How we cite our quotes: (Part.Paragraph)
Quote #1
This story starts in June 2013, about six months after the alien Boov arrived. Which also makes it six months after the aliens completely took over, and about a week after they decided the entire human race would probably be happier if they all moved to some little out-of-the-way state where they could keep out of trouble. (1.38)
Wait a minute… Some aliens took over the human race? We know there had to be a fight. Storming the earth and conquering all humanity takes guts and a lot of man (or should we say alien) power. Or so we'd like to believe, anyway. It helps us sleep at night.
Quote #2
All this intergalactic vandalism eventually drew out all the armies of the world, and we fought back. I can't really say much about that. Nobody handed me a gun and sent me off to fight. (2.110)
Notice how Tip doesn't really know the details of the war between the Boov and humans? Perhaps that's because she's too young to fight, and no one filled her in on what's happening. Or maybe it's because the war was over before it began.
Quote #3
There were helicopters, aircraft carriers, and a thousand cold, deadly missiles peering out like monstrous eyes from their underground burrows. It might have looked impressive if not for the size of the Boov ships hanging just above the clouds like new moons. But then, in the end, it wasn't about whose guns were bigger. (2.111)
We're surprised to learn that there wasn't much of a war to speak of. Sure people protested when the Boov came storming in, but they didn't stand much of a chance. It turns out aliens have super-powered guns, too.
Quote #4
The Boov was shooting wildly behind him, vanishing rooftops and lampposts but not upsetting the lion a bit. They ran behind a snack bar, and three other Boov scurried out, crying like sheep. (2.677)
Tip quickly learns that fighting isn't all it's cracked up to be in the movies. She's not exactly sure what to do, but somehow, she figures it out—and for a kid with little experience, she makes an excellent soldier.
Quote #5
Then there was a low grinding noise, like the whole world was clearing its throat, and the ruins swiveled underground while the good castle snapped into place. Three Boov ships scattered while the remaining two smacked into the castle like pinballs—one fell to bits and the other plowed into a carousel. (2.686)
When fighting the group of Boov, Tip fills us in on the details of what it was actually like for her and J.Lo, minute by minute. She includes loads of sensory details—sights, sounds, smells—so we can feel like we're in the thick of it, too. On second thought, we'd rather not be right there, getting shot at.
Quote #6
The Boov had invaded our planet, erased our monuments, taken our homes, and dumped us in a state they didn't want, and I was already so used to the whole idea that it seemed like a sweet gesture that they hadn't left us to starve in the dark. (3.1042)
We're not sure we'd label it a "sweet gesture," but we like that Tip starts to give the Boov a little credit instead of always hating them. We also like how she throws in some backstory in every chapter, so we get to keep learning about what happened with the Boov instead of just what they are doing now.
Quote #7
Maybe… maybe it was a comfort… a comfort to think of the Gorg as unstoppable. It is not so bad to be beaten when you are believing the enemy is an army of perfect monsters. (3.1424)
Even when things are rough, we can count on Tip to see the bright side of life. She's got a point: If everyone thinks about the Gorg as superhuman, maybe they'll feel less sad about the fact that humans lost. Her rationalization gives us some insight into what people were actually thinking during the war.
Quote #8
"Yeah…" I said, "but then why do they invade other planets? Why do they spend so much time taking other people's stuff away if they can just make their own?"
"Fff. Because they are jerks!" said J.Lo, throwing his arms in the air. "They are poomps! Kacknackers!" (3.1465-1466)
J.Lo isn't shy about his hatred for the Gorg, especially when they invade earth. We can't help but wonder if they are all that different from the Boov, though… If we're not mistaken, the Boov came to earth without an invite either. Are the Boov somehow better than the Gorg when they both wage war on humans?
Quote #9
A thousand cats, and they were all underfoot. They purred like a swarm of really big bees. Or really small motorcycles. I slogged through them, trying to make my way to the boys. (3.1502)
Cats aren't the first thing that comes to mind when we hear the word warfare, but then again, neither are aliens. It's awesome that a common pet like a cat is the Achilles's heel of the mighty Gorg. Plus, it shows that it takes an out-of-the-box thinker to get rid of the pesky aliens.
Quote #10
We can't take all the credit. For months after the Gorg left, stories poured in from around the world about humans fighting back. I can't get into all of them here, but let's just say the Gorg were not prepared for the Chinese. Ditto the Israelis and Palestinians, who managed to work together, for a change. (3.1568)
Since the book is from Tip's perspective, we wouldn't blame her if all she says about the war is what she knows, but instead, she gives us some bits from around the world. It wasn't just Tip and her sidekick who fought back, but a bunch of humans, which is comforting to Tip in a way.