Customer Reviews

Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

For Jeremy Fink, the meaning of life is pretty simple. Stay safe, stay focused, stay the course. This is Jeremy's life, until the day the postman delivers a package addressed to his mother. Unable to check his curiosity and the taunts of his best friend, Lizzy, Jeremy opens the package to find a surprise like no other. Inside the cardboard box is another box, one made of a beautiful wood, sanded to a breathtaking sheen, comprised of four intricate locks, and inscribed with the words "The Meaning of Life." Underneath those life-changing words are others, smaller, unmistakably carved by his father: "For Jeremy Fink To Open On His 13th Birthday."

For many kids, turning thirteen is a big deal. After all, you're about to become a legitimate teenager, a purveyor of mystic knowledge, an "almost-adult" in a world ruled by adults. For Jeremy, turning thirteen has always been a goal. Now, though, there's another, much more important goal--finding a way to open this magnificent box without breaking it, since no one seems to know where the four keys are that are needed to open the locks. Even more unimaginable is the fact that his father seems to have sent him his birthday gift from beyond the grave. You see, years ago, when Jeremy was eight, his father had died. Had died, actually, at the age of thirty-eight, two years before the fortune teller had told him on his own thirteenth birthday that he would die at age forty.

It's important to Jeremy to open that box. It's imperative. It's a necessity. Somehow, his father knew the true meaning of life, and he's managed to provide Jeremy with that tantalizing secret. But how will he get the box open without breaking it--something he refuses to do? How will he and Lizzy, the risk-taker best friend with the non-stop mouth, figure out where to get the keys that hold the answers to that all-important question? When one of their schemes to get the keys to the box goes awry, both Jeremy and Lizzy are forced into working for a mysterious man who may just end up having the answers they need.

JEREMY FINK AND THE MEANING OF LIFE is a wonderful, emotional read. Yes, I cried at the ending, and I'm not ashamed to admit it. This is a book that is about so much more than growing up; a book that is about so much more, even, than finding a way to open a birthday present. For Jeremy, those weeks before his thirteenth birthday are about becoming closer to the father he lost too soon, about learning the value of friendship, and about learning that the meaning of life, quite possibly, is something that each and every one of us can find inside ourselves.

Thanks to Ms. Mass for such an emotional, heartfelt read. This is a book perfect for both middle-school readers and older teens, and you won't go wrong picking up a copy for your library.

Reviewed by: Jennifer Wardrip, aka "The Genius"

The book I read was Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life by Wendy Mass. The book was about Jeremy Fink and his friend Lizzy trying to find the keys to this box. The box was given to Jeremy for his thirteenth birthday from his dead father. His father had saved it for him and had told his mother to give it to him on his thirteenth birthday, whether his father was alive or not. They looked everywhere for the keys and eventually found them and opened the box. The box contained what Jeremy's dad thought the meaning of life was.
I liked the book very much. I liked it because it was always exciting and I was always on the edge of my seat. It was always a mystery, where would the keys be, who had them, how would Jeremy find them? There were so many questions that were always unanswered until the climax and the end. It was a mysterious story that was very exciting. I also liked the book, because the book's ending was satisfying. They explained the whole trick behind it all, how everything was planned, and they answered all the questions that popped up in my head while I was reading. Another reason why I liked the book was that the main conflict interested me. I wanted to know what was in that box as much as they did. I wanted to know what the meaning of life is, even though everyone has a different view of what the meaning of life is; it changes for everyone.
The author's writing style had unique characteristics. The writing was very creative and realistic. All the ideas she came up with to make the story flow were very creative. The characters were also very realistic. Any kid I know would jump at the chance to find out the meaning of life, just like they did. The dialogue was also very realistic and was also very well written.
I recommend this book to people who like mystery and fiction books. I would recommend this book to them, because there is a mystery going on throughout the book, but it's all fictional so it's kind of nice reading about some imaginary character's life. I rate this book pretty high with the books I have read. It kept me on the edge of my seat. I was always excited, enough said. If a book can do that, then it's a good book, in my opinion.
I enjoyed the book very much, so much that I think it should come out with a sequel. It wasn't really a cliffhanger, but the characters in the story were nice and I'm sure other readers would want to hear more about their adventures. I, for one, would love to read more about them. Maybe the next book could be titled Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Death, certainly would be a good follow up to the meaning of life.

When Jeremy was just eight years old, his father passed away in an automobile accident. His family had been dreading this day almost all of his life, ever since a fortune-teller told him he would die at age forty. She was wrong: He died at age thirty-nine.

Five years later, one month before his thirteenth birthday, Jeremy gets a package in the mail that contains a locked, carved box and a note from his father. Fascinated by this gift, Jeremy and his lifelong best friend Lizzy are initially saddened to hear that the keys to the box were lost. Almost immediately, they become determined to find these keys and discover the meaning to life, something which the carving and the note both promise.

The search that follows is filled with ups and downs, tears and smiles, as Jeremy and Lizzie meet many strange and wonderful adults who attempt to help them unlock the box. Though Jeremy ultimately learns that some things are set up to happen in a certain way to aid him in his search, he embraces spontaneity a little bit as well. Throughout the story, he honors the memory of his father, as does his mother. She is still mourning the loss of her husband but is nevertheless a strong character who is a great means of support for her son. He is surprised when he realizes how much she needs him, too.

Think of Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life by Wendy Mass as I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak for the younger set. As with her previous novels A Mango-Shaped Space and Leap Day, Mass has created a book that will make readers think about life on a grand scale as well as a more personal one. This Meaning of Life is a sweet, touching tale, and readers need only to turn the pages to discover it.

My sweat smells like peanut butter.

How can anyone not be immediately drawn to a book with an opening sentence like that?

Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life documents the life Jeremy Fink and his best friend, Lizzy, as they attempt to find the keys to a box that contains the meaning of life. Along the way they discover important things about themselves, their friendship, and of course life. They also encounter many unique characters that will aid them on their search and leave a lasting impression on their lives.

I really enjoyed this book, as I was instantly intrigued with the lives of Jeremy and Lizzy. Wendy Mass does a wonderful job describing the characters of her novels to the point that you feel that you know them in real life. Besides the obvious fact that I am a female, I felt that their friendship was very close to the friendships that I had when I was 13. I can also relate to Jeremy when he thinks about the universe and his place within it, because every now and then I still feel a little lost.

I would recommend Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life to anyone who enjoys reading young adult literature. It is a light and comforting read, but still posses some surprising twists and the obvious mystery of the meaning of life.

I recommend A MANGO-SHAPED SPACE and LEAP DAY as well, but having just finished JEREMY FINK AND THE MEANING OF LIFE I have to say it's the best yet from author Wendy Mass.
I loved Jeremy and found him to be so much of a real person. An adorable introvert who is set in his ways with his love of classic comics and mutant candy and his intolerance for healthy food...and exercise...and public transportation. He's both very New York and universal at the same time.

I liked Lizzy, too. As a person who has both taught and raised children in that 12-13 age range, I found her to be refreshingly like real girls I know. She is very much portrayed in that in-between stage. Young girls who are not yet teens are usually self-confident and comfortable in their opinions and skin. As they hit their teen years they often lose confidence and become interested in new things and Lizzy is no exception. I found her to be realistic and I didn't take long to warm up to her at all. I usually don't like obnoxious children or teens--fictional or otherwise--I just didn't really find her obnoxious. She clearly had her issues, but she WAS abandoned at a young age. She and Jeremy were clearly written as very specific people.

I love the mysterious and adventurous tone in the book. It reminded me of my favorite books growing up. It was like a fantasy book--it held the promise of something magical--and yet was still very much grounded in the real world.

The book is true to the theme of the book. Jeremy really does explore the meaning of life and collects all sorts of opinions on his travels. I think the book will be a great catalyst for young people to inspire them to contemplate the "whys" of life and believe that for today's generation of preteens and teens this book will be remembered fondly for doing just that. It will open them up to philosophy, science, relationship and spirituality through its layers and stories. There is much to admire. If I had read this at that age it would hold a special place in my heart today.

This would make a great gift to a special child or teen that could really impact that young person's life in a wholesome and tender and profound way.

This has been on my shelf for two years now and I cannot believe it took me so long to read it.

It had all the elements of a great book. I loved every single character. Jeremy was a funny, sweet, yet awkward kid trying to figure out his place in life without his dad around. His best friend Lizzy was a spitfire who would do anything for Jeremy, but had to do some things her way, even if it bugged others. She is the kind of best friend that everyone wants to have.

The best character in the book is gone before it even starts. Jeremy's dad is everywhere in this book. He is where Jeremy gets his curiosity for knowledge, a taste for some adventure, and a respect for other's things, all which play a big part in who Jeremy is and everything he does. If there were more people who lived their life like Jeremy's dad, this world would be a much kinder place.

The answers to the meaning of life resonated with me, and I think will really make young people who read this book think about how they live their lives, in a good way.

The mystery of the keys was really thought out and made a lot of sense. I did not guess it beforehand, but it made me so happy.

Another great thing is what the story doesn't do. It doesn't have Jeremy's single mom and Lizzy's single dad get together like so many books would. It introduces a set of twins, but it doesn't match them up with the main characters. It sticks to the story and does not add romance just to add it, which I really like n a middle grade book. Just because kids turn thirteen, doesn't mean that everything changes and I am glad this book showed that.

This is a sweet, touching book. I will warn you, you may tear up at the end. If you have any kids 11-15 on your Christmas list, I would really recommend getting them this book. I am not even giving away my copy because I want my husband to put it in his middle school classroom...but I loved it so much that I may buy another copy just so I can give one away to someone else. It was that good!

What is the meaning of life? This is a question most of us have probably never even thought about. It was the same for Jeremy Fink, until one faithful day in the beginning of the summer. Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life by Wendy Mass is an intriguing story of when two almost teenagers receive a box from Jeremy's father, who died when he was 8. The box has 4 keyholes, and it's very intricate design calls for four specific keys. The keys he needs are missing! In the note from his father, it says to open on his 13th birthday. They then try to find the keys and seek out the meaning of life. This book is in the realistic fiction genre. I rated it 5 stars, because it really makes you question and ponder upon the idea of the meaning of life. No one really knows for sure, and you hear some very diverse thoughts. It's an amazing journey for an unanswered question, and discovering it is the best part.

Jeremy Fink is best friends with Lizzy Muldon. Lizzy steals things from everywhere! She and Jeremy both go through lots of different things over this one summer. Wendy Mass is an amazing author and she really puts you in the characters shoes. This is not only a coming of age story, but also philology of life. I recommend this book for middle-schoolers who are coming of age and anyone interested in the meaning of life!


-L.A.

Wendy Masse's Jeremy Fink and the meaning of life is a true master piece. I suggest that for anyone from the ages 10 to 15 and people that like fiction should read this book.

Jeremy Fink is a twelve-year-old boy in search of something special, keys. He is in search of 4 keys to open a box which supposaly holds the meaning of life. He got the box from his dad. The weird thing is his dad died when he was 8. He is supposed to open the box on his 13th birthday. But there is one problem, he doesn't have the keys. There is no way to open the box without damaging the contents inside without them. So Jeremy and his friend Lizzy goes on a wild goose chase to find them.I like this book because it isn't like some of those books that you can guess what will happen. I like the unexpected.

This is one of my favorite books I strongly suggest you read it!

Wendy Masse's Jeremy Fink and the meaning of life is a true master piece. I suggest that for anyone from the ages 10 to 15 and people that like fiction should read this book.

Jeremy Fink is a twelve-year-old boy in search of something special, keys. He is in search of 4 keys to open a box which supposaly holds the meaning of life. He got the box from his dad weird thing is his dad died when he was 8. He is supposed to open the box on his 13th birthday. But there is one problem, he doesn't have the keys. There is no way to open the box without damaging the contents inside without them. So Jeremy and his friend Lizzy goes on a wild goose chase to find them.

This is one of my favorite books I strongly suggest you read it!

This book, Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life, is truly inspiring. Jeremy's hard work and determination resulted in a powerful and outspoken book. Jeremy and his friend Lizzy, are on a quest to find the keys to his father's box. Mr. Fink died when Jeremy was a little boy but he wanted his lawyer to give this box to Jeremy on his thirteenth birthday. Unfortunately he lost the keys.This beautiful box was handcrafted by Mr. Fink so Jeremy does not want to break it open. Jeremy travels around the city searching for they keys. This book is very intriguing and is a real page turner. This fictional book really shows people that anything can happen at anytime unexpectedly. I would highly recommend this book to all of my friends.