part one: the first message A - 3 Summary

"I am the Messenger" by Markus Zusak tells the story of a young man challenged by an unknown benefactor to become a better person by helping those around him. Through a series of assignments given to him written on the aces from a deck of playing cards, Ed Kennedy learns to face his fears and rise about his feelings of incompetence as he helps others in areas where they need the help the most. Some of the messages are as simple as buying an ice cream cone for a struggling single mother while others put Ed in positions of real danger. At the conclusion of the novel, Ed learns that he is not only the messenger, but also the message as the man who sent Ed on his journey of self-improvement...