Goodness, I loved this book.
After a string of dead-end jobs, a young woman finds new meaning and direction in an old copy of Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson and begins living her life around the principles extolled and demonstrated by Jim Hawkins.
This book was hilarious, bizarre, and quite a bit of fun. It's also shocking and melodramatic, but in a really rewarding way. I laughed aloud often and read excerpts to my husband as I went. And I finished this book in one afternoon - it was tough to put down.
My favorite part of this book was that it identifies with the struggles of many 20-somethings (and people in general) and blows them out of proportion. Readers feel validated and can relate to the characters and also feel like their lives are much more put-together than the main character's.
This book reminded me quite a bit of Margaret Atwood's The Edible Woman - it displays a mental breakdown in a unique and memorable way and helps the reader put their own concerns and problem in perspective. If I had read this a few years ago, I think it would have affected me personally much more. In my life right now, it's difficult for me to relate to the character as much, but I still thoroughly enjoyed this book.
Recommended for young adults who aren't sure what they're doing with their lives.