"The nothing is spreading."
Written in 1979 and translated by Ralph Manheim in 1983, Michael Ende's The Neverending Story is a classic tale about imagination, friendship, and the power of choice. When Bastian Balthazar Bux, ten years old and the punching bag of his entire class, stumbles through the door of a bookstore in an attempt to hide from a crowd of bullies, thievery is the last thing on his honest mind. But the shopkeeper is reading The Neverending Story, and in that moment Bastian wants nothing more than a book that never ends, one he can read without ever having to worry about returning to the real world, so he takes it--and runs. Holed up in the attic of the schoolhouse, Bastian finally cracks open this mysterious book, only to find that its contents are very real, and the empress who rules this fictional kingdom needs his help to survive. And even if he succeeds, can Bastian deal with the results of his actions?
The concept of a book whose characters are real is not a new one, but The Neverending Story is nothing if not original. Bastian, a young boy with a passion for books, spends much of the story reading about Atreyu, a green-skinned hunter engaged in a quest to find someone to rename the Childlike Empress and save her life, and the reader gets to read it right along with him. Atreyu is a little flat, but his devotion to his empress makes for great reading. And the plight of Fantastica's ruler isn't the only driving force behind the plot; there is also the nothing, an emptiness that is spreading across the land. Only by giving the Childlike Empress a new name can the nothing be defeated and order be restored. It's a nifty idea, and it works: the plot is riveting.
Written in 1979 and translated by Ralph Manheim in 1983, Michael Ende's The Neverending Story is a classic tale about imagination, friendship, and the power of choice. When Bastian Balthazar Bux, ten years old and the punching bag of his entire class, stumbles through the door of a bookstore in an attempt to hide from a crowd of bullies, thievery is the last thing on his honest mind. But the shopkeeper is reading The Neverending Story, and in that moment Bastian wants nothing more than a book that never ends, one he can read without ever having to worry about returning to the real world, so he takes it--and runs. Holed up in the attic of the schoolhouse, Bastian finally cracks open this mysterious book, only to find that its contents are very real, and the empress who rules this fictional kingdom needs his help to survive. And even if he succeeds, can Bastian deal with the results of his actions?
The concept of a book whose characters are real is not a new one, but The Neverending Story is nothing if not original. Bastian, a young boy with a passion for books, spends much of the story reading about Atreyu, a green-skinned hunter engaged in a quest to find someone to rename the Childlike Empress and save her life, and the reader gets to read it right along with him. Atreyu is a little flat, but his devotion to his empress makes for great reading. And the plight of Fantastica's ruler isn't the only driving force behind the plot; there is also the nothing, an emptiness that is spreading across the land. Only by giving the Childlike Empress a new name can the nothing be defeated and order be restored. It's a nifty idea, and it works: the plot is riveting.
Bastian is a flawed character who is incredibly relatable. He's proud but self-conscious, friendly but vulnerable. He longs to be the hero in his own story, rather than the victim. In Fantastica, he has the chance to explore the responsibilities of a hero while learning that the most important thing to be is himself. When he stumbles, he stumbles big time, and even his victories are tinged with loss. But this isn't detrimental to the plot. It's acknowledged and confronted, and in the end it is one of the things that shapes Bastian into who he becomes. Bastian must come to terms with the consequences of his actions and decide what he values most before he can truly become a hero.
As this is a children's book, it can be expected that there is no profanity or inappropriate language used. Characters may utter the occasional "My God", but that is the extent of it. Some characters are particularly rude, while others are kindhearted to a fault. There isn't a whole lot in the way of violence, as the monsters are usually either misunderstood or deal in riddles. However, there are occasional battles that result in blood and death, although such things are skimmed over whenever possible.
The storytelling in this tale is incredible. The world of Fantastica is built with impressive detail, each species well thought-out and completely in balance to its environment. The rules of the land are absolute and easy to understand, each character a constant battle of shifting desires and fears, each plot point perfectly in line with the rest of the story. The prose is definitely geared toward a younger audience, but there is no reason it shouldn't be just as satisfying for adults.
I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a good-sized children's book about friendship, loyalty, and redemption. Bastian is a flawed character who is easy to connect with, just as Atreyu and his other friends are sympathetic. The world, the plot, and the characters are all thought out and well-rounded. Whether you're looking for a tale to entertain your kids or a satisfying read to eat up all that free time, The Neverending Story is worth checking into, a trait that earns it a rating of five stars.
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