46 pages 1 hour read

Wendy Mass

Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 2006

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Chapters 17-20

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapter 17 Summary: “Milestones”

After sorting everything in the suitcase, Jeremy and Lizzy find about 200 keys and agree to start trying them tomorrow. That night, Lizzy comes over and announces she got her period for the first time, which makes Jeremy feel awkward. The next day, they find three keys for three of the box’s locks in the suitcase, having no luck with the fourth lock. They leave for Jeremy’s grandmother’s the next day, and staring at the box, Jeremy thinks that “to be one key short, the day before we leave, is almost worse than being four keys short” (241).

The next day, they go to Jeremy’s grandmother’s place in New Jersey. Lizzy is still tired from her period and rests while Jeremy messes around with the hula hoop. He’s actually good and is shocked to find everyone watching him, including Lizzy.

Chapter 18 Summary: “The State Fair”

Despite how much they’ve been dreading it, Jeremy and Lizzy have fun at the fair. When it’s their turn to perform at the talent show, Lizzy says she can’t hula because of cramps and begs Jeremy to take her place. Reluctantly, he agrees, finding that he enjoys the performance more than he thought he would.

Related Titles

By Wendy Mass

Study Guide

logo

11 Birthdays

Wendy Mass

11 Birthdays: A Wish Novel

Wendy Mass

Study Guide

logo

A Mango-Shaped Space

Wendy Mass

A Mango-Shaped Space

Wendy Mass

Study Guide

logo

Bob

Wendy Mass, Rebecca Stead

Bob

Wendy Mass, Rebecca Stead

Study Guide

logo

The Candymakers

Wendy Mass

The Candymakers

Wendy Mass

Study Guide

logo

The Lost Library

Wendy Mass, Rebecca Stead

The Lost Library

Wendy Mass, Rebecca Stead