

A few of you were wondering about the book "The True Meaning of Smekday" by Adam Rex. I just finished reading it and can now tell you a little more about it.

Eleven year old Gratuity Tucci has been given the class assignment of writting an essay titled "The True Meaning of Smekday" to be placed in a national time capsule. The book is basically broken up into 3 sections. The first section contains her first attempt at the essay which recieves a C+ and a strong suggestion from her teacher to try again.

The second section contains an essay that is actually selected to be in the time capsule. The letter confirming Gratutity's selection also comes with a suggestion that she write the "rest of the story."

The third section of the book is the rest of the story.

Earth has been invaded by the Boov who were looking for a new planet after theirs was invaded by the "Takers." The Boov consider humans savages and use whatever means necessary to bring them a "better" way of life. They offer all US humans the state of Florida, then change their mind and select Arizona.

Gratuity begins her journey by car to Florida on the appointed "Moving Day" with her cat Pig in tow, and runs into a Boov named J. Lo. Fate makes them traveling companions and they make their way to Florida. Once in Florida, Gratuity learns that the moving place has been changed and she and J. Lo begin their journey to Arizona.

Along the way they meet some interesting folks in Orlando, Florida (at Happy Mouse Kingdom) and Roswell, New Mexico. They also learn that Earth is now in the midst of another invasion by the same aliens who took over the Boov planet, the Takers (Also known as the Gorg.) Page 183 contains a lovely illustration titled "8 Things You Always Wanted to Know About the Gorg But Were Afraid to Ask the Gorg Because the Gorg Might Punch You In the Face," which is very instructive. (Thing #3 says the Gorg smell like a bouquet of lilacs sprinkled with cinnamon and burried under a shoulder-high pile of rancid dogmeat.)

Together Gratuity and J. Lo attempt to save the world (I don't want to give anything away) from a seemingly undefeatable alien foe.

There are a whole lot of levels to this book. I read somewhere that it has similarities to Huckleberry Finn, and I agree with that. However, "The True Meaning of Smekday" has more pictures than HF and a lot more laughs.

If you want to know more about "The True Meaning of Smekday" you can check out these sites:

An illustrated list by J. Lo titled, "Gratuity and J. Lo Present 10 Reasons to read The True Meaning of Smekday." (Good stuff!)

Adam Rex's (the author) Smekday website.

A short book review by The Book Club Shelf.

Adam Rex's regular website.