Children’s Books for Adults: The True Meaning of Smekday

Usually I don’t take children’s books home to read---I typically stick to reading unrealistic novels and depressing works of non-fiction in my spare time. But The True Meaning of Smekday by Adam Rex kept staring at me, and when a school librarian explained it was flat our hilarious, I finally checked it out.

You have to read this book!

Twelve-year old Gratuity “Tip” Tucci was given the same essay assignment as everyone else:
“Write an essay entitled The True Meaning of Smekday. What is the Smekday holiday? How has it changed in the year since the aliens left? You may use your own personal experiences from the alien invasion to make your points.”

While the alien invasion was an exciting time for every American who was forced to relocate to Florida via rocketpod, it was especially exciting to Gratuity, who decided she’d rather drive to Florida by herself. After all, she’d been driving herself (badly and at night) ever since her mother was abducted by the Boov, as the aliens called themselves. So with her cat, Pig, and a car full of junk food, she heads out of town, figuring, what else could go wrong on Planet Earth/the colony known as Smekland?

Answer: lots!