Messenger

The value of honesty and openness within a community is a main theme of Messenger. The novel explores what a community looks like with true openness and honesty, and then what a community looks like when secrets prevail. Village is designed to be a place without secrets, where information is shared openly with everyone. Toward the beginning of the book, it seems like Village truly has achieved this utopian sharing of information, and because of it, it is a peaceful, harmonious place. However, as the story continues, more secrets develop, and the harmony of Village falls apart.

Trade Mart promotes secrecy, and with that secrecy comes shame and distrust. People, like Mentor and Ramon’s mother, will not admit what they traded for. This behavior makes it difficult for villagers to trust one another. Trust (the ability to depend upon one another) is a pillar of life in Village. The existence of secrets threatens Village itself.

Matty also has a secret. His choice to keep his gift a secret serves as an internal struggle until Leader tells Matty that he knows about the gift. By the end of the story, Leader is also forced to keep a secret.