I am the Messenger ~ Markus Zusak

I am the Messenger
by Markus Zusak

I have a confession… I enjoy Young Adult Literature.  I don’t think people should eschew books simply because they are “labeled” for a younger reading group.  There are beautiful picture books, incredibly funny books for middle graders and amazing books written for young adults.  YA writers are often willing to take risks, present harsh realities and ask hard questions about life.  I have always found that YA writers create some of the most engaging and intricate stories but more people are starting to catch on.  J.K. Rowling’s success with Harry Potter was followed by Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight series and now The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collin’s.  This is not everyone’s cup of tea, and they are not representative of all that YA Literature has to offer.  YA books cover the gamut but many are quick, engaging reads that hook the reader immediately.  They can be fluffy light reads or intense reads dealing with harsh social issues.  I am the Messenger has both the humor and the harsh issues.

Meet Ed Kennedy.  He’s a nineteen year old taxi driver.  He lives in a shack with a seventeen year old dog named Doorman who has a rarified stink.  He plays cards with his friends Ritchie, Marv and Audrey regularly.  He loves, and lusts after, his friend Audrey.  He also just managed to catch a bank robber, without really meaning to.  It just sort of happened.  After the robbery, he receives an Ace of Diamonds in the mail.  It has three addresses and three times on it.  It takes some time to work up the courage, but finally he goes to the first address.  This isn’t an easy case he’s facing.  It is hard, harsh reality and he has to figure out how to help.  He steps back and walks away, scared.  He’ll be back.  The second address offers something completely different, a lonely old lady who seems very kind.  The third one is a fifteen year old shy girl who likes to run.  It’s all a bit of a mystery.  Ed will help them though and, when he’s done, there will be another card.  

To be honest, at first I wasn’t sure whether this was a Young Adult title that appeals to adults or an Adult title with appeal for Young Adults.  What I can tell you, is that it’s a fascinating story which received the American Library Association’s Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature.  Part of the appeal to me is that Markus Zusak is an Australian author and I think you get a bit of a unique flavor there.  Writers from different countries tend to have a slightly different way of looking at things.  I have compared the humor in American sitcoms to Canadian sitcoms to British sitcoms and it is a little bit different for each.  I suspect the author would be a talented writer whatever country he came from.  It’s not that he’s writing about Australia, but maybe the landscape, the nature of the air, somehow changes how the words sound.

My verdict is simple, I really like this book and many other people have too.  Give it a try.