This book review was originally published on The Wordy Nerd Books on September 5, 2014.

Ed Kennedy is an underage cab driver who doesn’t have a whole lot going for him.  He is in love with his best friend, Audrey, but she doesn’t seem to feel the same way.  His mother can’t stand him and he lives alone with his coffee-drinking dog, the Doorman.  Everything changes for him when the bank he just happens to be in becomes the site of a robbery.  Ed acts heroically and foils the robbery.  His name is in every paper and the would-be bank robber is not happy.  At the trial, the robber tells Ed to watch out and vows to seek revenge after he completes his jail sentence.  Ed just wants things to go back to normal.  However, some one else has other plans for him.  Shortly after the trial, Ed receives the first ace in the mail.  A simple playing card with a cryptic message.  Ed has been chosen to figure out the message and carry out his new duty.

This novel follows Ed as he discovers each message that he is supposed to deliver.  This story kept me guessing the whole time.  It is far from predictable and I really enjoyed each of the twists and turns.  I also enjoyed the messages that Ed had to carry out.  Essentially he was challenged to care about those in his community which is something the world, as a whole, could use a little more of.

Markus Zusak is probably most well-known for The Book Thief.  If you have read and enjoyed that, then I would definitely suggest picking up I Am The Messenger.  It felt a bit more fast-paced than The Book Thief but just as well written. One of my eleventh grade students actually recommended this book (and let me borrow it).  I wasn’t sure what to expect when I first started reading it.  I hadn’t heard anything about this book but it grabbed my attention quickly and drew me in.  It ended up being one of those books that I couldn’t stop reading and was a little disappointed that it was over when I finished it. Overall, I rated this book with four stars.