Kidzworld reviews the most magical adventure of all time, A Neverending Story by Michael Ende.
Author: Michael Ende
Bastian Balthazar Bux doesn’t have much going for him. He’s chubby, lonely and often teased at school. But Bastian does have one important quality—imagination. One rainy morning he enters a used book store and finds a beautiful book with decorative letters at the beginning of each chapter. Bastian reads the title: The Neverending Story.
The Book Thief
Now, Bastian is not a thief. But on this occasion, having no money to pay to for the beautiful book, Bastian steals. He hides away in his school’s attic and he dives into one of the most magical worlds of all time…Fantastica.
Nothingness
The realm of Fantastica is slowly disappearing. A great “nothingness” is stretching across the land, consuming creatures and their homes. The Childlike Empress, ruler of Fantastica, is too sick to help. Only one person can save Fantastica from the impending nothingness—a human who must give the Childlike Empress a new name.
Atreyu’s Difficult Quest
A brave young boy named Atreyu sets out on a difficult quest to find a human, with only AURYN, the Childlike Empress’s magical medallion, to protect him. He encounters dangerous creatures like a vicous werewolf, a wicked sorceress and a spider made of thousands of buzzing hornets. And he crosses strange lands, like Tortoise Shell Mountain, the Swamp of Sadness and the Desert of Colors.
Within the Pages
When Atreyu becomes desperate to find a human, Bastian suddenly disappears into the book. In Fantastica, he isn’t chubby or lonely. He’s thin and strong. Bastian loves Fantastica and doesn’t want to leave. But as his memories of home begin to fade, he realizes that he may never see his father again.
The Bottom Line
Don’t judge a book by its movie, especially when it comes to The Neverending Story. While some people treasured the 1980’s film as part of their childhood, others didn’t appreciate the sequels (which are rarely as good as the original).
The Neverending Story is the ultimate magical classic. This fantasy story goes beyond dragons and fairies; you’ll find will-o’-the-wisps, night-hobs, rock chewers, racing snails, gnomes, Greenskins, purple buffalo and so much more! You’ll never find a more magical adventure, not even in Harry Potter. It’s a must read for absolutely everyone.
The Neverending Story Rating:
