Looks may only be skin deep, but at the same time, no one can see your brain from twenty feet away. So while we might like to believe we're not judged by how we look, folks definitely are in The True Meaning of Smekday. And unfortunately, the main characteristic that people use to judge others is whether someone is a human, Boov, or Gorg. Hmm… sounds a lot like judging a book by its cover to us.
Eventually, we learn that things aren't always what they seem. We learn to love and trust a Boov and understand that some humans are dishonest or controlling. Still, Tip is asked to think a lot about appearances and what they mean. And since we spend the whole book with her, that means we are, too.
Questions About Appearances
- Why do you think someone's appearances is linked to what type of person they are? Does this ring true for everyone in the novel?
- J.Lo thinks everything should be like it is on television, but Tip thinks it's better if people are more "real." Who do you agree with? How does their time at Happy Mouse Kingdom make Tip rethink what she knew about the amusement park?
- Do the Boov or Gorg care about appearances as much as the humans do? Why?
- Are people treated differently based on the way they look in our world? Why do you think some people care about looks, when others don't?
Chew on This
In The True Meaning of Smekday, the assumptions that people and aliens make are a metaphor for racism in our real world.
Even though Tip trusts appearances at first, she quickly learns that it's not a good idea to judge someone solely by their looks.