The Messenger (Markus Zusak novel)

I Am The Messenger
Australian paperback edition
Author(s)	Markus Ethaniel Zusak
Country	Australia
Language	English
Publisher	Pan Macmillan Australia
Publication date	10 January 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.

Plot summary

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:

1. He must save a woman who is raped by her husband almost every night.
2. He must comfort a lonely old lady.
3. He must show a teenage girl how to take control of her life and become more confident.

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 Markus Zusak, the author himself. It becomes obvious that only the author has enough power to controll all the events and to have all the knowledge needed. Further evidence for this is shown when the mysterious man is described in his appearance. Also, Ed in the end, looks for his own future in the files to know how his story will go on. The trick used by Markus Zusak here seems to be rather controversial, some loving and others hating the ending. But as it is made clear in the last lines of the novel it's all about the realisation of chances and potential because as Ed finally says:"I'm not the messenger at all. I'm the message."

The Cards

1. The Ace of Diamonds simple- three addresses written in pen followed by a time.

• 45 Edgar Street, midnight
• 13 Harrison Avenue, 6pm
• 6 Macedoni Street, 5:30 am

2. Ace of Clubs

• Say a prayer at the stones of home

a riddle- you must first find your "stones of home" in order find out who the next messages are.

3. Ace of Spades

• Graham Greene
• Morris West
• Sylvia Plath

A Puzzle- Who are these people? find out and your answer will lie in the pages of a book.

4. Ace of Hearts

• The Suitcase
• Cat Ballou
• Roman Holiday

"Puzzle"-All of these are titles. The names of the next messages are in the fine print.

5. The Joker

• 26 Shipping Street

"Simple"

Stage adaptation

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.

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.

Representation

Zusak is represented by Curtis Brown Australia

Awards

• 2007 Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis
• 2006 Michael L. Printz Award Honor book
• 2006 Bulletin Blue Ribbon Book
• 2005 Publishers Weekly Best Books of the Year-Children
• 2003 Children’s Book Council of Australia Book of the Year Award
• 2003 New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards Ethel Turner Prize for Young People's Literature