"Meet Ed Kennedy - cab driving prodigy, pathetic card player and useless at sex."
After inadvertently stopping a bank robbery, Ed is mysteriously
delivered an Ace of Diamonds, becoming the messenger and working his way
through the different aces. But who is behind Ed's cryptic mission???It's hard to write an inspirational book without sounding preachy, but that's certainly what Zusak's managed. Zusak's prose is extremely quotable which, as anyone who knows me, I do love being able to quote my favourite books. A beautiful story that contains so much more than what you think you're going to get from the hilarious beginning (which is what appealed this book to me in the first place. Don't worry, it's still got great humour in it.) Nothing appeals me to a character more than a genuine self-deprecating sense of humour like Ed's. It was also very engaging emotionally without ever being draining - it was more that, simply put, you cared about the characters.
The ending was a total plot twist for me that I didn't even consider to think ahead about - which I truly regard as the best kind of writing. You don't stay engaged in books when you can tell there will be a plot twist, particularly when you know what that plot twist is, as all the writing is focused around "creating that shock" - totally nullifying the point of a plot twist. Also, I LOVED [visit my goodreads for spoilers!] Overall, when reading this book I truly connected with the characters, particularly Ed. Although the protagonist is nineteen, this book is young adult for a reason - it deals with the discovery of one's self and Ed articulates that perfectly. Being the messenger makes Ed get off his arse and actually do something; be someone. And in that way, Ed is indeed the message - "If a guy like you can stand up and do what you did, then maybe everyone can. Maybe everyone can live beyond what they're capable of."
This is the kind of book that I want to hand to someone who tells me they "don't get into young adult" because it's not "mature enough". Tell me the discovery of maturity and self worth and SOCIETAL IMPORTANCE AS A HUMAN BEING is not mature enough. If the message of the book isn't important to you, or to your friends, or to existence at all... I don't know what in your life could be. Read this book so you too may "protect the diamonds", "survive the clubs", "dig deep through the spades", and truly "feel the hearts".
Speaking of hearts, I'm giving this one five out of five hearts!
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
~Lucette
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