What are the motifs in Messenger by Lois Lowry?

Coming of age is a recurring idea in the novel.As a teenage genre novel, coming of age is an important theme that allows the audience to relate to the story's protagonist. Matty's age is not specified, but he is described as transitioning between boyhood and manhood. Interpreting his age to signify adolescence, Matty experiences a number of changes both internally and among his community. Early in the novel, Matty exhibits signs of his youthfulness when he becomes jealous of Ramon's Gaming Machine. Matty directs his jealousy at Ramon, unkindly calling his friend Boaster in his mind.