I am the Messenger by Markus Zusak

I am the Messenger by Markus Zusak 

I am the Messenger is a book about a 19 year old cab driver, named Ed Kennedy, who believes he has no future. The story is based in Sydney, Australia. One day he mysteriously receives an Ace playing card in the mail. On the card is written details of three separate addresses and times. He visits each one individually and finds someone in need of help.

He goes to the first address at the time given on the card and he meets a woman and her eight year old daughter. The girl is extremely sad and lonely because her father has problems and is away from home a lot. Ed comfort her by talking to her and making her believe that she is not alone.

At the second address he finds a girl who loves to run but cannot afford running shoes. She regularly attends races in scruffy shoes that are extremely worn down and too small for her. When she is training she runs barefoot which she loves as it makes her feel free. Her father is extremely demanding and wants her to win and win only. Ed talks to her and tells her that she should run the race how she wants to and not how her father wants her to. In the next race she runs barefoot. Although she doesn't win the race, It makes her enjoy running more and makes her feel free.

At the third address he finds a old woman who's husband dies at war and she was never notified. She lived her life believing he would come back, but he never did. Ed looks like the husband so when he goes to her house she mistakes him for her husband when he was younger. He talks to her, reads to her, and most importantly when he leaves he says 'Goodbye' and the old woman finally understands that her husband is never coming back.