The True Meaning of Smekday
Sale price
$1398
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2007 · Est. 12 hour read

The True Meaning of Smekday

Written and illustrated by Adam Rex

Book #1 in the Smek series

A girl and an alien mechanic embark on a wild quest to save Earth from invasion.

4.1/5 Goodreads · 10,141 ratings
423 pages· 86,086 words· Est. 12 hour read
$14.99Save 7%

In stock. Also at Amazon or Bookshop.

Bookroo's summary

Twelve-year-old Gratuity Tucci faces an unexpected adventure when aliens invade Earth, abducting her mother and renaming the planet Smekland. Teaming up with a renegade alien named J.Lo, Gratuity embarks on a daring journey in a hovercar to rescue her mom and thwart another alien threat. Will their unlikely friendship and outrageous plan be enough to save the world?

From the publisher

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.

Awards

Cybils Award (2007)Odyssey Award (2011)
At a glance
Format
Paperback
Pages
423
Words
86,086
Reading age
8–12
Audience
Middle Grade
Lexile
670L
Themes & topics
Books about mother-daughter relationshipsBooks about time capsulesBooks about resilienceBooks about dystopiaBooks about language and communication
For readers who can't stop at one

The next favorite is already out there.

Age-appropriate books selected to help their love of reading grow, delivered right to their door.

Find their book club
Bookroo club box with books for growing readers
The author & illustrator

More from Adam Rex

Explore Adam's bookshelf
On Account of the Gum
Sale price
$1799

On Account of the Gum

Ages 5–8 · 2020

How This Book Was Made

Ages 3–6 · 2016

Pluto Gets the Call

Ages 3–8 · 2019
#1 in Series
Sale price
$1499

The Story of Gumluck the Wizard

Ages 6–9 · 2023
Your next read

Books that feel like this one

See all similar books

The Magnificent Monsters of Cedar Street

Ages 8–12 · 2020

Nowhere Boy

Ages 10–14 · 2018

Many Points of Me

Ages 9–12 · 2021

Survivors Club

Ages 10–14 · 2017

The Witch's Boy

Ages 9–14 · 2014

Keeper of the Lost Cities

Ages 8–12 · 2012

The Parker Inheritance

Ages 8–12 · 2018

The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise

Ages 9–12 · 2019
The fine print

Book details

Reading levels
ATOS
4.5
F&P level
~P
AR points
12
AR interest level
MG
AR quiz
117805
Publication
Published
May 1, 2009
First published
October 2, 2007
Edition
Language
English
Type
Chapter Book
Identifiers
ISBN
9780786849017

Surprise a reader with their next favorite book.

Spotted a mistake or something missing? Improve this page.

Are you the author or illustrator? Claim your book.

Bookroo

Book Clubs

Follow Bookroo