The Messenger

The Messenger by Markus Zusak

Children's Book Week is on from Saturday 19 August to Friday 25 August. The Messenger by Markus Zusak won CBCA Children’s Book of the Year Award: Older Readers 2003

This is a modern story. It’s a bit of a mystery involving interesting characters who form a tight friendship group. We observe their interactions, their disputes and their reconciliations. Ed, our hero, is also a bit of an anti-hero: driving taxis rather than furthering his education; in love but not pursuing a relationship and not too interested in improving his life. His father has recently died and his relationship with his mother and brother is a bit rocky. Luckily, he has his dog!

Then he is launched into some wonderful adventures with strangers in his town that makes him reflect on his life and take some action to make it better. I listened to the audiobook while I watched the TV series.

The TV series is an adaptation and I liked some of the changes but not all. How must it feel to have your book ‘improved’ for television? Some changes to the female characters did seem an improvement to me. In the TV series, there was less focus on ‘beauty’ and more on the substance and imperfections of the whole person. 

The plotlines were somewhat changed, but the essence of the mystery was similar. I enjoyed both and felt quite pleased to have had both going at the same time.

Find The Messenger by Markus Zusak

Cathy