I Am the Messenger [NOOK Book]

Reviewed by Taylor Rector for TeensReadToo.com

Ed Kennedy is a nineteen-year-old cab driver who is kind of a nobody! He hasn't achieved anything great, isn't a genius, his mom despises him, and his dad died of alcoholism. The only real thing that he has is his dog, named the Doorman, who everyone says desperately needs a bath. And, he's in love with Audrey, a girl from a bad neighborhood, just like him, who also happens to be one of his best friends since forever. The thing is, Audrey doesn't know that Ed is in love with her, and worse yet, she says she doesn't believe in love.

One day, Ed and his friend stop at a local bank, but a robbery begins while they are in line. And Ed stops the guy.

So then he becomes a local hero. He is just trying to live a normal life, and then he gets a playing card in the mail with three addresses and times on it. Ed doesn't know what to do. Should he just throw the card away, like his friends instruct, or should he go to the first address to see what this is all about?

This book would be a good recommendation for fans of THE DA VINCI CODE and the movie National Treasure.

Ed is such a cool character! He seems like such a normal guy, who does things that normal guys do, and lives a very ordinary life. Until he gets the card in the mail, and he's not so ordinary anymore.

8 out of 9 people found this review helpful.

...........

Markus Zusak is the best author ever-NO JOKE! The only book I can say is better than this one is The Book Thief (also by him). The story is perfect for finding yourself and realizing that you're not the only person in the world, and even though you think your life is bad there are other people in the world who are worse off than you. I love this book and not one person I know that's read it has disliked it.

6 out of 6 people found this review helpful.

Put it Down Mid-Book..

My librarian recommended this to me..I will never ask him to recommend a book to me again. First of all, I HATE putting down books after I start them, even if they're awful. This book however, I could not stand!
I started it and thought "it will get better.." It doesn't.
The perspective: drove me insane. "I sit at the table." Drives me crazy.
The language: OVER DRAMATIC. It killed me! (The guy made a overdramatic thought at every action. Not to mention, the main character isn't a character you'd like to know.)Originally, I didn't mind the main character. But he grew on me as a loser who has no aspirations in life.
**CAUTION** if you are a realistic person, do NOT read this book.
However, I'm sure some people will like this book. If you like over dramatic thoughts and "deep" language.. then go ahead. But don't say I didn't warm you!

5 out of 21 people found this review helpful.

This is one of my ALL TIME FAVORITES

After having read and enjoyed Marcus Zusak's "The Book Thief" I decided to see what else he had out there. Lucky for me, I found this! I can say honestly, it is one of my favorite books and one of only two that I literally could not put down. I found myself up at two in the morning with half of the book still to go and all I could think was "I can finish it....I have to finish it!"

The story line is simple enough. A young man accidentally foils a bank robbery and because of that is singled out (by someone) to become a hero. They start sending him playing cards in the mail, each with three clues on it. He has to figure out the clues and do whatever needs doing. The results vary with everything from his befriending an old woman who has no one else left in her life, to stopping a man who has been beating his wife and child most of their lives. In the end, he learns a lot about himself.

It is an incredible, emotionally gripping roller coaster that will leave you thinking back on every decision you've made in your life and evaluating how it has affected you and those around you. It will challenge you by making you think about how you affect people around in your life. I highly recommend it for any teen or adult who loves the sort of book that you can't forget. This is a great book club title because it encourages discussion and, quite frankly, you can't help but want to share it!

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

A reviewer

I started this book with high hopes. The plot sounded interesting, so I read it. I started reading it. I did not finish it. I had to abandon it for the lack of clarity. I could not make any sense of it!!! Why would a person actually go after a card with addresses on it? Why would they be nervous about it? I- personally- just discard it and go on with my life... I wouldn't get all worked up about it! Ed seemed just so unrealistic. If you're into that, 'Ooo... how scary a card with addresses on it... how creepy.' then this could be a great book for you. If you're into, 'A card in my mailbox. With addresses on it. That's weird. I'm throwing this away.' then don't read this. I also didn't like the constant bad language in the book.

2 out of 6 people found this review helpful.

In Love

I loved it. It tops charts for me and definitely was good. I reread it several times:)

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

I am the Messenger sends the Reader on an adventure with just an ordinary under-age cab driver. It truly thrills.

In the book I am the Messenger, by Markus Zuzak Ed Kennedy is just a normal, sensitive, hopeless, underage cab driver. He really does not know what to do with his life, until a mysterious ace of diamonds playing card with several street names written on it ends up in his mailbox.
Ed embarks on a journey around his town stopping at certain houses and changing people's lives for the better. Some people he knows and others he does not; all along discovering more about himself. Ed's story moves through many colorful acquaintances, including, Daryl and Keith - the bumbling hit-men, the stern man in the taxi with yellow eyes, and the sneaky woman who decides to cause trouble for Ed at the Sledge Game. All of whom seem to work for the same person. Throughout his journey Ed cannot help but wonder who is the one dictating all the playing card madness.

Throughout the book many themes are used to propel the story. Though the most important is finding your way in life, others include life goes on, change helps you learn more about yourself as well as others. The book is a wonderful, charming story. It has memorable characters and is quite a page turner. Though it is about 400 pages in reality 357 it keeps a great pace with the events in the story and the sarcasm and language really make it a fun read. The book is really a story meant for young adults but even adults will find it a short entertainment. One problem with the book though, is that some of the characters are really not needed. Though the story comes full circle at the end, taking out some of the characters wouldn't have change the story one bit.

Anyone should read this charming story because not is it only packed with action for the action-lovers; but it has romance for the romance-lovers, and a great plot with good characters for the one's who just love a good story. Markus meant does not only appeal to every type of person in this story; but also was able to take a lighter side to the Holocaust in his other book The Book Thief about a girl named Lisel who steals books around her town to feed her thirst for knowledge.

I am the Messenger is an incredible book filled with the needs of every type of book lover. It has a great story line. Charming characters, story line, and some of life's morals. It is truly a charming read and is a story that hopefully will remain in teenagers and adults bookcases for years to come.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

A book that really kept my interest...

With Ed Kennedy living a bland life as an underage cab driver with just his dog, The Doorman, he felt as if nothing was coming his way. His mom hated him, his dad had died, he had feelings his friend Audrey (but she wouldn't feel love towards anyone), and he was threatened by a criminal after being the "star of the scene" when he was a victim in a bank robbery. However, when Ed gets his first card in the mail, things start to change. Ed starts thinking outside of what's there to go way ahead of himself and change the lives of others. Helping and hurting, he is given spades, hearts, clubs, and diamonds with different mysteries to unveil on every card. Each story is a new experience for him, and that is what I loved about this story. It wasn't just one main plot. Every situation was eventually linked into one, and that one story was his. The beginning was clever, the storyline was thorough, and the ending was amazing. All in all, this book was extremely hard to put down and I loved every bit of it.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Amazing

This book is indescribable. There is a magic to the writing and the events that makes it such a pleasure to experience. The only sub-par element is the amount of willpower it takes to put it down when you don't have time to read it all in one sitting. There isn't a whole lot else to say, except that anyone unsure about reading the book should most definitely give it a shot.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Favorite book of all time.

Humor, suspense and a clever writing style make this a book I go back to time and again. Loveable personalities and attention to detail go a long way in this gem. Cannot reccommend enough.

Don't Listen to the reviews about an unsatisfying ending

This book is amazing. Many reviews are saying it doesn't end well, I strongly disagree! If you put thought into things ypu can easily see the deeper meaning of this fantasic book. If you are weary abput reading it because of what you have heard about the ending all i can say is READ IT! Ignore the reviews about the ending.

Fantastic book!

Imcredible

Amazing book! I recomend to all!

M

I definitely recommend this book. It would probably appeal better to people over 10 though. Very intriging and addictive. Great if you like puzzles and books that make you think. It makes you feel kinda dumb at the end though for not paying attention at the beggining! Hint hint!

Awesome!!!!!!

This is such a great book i would definitely recommend purchasing it.

One of my favorite reads

Ed Kennedy ¿¿ an unambitious 19 year old cab driver who lives in a lean-t¿ with his coffee-addicted dog, the Doorman, ¿nd plays cards ¿¿¿r¿ night. He has a dead-end job, a few friends, an estranged family, and is hopelessly in love with his best friend. The course of his life is forever altered following the events of a bank robbery. While at a bank with his close friends, Ed prevents a bank robber from escaping using the robber¿s own gun.  In the aftermath ¿f h¿¿ heroism, h¿ ¿¿ receives a delivery. It is a playing card, th¿ Ace ¿f Diamonds.  Printed ¿n th¿ card ¿r¿ three addresses ¿nd times. H¿ travels t¿ each destination ¿nd realizes he has been given a purpose, an opportunity to make a difference in each circumstance. Once th¿ Ace ¿f Diamonds ¿¿ completed, h¿¿ job ¿¿ n¿t, ¿¿ h¿ receives ¿¿t another card. There is much mystery surrounding the cards, ¿¿t Ed knows th¿t ¿t is valuable work. Thus Ed becomes the messenger, messenger of hope, of love, and ¿small things that are big.¿ A major message is finding purpose in one¿s life. One must strive to find meaning and avoid living a life of complacency. One leading a seemingly ordinary and average life is capable of achieving greatness and heroism. The novel also stresses the idea of fate and destiny, the idea of a higher force having control in human life. The characters are strongly and thoughtfully developed, especially Ed Kennedy. The story is told in first person which allows the audience insight into Ed¿s thoughts and beliefs and his dry and sarcastic inner dialogue. The idea of the story is engaging and well developed. The dialogue is also well written and entertaining. The book is divided into several subplots, each portraying a story of its own value. I enjoy this organizational structure. The ending was disappointing. It was a surprising and unexpected twist that took me off guard. I suppose it was confusing to me and I felt it had the element of ¿and I woke up and it was all a dream.¿ Perhaps the reason I found the ending disappointing was the fact that it altered my view and perspective surrounding the entire story. I highly recommend this book as a result of the quality of writing and content of the story. The author, Markus Zusak, effectively uses suspense in order to engage the reader, causing them to listen. This novel is capable of touching hearts and provoking deep thought. It is easy to connect with Ed, an average person attempting to make their way in the world, yet Ed is capable of forever benefiting the lives of others through the tasks given to him. This provokes the desire to make a difference. It implements the sense of heroism in oneself. Another recommended work written by Markus Zusak is The Book Thief.

One of my favorite reads

Ed Kennedy ¿¿ an unambitious 19 year old cab driver who lives in a lean-t¿ with his coffee-addicted dog, the Doorman, ¿nd plays cards ¿¿¿r¿ night. He has a dead-end job, a few friends, an estranged family, and is hopelessly in love with his best friend. The course of his life is forever altered following the events of a bank robbery. While at a bank with his close friends, Ed prevents a bank robber from escaping using the robber¿s own gun.  In the aftermath ¿f h¿¿ heroism, h¿ ¿¿ receives a delivery. It is a playing card, th¿ Ace ¿f Diamonds.  Printed ¿n th¿ card ¿r¿ three addresses ¿nd times. H¿ travels t¿ each destination ¿nd realizes he has been given a purpose, an opportunity to make a difference in each circumstance. Once th¿ Ace ¿f Diamonds ¿¿ completed, h¿¿ job ¿¿ n¿t, ¿¿ h¿ receives ¿¿t another card. There is much mystery surrounding the cards, ¿¿t Ed knows th¿t ¿t is valuable work. Thus Ed becomes the messenger, messenger of hope, of love, and ¿small things that are big.¿
A major message is finding purpose in one¿s life. One must strive to find meaning and avoid living a life of complacency. One leading a seemingly ordinary and average life is capable of achieving greatness and heroism. The novel also stresses the idea of fate and destiny, the idea of a higher force having control in human life.
The characters are strongly and thoughtfully developed, especially Ed Kennedy. The story is told in first person which allows the audience insight into Ed¿s thoughts and beliefs and his dry and sarcastic inner dialogue. The idea of the story is engaging and well developed. The dialogue is also well written and entertaining. The book is divided into several subplots, each portraying a story of its own value. I enjoy this organizational structure.
The ending was disappointing. It was a surprising and unexpected twist that took me off guard. I suppose it was confusing to me and I felt it had the element of ¿and I woke up and it was all a dream.¿ Perhaps the reason I found the ending disappointing was the fact that it altered my view and perspective surrounding the entire story.
I highly recommend this book as a result of the quality of writing and content of the story. The author, Markus Zusak, effectively uses suspense in order to engage the reader, causing them to listen. This novel is capable of touching hearts and provoking deep thought. It is easy to connect with Ed, an average person attempting to make their way in the world, yet Ed is capable of forever benefiting the lives of others through the tasks given to him. This provokes the desire to make a difference. It implements the sense of heroism in oneself.
Another recommended work written by Markus Zusak is The Book Thief.

Markus Zusak Rules

Like every other book of his, Zusak creates such real and honest stories with real and honest characters. It leaves the reader with an incredible feeling.

Great

I read this book because I loved The Book Thief and wow. This book reads very well and the main character is completly relatable. We all feel like are lives need more and it was great to see Ed transform himself from pathetic being to feeling like hes doing something worthwhile. The writing is very real and feel like dialog Ed just a friend talking to you. Read this book. Its worthwhile.

Incredible

Since i was assigned to read this book by a teacher of mines i doubted that i would enjoy it, however, between the detail and the amazing story line i fell in love my onlu dissapointment is the way in which the book ended, OTHERWISE, purely incredible Signed Paige Penelope Presscott-Knight