I Am the Messenger in Around the World in 80 Books

Apr 22, 2012 Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance rated it it was amazing

Shelves: kids-1001, coming-of-age, children-s-books, healing

Ed Kennedy is a lost soul. His mother speaks cruelly to him. The girl he wishes would be his girlfriend refuses him and instead spends her days and nights in a succession of meaningless encounters. His job is pointless. Ed is lost.

One day, he finds himself in a bank as it is being robbed and Ed becomes a hero.

And then a card arrives in the mail.

Ed is sent off on missions to change lives. And off he goes.

Sometimes the missions are disturbing and difficult and Ed is never sure what is going on ...more

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Feb 18, 2010 Katie rated it really liked it

I am really pleasantly surprised by how much I liked this book. At first it had the slightly lighter/shallower feel of a young adult novel, but I quickly realized it was not that, at all. This book had the delightful quality of being simple - maybe not simple, maybe "sparse" or "unadorned" is better - while also being mentally and emotionally challenging. The plot was brilliantly original, and the protagonist Ed Kennedy jumped off the page, he was so real and three-dimensional. I only hold back ...more

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May 09, 2009 Meghan rated it liked it

Shelves: via-audible

A bit slow moving for me, but Ed Kennedy ended up really winning my respect, and I heartily cheered the end of the book. Ed is your everyday guy. No, really. None of that 'I say he's every day, but really he's secretly a model, and a scholar'. His mom hates him, he drives a cab, he's scared, he's unmotivated, he drinks, he plays cards, he's in love with his best friend, and he doesn't want anything to change...but it does.

A marvelous little adventure about inner strength, helping people, and wha ...more

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