Aced the Test

Aced the Test

• May 31, 2012

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

Amazon | Goodreads

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.