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4.13 AVERAGE
4.13 AVERAGE
Alien invaders known as the Boov have taken over the world and all they've left for humans is Florida. 11-year-old Gratuity (Tip) Tucci's mother was one of the first to be taken, and now Tip's decided to make the trip to Florida on her own in her mother's car. But Tip's life, already complicated, get more so when she picks up a passenger: a Boov named J.Lo who "fixes" her car by making it, among other things, hover.
This is a great kid's science fiction book; it's quite long and probably complex enough to work for teens, though some may be thrown by the age of the protagonist. It's funny in both big and small ways; I like how the characters begin to pick up each other's habits. I was often surprised by where the plot ended up going. Tip is an awesome heroine from beginning to end.
Highly recommended.
For librarians, this is also a great choice for booktalking: the voices of the characters really shine.
This is a great kid's science fiction book; it's quite long and probably complex enough to work for teens, though some may be thrown by the age of the protagonist. It's funny in both big and small ways; I like how the characters begin to pick up each other's habits. I was often surprised by where the plot ended up going. Tip is an awesome heroine from beginning to end.
Highly recommended.
For librarians, this is also a great choice for booktalking: the voices of the characters really shine.
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This book was SO much fun. It’s definitely a get-out-of-a-reading-slump type of book since it keeps you entertained and eager to read the entire time.
I expected a silly adventure, having watched the movie, but I was not ready for how different this book was going to be. It was NOTHING like the movie, and it was much better.
NOTE: Some of the humor and commentary in this book did not age the best, but it does not come off as malicious and I still enjoyed the read.
I expected a silly adventure, having watched the movie, but I was not ready for how different this book was going to be. It was NOTHING like the movie, and it was much better.
NOTE: Some of the humor and commentary in this book did not age the best, but it does not come off as malicious and I still enjoyed the read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Death
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I can't give it a five unless I am TOTALLY taken by surprise - however, this was a really fun read. Contemporary, interesting, witty, like a road trip with your funniest friend throwing out one-liners the whole way there. Written for middle school/high school, great sci-fi romp full of laughs.
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
A beloved childhood fave that holds up!
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Wow, what can I say that could make you want to read this as badly as I want you to? This book is fantastic.
I feel like a lot of this review I wrote, after writing most of it now, is mostly nonsense of "ugh the book was better". And that is certainly my opinion, though I will admit I had no love for the movie to start. If you have a love for the movie, I'm certain you would be on the "Both are good!" team after reading this book, especially if you enjoy sci-fi and dystopian novels.
I picked up this book about December to add to my pile of books to read, after finding out the movie Home (which I never saw prior to yesterday, came out when I was 19 so I thought it looked too childish at the time) was based on the book. That it was in the same vein as How to Train Your Dragon, where Dreamworks took the bones of the story and the name, but did mostly their own thing with everything else. I always like finding that out with movies I love, cause it feels like I walked into another world with it and get to enjoy it in a new way. I usually can appreciate both the movie and book no matter what, because there is always something they both add.
I never saw Home before yesterday. I somewhat regret having watched it-- it didn't spoil the book by any means (which I did know, I had been told the endings and most of the plot of the movie was completely different), but I felt like it took away so much of what I loved from the book.
Anyway, I placed it on my pile of books to be read. Left it there for almost 6 months. I regret having placed it where I waited 6 months to finally crack it open and read it's contents. I should have started reading the moment I got it in my hands. Can't change the past I suppose.
This book is perfect for any young, or new, sci-fi lover, and hell I would say even an old sci-fi lover could love this book. It's funny, the characters are likeable, and it had me devouring every word. Any time someone was in danger, even if I needed to run to the restroom, I needed to finish the pages until they were safe.
The art in the book is fantastic-- the Boov are not as cute as they look in the movie, but I feel like Dreamworks missed out on making them closer to the book. Our main Boov, J.Lo, is an odd thing to look at at first, but he grew on me. There is such a charm to him, and I feel like Dreamworks could have made others see it too if they went with it. I'm almost disappointed all merch of him is the cute little guy from the movie.
You ever wonder how you'd feel if you read a book at the intended age of it's readers? I wonder what I would have felt without adult eyes reading this. I wish I could reach back in time for 11 year old me and hand him this book. He would have loved it. But then he would have turned into 19 year old me, and probably been disappointed by the movie, so it's probably for the best I can't do that.
Anyway, the point of this review is: read this book. If you have a young child in your life who likes alien invasion stories, who enjoys sci-fi and scarier stories, hand this book to them. They will love it, I'm certain they will tear through the pages with a speed you couldn't think they could.
I feel like a lot of this review I wrote, after writing most of it now, is mostly nonsense of "ugh the book was better". And that is certainly my opinion, though I will admit I had no love for the movie to start. If you have a love for the movie, I'm certain you would be on the "Both are good!" team after reading this book, especially if you enjoy sci-fi and dystopian novels.
I picked up this book about December to add to my pile of books to read, after finding out the movie Home (which I never saw prior to yesterday, came out when I was 19 so I thought it looked too childish at the time) was based on the book. That it was in the same vein as How to Train Your Dragon, where Dreamworks took the bones of the story and the name, but did mostly their own thing with everything else. I always like finding that out with movies I love, cause it feels like I walked into another world with it and get to enjoy it in a new way. I usually can appreciate both the movie and book no matter what, because there is always something they both add.
I never saw Home before yesterday. I somewhat regret having watched it-- it didn't spoil the book by any means (which I did know, I had been told the endings and most of the plot of the movie was completely different), but I felt like it took away so much of what I loved from the book.
Anyway, I placed it on my pile of books to be read. Left it there for almost 6 months. I regret having placed it where I waited 6 months to finally crack it open and read it's contents. I should have started reading the moment I got it in my hands. Can't change the past I suppose.
This book is perfect for any young, or new, sci-fi lover, and hell I would say even an old sci-fi lover could love this book. It's funny, the characters are likeable, and it had me devouring every word. Any time someone was in danger, even if I needed to run to the restroom, I needed to finish the pages until they were safe.
The art in the book is fantastic-- the Boov are not as cute as they look in the movie, but I feel like Dreamworks missed out on making them closer to the book. Our main Boov, J.Lo, is an odd thing to look at at first, but he grew on me. There is such a charm to him, and I feel like Dreamworks could have made others see it too if they went with it. I'm almost disappointed all merch of him is the cute little guy from the movie.
You ever wonder how you'd feel if you read a book at the intended age of it's readers? I wonder what I would have felt without adult eyes reading this. I wish I could reach back in time for 11 year old me and hand him this book. He would have loved it. But then he would have turned into 19 year old me, and probably been disappointed by the movie, so it's probably for the best I can't do that.
Anyway, the point of this review is: read this book. If you have a young child in your life who likes alien invasion stories, who enjoys sci-fi and scarier stories, hand this book to them. They will love it, I'm certain they will tear through the pages with a speed you couldn't think they could.
The book was interesting, clever, funny, and heart warming. The audiobook was simply amazing. The combination of a good story and a great voice actor had the whole family engrossed.