Geist!

Another book rec: The True Meaning of Smekday, by Adam Rex

After alien invaders known as the Boov colonize the Earth, 12-year-old Gratuity “Tip” Tucci teams up with a renegade Boov called J.Lo on a cross-USA trip to reunite with Tip’s mother…and maybe take back the Earth.

This book is straight-up hilarious. Really, really laugh-out-loud funny.  It’s also got charming illustrations, two unique and very likeable heroes in the unstoppable Tip and her Boov companion, and a convincingly weird and un-human alien culture. I have to admit that it got a little long and meandering in points, but not so much that I wasn’t sorry to be done with it.  Also, it’s really funny.

This is a middle-grade book (aimed at ~ages 8-12) but don’t be put off by that if you’re older (or much, much older).  Like the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, it’s smart enough for any age.  For best reading, catch it while the pop culture references are still fresh.