You would think that a book about aliens conquering Earth would be full of futuristic weapons, gory battles, and lots of ugly, horrific aliens, right? What you might NOT expect, and what you get plenty of in "The True Meaning of Smekday," is a lot of laughs along with the aliens, the adventure, and an extremely plucky and likeable heroine. Gratuity Tucci is an 11-year-old trying to reunite with her mother after the latter is abducted by the conquering alien race of Boov. The Boov, a race of three-foot high creatures with tiny hands and many legs, have ordered the entire human race to Arizona, and Gratuity is determined to get there illegally by driving by herself in her mom's old car along with their pet cat, Pig. Complications ensue when:
1. her car is damaged by patrolling Boov
2. her car is fixed by a Boov calling himself J.Lo
3. J.Lo reveals he is on the run from other Boov because of a horrible mistake he has made, and
4. J.Lo's horrible mistake involved insulting yet another conquering race of aliens.
So how does Gratuity juggle traveling with an enemy alien, looking for her mom, and trying to save the human race? With a lot of adventure, determination, and acceptance that friendship and family often comes in unexpected combinations.
If you like your thrillers interspersed with a lot of fun, you will love this book. I rate it FIVE out of FIVE stars!
Check out the funny official website, too: http://www.smekday.com/
