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Brandi Meineke, Booksource Collection Development Specialist
8/23/2012 2:41:19 PM
“What is the Smekday holiday?” This is the question that Gratuity Tucci (known as Tip) and all other 8th graders nation-wide must answer in an essay. One year before, the Boov invaded Earth, moved all humanity onto reservations, and renamed Christmas after Commander Smek. Due to alien interference, Tip and her mother are separated. Interspersed in the text are photographs, drawings, and comics of Tip’s cross-country quest to find her mother. Tip takes their cat, named Pig, and befriends a Boov with the Earth name of J.Lo.
This novel is more than the typical “aliens take over the world and some kid saves the day” story. Tip’s mom probably has a learning disorder and her father is never really mentioned. Usually she ends up taking care of her mom and Pig. On the dedication page we see a picture of Tip and her mom at Happy Mouse Kingdom. Until the end of the book, this is the only way the reader would know that Tip’s mom is white and she isn’t.
Instead of allowing the Boov to transport her to the reservation, Tip decides to drive herself and Pig there, searching for her mom on the way. When a Boov (J.Lo) chases and damages the car, she ends up taking him along. J.Lo repairs the car so well that it can fly. While they are traveling, they find that another alien race has decided to claim Earth. The Gorg are the angry and violent enemy of the bumbling and less violent Boov. The Gorg origin story, a comic drawn by J.Lo, is one of the best parts of the whole novel.
This book can be used as a mentor for writing essays. Tip’s first attempt receives a C+, and she is then asked to rewrite it, which is much better and longer than the original. The similarities of what the Boov and Gorg do to humanity are strikingly similar to what European settlers did to the Native Americans, making class discussions on colonization and imperialism are very appropriate. The illustrations are an integral part of the story, making this a great mentor text for writing illustrated fiction. It is also a fun, yet meaningful story that can and should be enjoyed by all.
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