I Am the Messenger (by Markus Zusak)

I am the Messenger is a highly informative book in the sense that it correlates the commonalities of everyday life with acts of extraordinary measures. The lead character is a very average person, but he learns that he can make a drastic impact. I think that is a message that should be conveyed more frequently in literature. The characters are easily related to because of their flaws and their diverse and unique personalities, these seem like people you would know personally and by the end of the book, you feel like you do. The book does contain some explicit content in the fact that the lead character's best friend and love interest is frequently engaging in sexual activity and it does show a negative approach to sex, so I wouldn't encourage parents to let their young children read it, only if you feel your children have a clear and proper understanding of sex and wont be effected by such a view would I say anyone under at least 12 should delve into the books material. There are profanities in this book and although this makes people unsure of it's moral, I think that the language and dialect of the characters better brings out and defines their personalities and makes them more believable as real world people. I read this book when I was 14 and I loved it. I found it entirely engaging and wanted to explore more of Mr. Zusak's work. He is now one of my favorite author's I would definitely suggest his books to anyone who asked.