Common Sense Media Review
By Barbara Schultz
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Engaging fantasy from The NeverEnding Story author.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 12+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
A parentless girl named MOMO lives in the ruins of an old amphitheater, where friends of all ages come from the city to visit her and benefit from her gifts as a gentle, patient listener and creative muse. With Momo's insight, adults remember to value their friendships above petty disputes, and the children become immersed in elaborate, inventive pretending. Then the gray men arrive in the city, and everything begins to change: Adults become preoccupied with saving time, to the point where they neglect their children and desert their friends. Momo uncovers the gray men's evil plan to steal people's time, but she and the other children can't seem to get through to the grown-ups. To save her friends, Momo will need the help of someone who has power over time.
Is It Any Good?
Michael Ende's early fantasy novel Momo has thrilling moments and a compelling plot, but it's also a charming and gentle story, espousing the old-fashioned values of friendship and imaginative play. It's wonderful the way this author is able to tell a scary, suspenseful story without any war or gore, and Momo is an adorably innocent but courageous heroine. Marcel Dzama's stylish black-and-white illustrations capture the essence of Ende's original characters.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the fact that Momo was first published in the 1970s. Describe which aspects of the book seem dated, if any, and what seems modern.
What other fantasy books have you read with kid heroes? How does this novel compare with The NeverEnding Story, by the same author?
Marcel Dzama's illustrations show several characters and plot points but no scenery. Draw your vision of what the amphitheater or the Nowhere House look like.
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Marcel Dzama
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures , Friendship
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : McSweeney's Publishing
- Publication date : August 13, 2013
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 12 - 17
- Number of pages : 240
- Available on : Paperback, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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