• I Am the Messenger

  • By: Markus Zusak
  • Narrated by: Marc Aden Gray
  • Length: 8 hrs and 38 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (1,506 ratings)

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I Am the Messenger  By  cover art

I Am the Messenger

By: Markus Zusak
Narrated by: Marc Aden Gray
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Publisher's summary

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?

©2006 Markus Zusak (P)2006 Random House Inc. Listening Library, an imprint of the Random House Audio Publishing Group

Critic reviews

"Zusak succeeds brilliantly." (Booklist)
"Zusak's characters, styling, and conversations are believably unpretentious, well conceived, and appropriately raw. Together, these key elements fuse into an enigmatically dark, almost film-noir atmosphere." (School Library Journal)

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What listeners say about I Am the Messenger

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
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    5 out of 5 stars

Thoroughly enjoyable

The audio version of this book captures brilliantly the character of the narrator. Youthfulness, insecurity, hopefulness, all rolled in one.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Great Listen!

Loved the narrator, the writing & the story! Everyone I know who's read it complains about the ending. But I'm okay with it. Hope Zusak keeps writing more like this!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Great easily accessible book

I enjoy when a book can trick me into enjoying something cheesy and overly optimistic without feeling like it is contrived or tartly and this book does just that.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Initially engaging, but ultimately not satisfying

What I liked about this book: well written, faced paced, engaging characters - excellent narration that makes the main character believable. What I didn't like so much: implausible story, unsatisfying ending, overly sappy ending. Know what you are getting into. This is fun and engaging if you don't expect too much.

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8 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Nice story

I’ve been reading lots of heavy historical and documentary books and this is a heartwarming and fun read that my daughter recommended. Would be great if we could all be inspired to give more and positively impact others. Really enjoyed it!

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Likable characters but a really dumb story

Even though I loved the main character's personality, I thought the plot to "make him" murder strangers was ridiculous. I quit listening about half way through.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Loved this story

I think Markus Zusak is amazing. I have read everything I can find that he has written. And this book is second only to The Book Thief. Ed takes you on a mysterious adventure and grows as a person each step of the way.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

One of my favorites since I was a kid!

I love this book! I've loved it for years and the story gets better with age for sure!
Kind of funny you can hear the narrator make voices for the characters and then get stuck in that voice and read the next paragraph of text in that speech...
otherwise it's perfect and I am really tempted to get a dog and name it Doorman

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent

Loved the story line, and the character development. Really loved the imagery brought about by word choice. Thought the narrator was the perfect choice for the main character.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

A decent read.

This book has an overall fun story, however there is plenty of cringe writing and moments held within, and the ending is quite unsatisfactory.

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