I was long overdue for something light and funny. Adam Rex's The True Meaning of Smekday fit the bill quite nicely. Eleven-year-old Gratuity (her mom didn't realize what the word meant when she named her) is asked to write an essay, for inclusion in a time capsule, about the true meaning of the holiday, Smekday. Smekday, December 25, commemorates the date of the invasion of Earth by the Boov, a race of aliens. Gratuity's initial essay is kind of terse and cynical (understandable!) The bulk of the book is her detailed rewrite of her view of the events leading up to, including, and after the invasion. Oh, and did I mention that after the Boov took over and transported everyone they could find to Florida, another alien race, the Gorg, attempted a takeover and moved everyone to Arizona? All the while Gratuity is traveling across the country in a car that has been souped up into a hovercraft by a wayward Boov named JLo, who is traveling with Gratuity disguised as a dorky, shy little brother who insists on being covered by a sheet at all times, looking for her mother, a previous alien abductee who disappeared right as the initial invasion was starting? JLo was a fun character, well written. The book is interspersed with short comics, drawn by JLo, explaining Boov and Gorg history. A great, fun, light read for middle schoolers.
Enjoy!
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