Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life

 Here's another one of Wendy Mass's books. I read this in October or November last year and really enjoyed it. I have to say that I also have wondered, What is the meaning of life? What am I ultimately supposed to do in this world?

After I read A Mango-Shaped Space, I started looking for more of Wendy Mass's books. I found this one and eventually requested it.

Here's the title cover.

Jeremy Fink's father died sometime before he turned ten years old. In his will, there was no inheritance or anything that was left to Jeremy or his mother.

One day, a week from his thirteenth birthday, Jeremy finds a small package on the counter of the kitchen. He thinks it's an early birthday present and opens it. It is a white wooden box. There is a note with it too. It says, For Jeremy to open on his thirteenth birthday. The box has five key holes, but no keys were sent with it. Jeremy tries all the keys in his house and realizes that the keys were specially made for the box and only those keys will open it. His best friend Liz offers to force it open, but Jeremy doesn't want to destroy the box just to see what's inside.

Jeremy sees the return address on the package which gives the name of an attorney and the address of a law firm. He figures that the keys may be in there. So he and Liz decide to go and ask to speak with that attorney. Sadly, the building is being remodeled and the attorney is on vacation. Jeremy and Liz decide to break into his office and steal the keys.

Their plan almost goes through perfectly until they are caught and given a choice. Whether to go to juvenile hall or to do community service. They choose community service and are forced to work at a pawnshop for a man named Oswald Oswald.

Can Jeremy cope with working with grumpy old Mr. Oswald and also try to find the keys to his father's box before his birthday?

My thoughts- (CONTAIN SPOILERS)

Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life was funny, yet still very meaningful. The lesson I got from this was that we all live for the special people in our lives and those people are the ones that make us happiest.

Inside the box, Jeremy's dad had enclosed letters he wrote to Jeremy explaining all the joys in his life and how he had changed so many people's lives even though his own was cut short.

I nearly cried at the end (but I was in a sports club waiting for my lesson to begin and didn't want to cry in front of strangers).