I Am the Messenger

Having already read Markus Zusak's book, "The Book Thief", I knew what to expect of "I Am The Messenger". An outstanding and ingenious piece of work.

In "I Am The Messenger", Zusak takes what the general public sees as a loser and throws him into a world that forces him to become more. Not long after Ed Kennedy stops a bank robbery, playing cards with addresses and names on them begin appearing in the mail. The sender is unknown, but the purpose is clear: to help. With each task Ed not only helps those in need, but helps himself reach his full potential. The story is humorous, suspenseful, and kind-hearted throughout. Zusak's style of writing adds a rawness and realness to the novel.

Overall, "I Am The Messenger" leaves the reader motivated and encouraged. It proves that if someone like Ed Kennedy can stand up and take control of his life, then maybe everyone can. Maybe everyone can live beyond what is expected of them.

This book not only captures your attention and heart, but it will change how you look at life.

I suppose I was looking to be blown away I as I was with the Book Thief.
Although this was a fine novel with a great mystery to keep me turning the pages, I found some of the writing sytle and language hard to get through. The main character grew on me and I really came to love him for his strengths and weaknesses.

I Am the Messenger was an enjoyable read. It was hard to put down and the stories were very interesting. I do wish that the ending would have been a little different. I feel like the book just dies at the end and it was really disappointing after a great story.

Ed was a great character and some of the people he helps were also fascinating charaters. I felt that some of his friends could have been a little more developed. Some of them did gain interesting stories towards the end, but I wanted more from characters like Audrey and Ritchie.

I just finished the Australian book titled "I Am the Messenger" by Markus Zusak; the first book I've ever read by this author, though one of his other books (The Book Thief) has received wide acclaim. The story is meant for older teens only, I'd say (due to strong language and mature situations) and is a complete departure from the sort of YA books I usually read. It got off to an amusing and very promising start when Ed, a teen drifting through life without any clear direction, foils a bank robbery. Soon after he begins receiving anonymous messages directing him to locations where he has the opportunity to do some good in the world. The book is very well written, and the situations in which the protagonist finds himself are occasionally horrifying, sometimes amusing, and in a few instances very touching. (All the scenes with Milla rather got to me, for instance.)

Even though the character's actions---and the plot in general---continued to become increasingly far-fetched and unbelievable as the book went on, the story still held my attention. Well, right up until the big twist ending and reveal, that is! Literally within the last five pages, the author introduced an incredibly stupid and annoying deux ex machina plot device to solve the mystery of who exactly is sending the notes. This shoddy, lazy finish to the story had me ready to throw the book right across the room. I certainly had a lot of choice words to say about the conclusion (some of which I had learned from this very book!) which I cannot print out in this review. Ha!

So, a mixed-to-negative review on this one from me. The good points of the book, and the writing skill of the author, were overshadowed by an increasingly convoluted and illogical plot progression in the second half of the manuscript, and a crappy, crappy ending. I'm still so ticked off by it, in fact, that I don't know that I'll bother to seek out anything else the author has written...