| I Am The Messenger | |
|---|---|
Australian paperback edition |
|
| Author(s) | Markus Ethaniel Zusak |
| Country | Australia |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Pan Macmillan Australia |
| Publication date | January 10, 2002 |
| Media type | Print (Hardcover and Paperback) |
| Pages | 396 (first edition, paperback) |
The Messenger is a 2002 novel by Markus Zusak, and winner of the 2003 Children’s Book Council of Australia Book of the Year Award. The Messenger was released in the United States under the name I Am the Messenger. The entire story is written through the eyes of the main character, Ed Kennedy, who describes and comments on the story throughout the book.
Contents |
The story begins with an introduction to the character of Ed Kennedy, a down-and-out underage taxi driver who is hopelessly in love with his best friend Audrey, who, to his dismay, feels that she cares about him too much to date him. Ed is standing in a bank queue when a robbery takes place. He accidentally foils the robbers' escape, and is proclaimed a hero. Shortly after, he receives an ace in the mail. The ace is from an unknown source. On the ace is written a list of addresses and times. These represent a series of tasks that Ed must complete.
His tasks are as follows:
Throughout the book, Ed receives different playing cards in the mail. Each card is a different ace, and each ace contains a series of tasks, often in the form of cryptic clues. On the second to last card, he receives a list with movie titles on it and deciphers the names of his three best friends. From these cards he learns the greatest message of all: That he isn't the messenger, but instead the message.
The last card is a Joker and has his own address written on it. Eventually, the source is discovered to be the bank robber from the beginning of the novel, who is connected, in a roundabout way, to Ed's late father. The bank robber discovers that somebody has been delivering him these messages - and has controlled his life in order to allow him to reach his potential. The man in control of it all killed Ed's father, instructed the man to rape the woman, and organizes his life so that he could show everyone that if an ordinary person like him could accomplish this much, then everyone could. It ends with the realization that Ed is not the messenger, he is the message. If the reader pays close attention to the original source of the cards and picture of Markus Zusak at the end of the book, they may notice the picture matches Ed's description of the source. It is a possibility that the author, Markus Zusak, is the man who sent all the messages. The fact that the man has a folder with a written account of everything that happened also further verifies this suspicion.
1. The Ace of Diamonds simple- three addresses written in pen followed by a time.
2. Ace of Clubs
a riddle- you must first find your "stones of home" in order find out who the next messages are.
3. Ace of Spades
A Puzzle- Who are these people? find out and your answer will lie in the pages of a book.
4. Ace of Hearts
"Puzzle"-All of these are titles. The names of the next messages are in the fine print.
5. The Joker
"Simple"
In 2008 the novel was adapted for the stage by Ross Mueller. It was first performed by The Canberra Youth Theatre on 24 November 2008.[1]
In 2011 the novel was adapted again for the stage by Curtin's Hayman Theatre Company and performed at the Subiaco Arts Centre in Perth, Western Australia.[2]
Zusak is represented by Curtis Brown Australia[3]