I Am The Messenger

How does the novel’s unconventional structure and narrative style, such as the fourth wall breaks, affect the story’s suspense, resolution, and themes?

How does the setting in a “pretty run-of-the-mill” town contribute to the novel’s plot, character development, and overall meaning (17)? How do Ed’s feelings about his hometown and his own place in it evolve over the course of the novel?

Although some of the messages’ recipients only appear in a few chapters, they make significant contributions to Ed’s story. Select two of these supporting characters and compare their personalities and character arcs. How do they each play an important role in the novel by advancing the plot, developing a theme, or contributing to Ed’s character development?