BIBLIOGRAPHY
Zusak, Markus. 2002. I am the messenger. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. ISBN 0-375-83099-5
PLOT SUMMARY
Ed Kennedy - "taxi driver, local loser, cornerstone of mediocrity, sexual midget, pathetic card player...and weird shit magnet" is lonely and down on himself. Even his mom doesn't seem to like him. Ed's life revolves around his stinky dog, driving a cab, yearning for a girl who doesn't notice him, and playing cards with his equally lonely and pathetic friends. Then one day Ed mysteriously receives the Ace of Diamonds in the mail. When he continues to receive cards, Ed is afraid of the Ace of Spades, yet it's the Ace of Hearts that may change his life the most.
Ed Kennedy - "taxi driver, local loser, cornerstone of mediocrity, sexual midget, pathetic card player...and weird shit magnet" is lonely and down on himself. Even his mom doesn't seem to like him. Ed's life revolves around his stinky dog, driving a cab, yearning for a girl who doesn't notice him, and playing cards with his equally lonely and pathetic friends. Then one day Ed mysteriously receives the Ace of Diamonds in the mail. When he continues to receive cards, Ed is afraid of the Ace of Spades, yet it's the Ace of Hearts that may change his life the most.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Winner of the 2006 Michael L. Printz Honor, 2006 Bulletin Blue Ribbon Book, 2005 Publisher's Weekly Best Books of the Year: Children and the 2003 Children's Book Council Book of the Year Award in Australia, Zusak has created a touching story about an unmotivated, lonely guy who, through a series of events, discovers that by helping others, he's helping himself. Set in a small Australian town, we can feel Ed and his friends apathy towards life. Zusak's characters are unflinchingly real in this story about growing up - even if you're mostly already grown. Although the mood of the book starts off quite bleak, it ends on a positive note as Ed gains self-esteem and confidence.
Although the book leans towards realistic fiction, the plot is far-fetched and has a fantasy element. There is too much investment from the mysterious person who is sending the cards, unless it's a guardian angel who has knowledge of Ed's predetermined destiny. The book could easily be turned into a screenplay and it would be a great, inspirational movie. Plot aside, it's Ed's burgeoning self-awareness that moves the story along. We can't help but root for Ed as he takes on each challenge and begins to see himself in a different light, "I see the pitiful nature of my life...But then I see my eyes become determined. I see a future version of myself..."
Zusak's writing is almost poetic. Every sentence has meaning, and quite often, Ed comes out with powerful and insightful statements. Upon seeing a family, he shows how lonely he is by stating, "They look like the type of family who tell each other they love each other when they go to bed, and when they wake up, and before they go to work." In considering each task, Ed states that some of the events "hold me up," while others "strips me and hands shivers to my skin and to my flesh and bones." The reader is left in anticipation of the next card and the tasks Ed will need to complete - it's interesting to watch how it will change the other person's life and how it will affect Ed.
Although the ending is not really plausible, it doesn't really matter. The girl he loves states "You used to just be...now you're somebody, Ed." It's a beautiful moment when Ed realizes that "...I feel like somehow I introduced myself. To myself. And here I am." Teenagers need that type of reinforcement - that their lives are up to them and to make of it what they will. In Zusak's book, they'll find out that through small, positive changes, they can become the person they want to be..or someone they never thought they could be. Always a good message.
Winner of the 2006 Michael L. Printz Honor, 2006 Bulletin Blue Ribbon Book, 2005 Publisher's Weekly Best Books of the Year: Children and the 2003 Children's Book Council Book of the Year Award in Australia, Zusak has created a touching story about an unmotivated, lonely guy who, through a series of events, discovers that by helping others, he's helping himself. Set in a small Australian town, we can feel Ed and his friends apathy towards life. Zusak's characters are unflinchingly real in this story about growing up - even if you're mostly already grown. Although the mood of the book starts off quite bleak, it ends on a positive note as Ed gains self-esteem and confidence.
Although the book leans towards realistic fiction, the plot is far-fetched and has a fantasy element. There is too much investment from the mysterious person who is sending the cards, unless it's a guardian angel who has knowledge of Ed's predetermined destiny. The book could easily be turned into a screenplay and it would be a great, inspirational movie. Plot aside, it's Ed's burgeoning self-awareness that moves the story along. We can't help but root for Ed as he takes on each challenge and begins to see himself in a different light, "I see the pitiful nature of my life...But then I see my eyes become determined. I see a future version of myself..."
Zusak's writing is almost poetic. Every sentence has meaning, and quite often, Ed comes out with powerful and insightful statements. Upon seeing a family, he shows how lonely he is by stating, "They look like the type of family who tell each other they love each other when they go to bed, and when they wake up, and before they go to work." In considering each task, Ed states that some of the events "hold me up," while others "strips me and hands shivers to my skin and to my flesh and bones." The reader is left in anticipation of the next card and the tasks Ed will need to complete - it's interesting to watch how it will change the other person's life and how it will affect Ed.
Although the ending is not really plausible, it doesn't really matter. The girl he loves states "You used to just be...now you're somebody, Ed." It's a beautiful moment when Ed realizes that "...I feel like somehow I introduced myself. To myself. And here I am." Teenagers need that type of reinforcement - that their lives are up to them and to make of it what they will. In Zusak's book, they'll find out that through small, positive changes, they can become the person they want to be..or someone they never thought they could be. Always a good message.
REVIEW EXCERPTS
"This book is a mystery in itself. The organization is curious, the writing suspenseful, and the idea intriguing. These make it a close-to-perfect book - if it weren't for the flawed ending. Still, it is an engrossing read. - Children's Literature
This dense literary novel is heavy on plotting, secondary characters...and belated coming-of-age anguish, all pulled together with the dazzling first person, sometimes sentence-fragmented voice of Ed Kennedy...Although the curtain pulling at the book's finale is more of a whimper than a bang, Ed's journey into secret lives is so emotional and intellectually challenging that older readers will enjoy the trip. - VOYA
...the true driving force behind the novel itself is reader's knowledge that behind every turn looms the unknown presence-either good or evil-of the person or persons sending the messages. Zusak's characters, styling, and conversations are believably unpretentious, well conceived, and appropriately raw. Together, these key elements fuse into an enigmatically dark, almost film-noir atmosphere where unknowingly lost Ed Kennedy stumbles onto a mystery-or series of mysteries-that could very well make or break his life. - School Library Journal
"Elegant, philosophical and moving...Beautiful and important. -Kirkus Reviews, Starred
"Exquisitely written and memorably populated, Zusak's poignant tribute to words, survival, and their curiously inevitable entwinement is a tour de force to be not just read but inhabited." - The Horn Book Magazines, Starred
"One of the most highly anticipated young-adult books in years." - The Wall Street Journal
"Funny, engrossing, and suspenseful." - KLIATT, Starred
"Funny, engrossing, and suspenseful." - KLIATT, Starred
CONNECTIONS
-I am the messenger has great topics for class discussions. Some questions you may want to consider discussing with the class.
1. Have you ever helped someone and it made you feel better? What was the other person's response?
2. In what ways is responding to the challenges physical, intellectual and emotional?
3. What does the story say about responding to challenges? Consider overcoming fear, positive/negative reactions to the challenge, and the different phases of meeting challenges.
-The book mentions a variety of books, music, and movies. Have students listen, read or watch one of the sources mentioned in the book and discuss how it relates to the character and within the story. (Examples, Bob Dylan, Sylvia Path, Cool Hand Luke, Graham Greene...)
- Markus Zusak has created teacher notes which can be used when discussing the book.
http://www.panmacmillan.com.au/resources/MZ-MessengerRTC.pdf
http://www.panmacmillan.com.au/resources/MZ-Messengernotes.pdf
-Random House has created a Reader's Guide that is valuable for discussion points.
http://www.randomhouse.biz/booksellers/childrens/files/2010/03/IAmMessenger_RderGd_WEB.pdf
-Students may want to read Zusak's other award winning book The Book Thief. ISBN 978-0-375-84220-7
Does this book challenge the reader or support?
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