SLIDER

Aced the Test

I Am The Messenger by Markus Zusak

Release Date: May 2006
Publisher: Random House | Knopf Books for Young Reads
Pages: 368 pages
Source & Format: Library; Hardcover

Sum It Up
Ed Kennedy doesn't have a lot going for him. He's an underage cabdriver, a terrible cardplayer and absolutely useless at romance. He lives in a shack with his dog, the Doorman, and he's hopelessly in love with his best friend, Audrey. He life is a routine... until he inadvertently stops a bank robbery. That's when the first Ace arrives. And Ed becomes the messenger...

Chosen to care, he becomes a man on a mission. He works his way through town helping (and occasionally hurting) as he is directed by the mysterious cards. Then he's left with only one question: Who's behind his mission?

By Its Cover 
I can understand why they chose this cover, but I'm not crazy about it. I read and loved The Book Thief, but I never felt strongly about picking this book up. The cover always kind of weirded me out. But I'm definitely glad I ended up reading it, and it helped to make more sense of the cover.

Amen, Sister Friend: An Everyday, Ordinary Guy
Ed is just a normal, everyday guy. He's not anything special. He isn't very talented, and he hasn't accomplished much with this life. I loved reading about a character like him! He's relatable because of the fact that he's just so ordinary. But he's also got a really unique voice. I loved his personality and way of looking at the world. That was one of the things that really sold me on this book!

I also loved his growth as a character as the book progressed. With each mission, he changes and gains confidence in himself. I really loved that part of this book!

Literary Love: Sweet & Lovely
Ed is smitten with Audrey, but she's just not interested. His desire for her and her rebuffs added a nice touch to the story. I loved that Ed knew why she wasn't interested in him, and it was sweet how he tries to show her his feelings.

For your sake, I'm not going to tell you what happens here because I honestly didn't know how it was all going to turn out. And I think it's better for you if you have the same experience.

Word Nerd: Writing is His Craft
I think I can call myself a Zusak fangirl now. This book is so different from The Book Thief, but at the same time it felt very him. Does that make sense? I love when an author can write something completely different, and yet you can still sense that they are the voice behind it all. I absolutely love how he writes - there were so many quotable moments. And I love when you can tell how much thought when into the way a sentence (and story) is crafted.

The thing I loved the most about this book was Zusak's message behind everything. I loved that the book was about doing good to others and looking beyond yourself to see how you could help someone else. It's such a good lesson - and I loved that it was communicated through the actions of an "ordinary" hero.

Extra, Extra: Cabbie
I  can honestly say that I've never read a book where the main character's occupation was as a cabdriver. I kind of loved that Ed did something so random and normal.

Extra, Extra: The Ending
There are a few twists in the end that I absolutely didn't see coming, and I'm still trying to figure it out completely. 

So Quotable
"Sometimes people are beautiful.
Not in looks.
Not in what they say.
Just in what they are."

"I want words at my funeral. But I guess that means you need life in your life."

Bottom Line: Can I Call Myself a Zusak Fangirl?
I really loved I Am the Messenger! I wasn't drawn to it by the cover, but I fell in love with the story inside. The bottom line is that I love Zusak, and you will, too. 

5 comments

  1. I really need to get to THE BOOK THIEF, don't I? I have it sitting on the shelf right behind me. I think the fact that it deals with the Holocaust is what holds me back. Tough subject matter. I'll read it first and then maybe I'll move on to I AM THE MESSENGER.

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    1. Yes, you really do need to get to it. It's hard but so worth it. I just cannot say enough good things about it. READ IT NOWWWWW :)

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  2. I am SUCH a Zusak fan girl as well. Like, whatever he writes I will pick up, read the heck out of and push on friends. Also? I love that I Am The Messenger is so different from The Book Thief but still strikes right at the heart.
    AND YES TO ED BEING SO ORDINARY THAT HE IS RELATABLE. I am glad to read about ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances.

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    1. YES, exactly. The two books are SO different, but at the same time you can see Zusak behind both of them. I am seriously so impressed with him!

      Isn't it nice to read about someone ordinary for once? Sometimes I feel like all people write about are the "-est" people. The smartest, funniest, prettiest, etc...

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  3. Shamefully, I have not read anything by Markus but I know if I did, I would be a total fangirl. I have seriously not heard ANYTHING bad about him. The Book Thief has been on my TBR for ages. I just need to find a copy with a cover I like! :P This seems like such a wonderful book, I don't think I've read a book with a cabdriver either and I need to add this to my TBR too.

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