‘protect the diamonds
survive the clubs
dig deep through the spades
feel the hearts

Ed Kennedy is an underage cabdriver without much of a future. He’s pathetic at playing cards, hopelessly in love with his best friend, Audrey, and utterly devoted to his coffee-drinking dog, the Doorman. His life is one of peaceful routine and incompetence until he inadvertently stops a bank robbery.

That’s when the first ace arrives in the mail.

That’s when Ed becomes the messenger.

Chosen to care, he makes his way through town helping and hurting (when necessary) until only one question remains: Who’s behind Ed’s mission?’

After reading and LOVING The Book Thief, it was only a matter of time  before I got my hands on Marcus Zusak’s second offering, I am the messenger, and yet again I was blown away by just how good it was.

I am the messenger follows Ed who isn’t doing much with his life until he starts getting this mysterious messages through his door. There isn’t much more I can say without spoiling the plot, and in fact it doesn’t matter. I am the messenger is about more then the plot. It makes you really think about life and other people and how much your actions impact on others life’s. Its one of those books.

The plot is gripping and interesting. The characters (especially Ed) are well thought out, layered people – and they don’t conform to the many YA clichés. As in The Book Thief, Zusak displays a rare talent of writing skilfully, with a poetic edge that doesn’t detract from the plot or seem fake to the characters or seem overly flowery.

I loved all these things about I am the messenger. But the thing that really made it a stand out read for me was the originality. Normally when I read a book I can list two or three others that are similar in plot, or style or character. This book seems unique – I’ve not read anything like it at all.

I rated I am a messenger four stars on Goodreads. To be honest, it probably deserves five. Although I loved it and will definitely be re-reading it, I LOVED The Book Thief, and I am the messenger didn’t quite match up to that standard. Having said that, its a very, very good book and Marcus Zusak is definitely one of my favourite authors to read.

Laura