I reread The True Meaning of Smekday by Adam Rex recently, which is so delightful and funny and surprisingly meaningful. It made me very excited to jump into the recently-published sequel, Smek for President. Which was a bit less meaningful, but still funny and delightful.
The sequel picks up two years after the first book. The world has settled back into normalcy after being invaded by aliens (twice) and Gratuity “Tip” Tucci is trying to get used to being a normal kid again, after being on her own for six months when her mother was abducted, and then saving the world. J.Lo (the alien Boov, not the singer), who Tip met and befriended in the first book, is living with Tip and her mother but trying to cope with being the only alien left among all these humans. Worse, the other Boovs blame J.Lo for accidentally summoning enemy aliens, who ultimately led to their loss of control over the Earth.
Tip and J.Lo set off together to the new Boov world, one of the moons of Saturn. J.Lo wants to set his case before the great Boov leader Smek, and Tip wants to rebel against her mother. They find the Boovs engaged in their first presidential election, and more interested in arresting J.Lo than in hearing his story. Hijinks, naturally, ensue. Continue reading “Book Review: Smek for President”
After rereading and reviewing the 
Sometime in the very-near future, aliens called Boovs land on Earth on Christmas Day (in true Doctor Who tradition) and proceed to take over the planet. Resistance is, shall we say, futile. The Boovs rename Christmas as Smekday, in honor of their General Smek who conquered Earth (Smekland). Our heroine is Gratuity Tucci–her friends call her Tip. Tip’s mother was abducted by the Boov on Smekday, a story she begins to relate for a school writing assignment on “The True Meaning of Smekday.”
Tales of the Marvelous 