He published his first novel in 1999, when he was 24. Today Markus Zusak is one of the most successful young author in the world. With novels such as The Book Thief (now a major motion picture and national best seller), Fighting Ruben Wolfe, and The Underdog. His novel I Am the Messenger is the winner of the Children’s Book Council Book of the Year award in Australia. Markus Zusak was born to working class immigrant parents in Sydney, Australia. He is the youngest of four children. His mother was German and his father was Austrian. Both of whom experienced the tragedy of World War II firsthand. Zusak attended Engadine High School and later returned as a teacher. He pursued a degree in English and History at the University of New South Wales