I’ve decided to continue to my nostalgia reads series with Jeremy Fink and The Meaning of Life by Wendy Mass. This was actually on a different summer reading list than the one I was supposed to be following in middle school, but I read it anyway. Trying to remember this book as an adult was like trying to remember a fever dream. I know I read it, but I wasn’t able to tell you any specific details.

Jeremy Fink and The Meaning Life is about a 12 year old boy living in New York City named Jeremy. A few weeks before his 13th birthday he receives a mysterious box from his late father that is supposed to contain the “meaning of life.” The only problem is he can’t open the box because he doesn’t have the keys. That prompts him and his best friend Lizzy to set out on a quest to find the keys.

I picked up this book because I recently had a pretty bad existential crisis. (Just the usual questions to keep me up at night: Why am I here? What is my purpose? etc.) For a book from a middle school perspective, it dealt with some heavy topics such as death, religion, and the aforementioned existential crisis. I thought it handled them in a way that was honest but still appropriate for that age group.

I really could see this book being a movie because of its cast of fun characters. Jeremy’s best friend Lizzy is so feisty and fearless. His mom is super sweet and I like that she steps up to be a mother figure for Lizzy. Mr. Oswald, a character Jeremy and Lizzy meet after a series of unfortunate events, gives some insightful advice.

Jeremy is a well-written character too. He is rather precocious at times, but Mass does enough to convince you that he is 12 years old. I think there is a lot kids and adults alike can learn from his character development. He is a picky eater and likes to stay in his comfort zone. However, as the story progresses, he learns it is okay to try new things and that going outside of your comfort zone will help you in the long run.

My only critique would be the pacing. I don’t know why but I found the story a bit slow at times. There were chapters where I did not have trouble putting it down. But then I would get to a part that was a little more interesting and keep reading longer. This is not a thriller or page turner. This is an emotional, introspective journey. So if you are looking for something a little sentimental and thought provoking to read, then I would recommend this book.