Momo

June 15, 2013
The 40th-anniversary edition of a beloved German fable carries a pointed message that might already be too late. Momo, a homeless, parentless waif of undetermined age in a nameless European city, is blessed with the gift of listening--"with utmost attention and sympathy"--and adopted by her humble neighbors as a treasured member of their community. Then the sinister gray men arrive, persuading everyone to "save time" by abandoning such idle pleasures as friendship and play. The townsfolk become obsessed with efficiency and shallow consumption, their lives stripped of dreams, beauty and joy. Targeted by the gray men, Momo escapes to the very heart of time to discover the secrets that will rescue her friends. The heavy-handed moral is impossible to miss, but the tale is saved from being preachy by wittily perceptive social criticism and haunting, surrealistic imagery. Despite some mild profanities, this new translation is more graceful and whimsical than the 1985 edition, though lacking its old-fashioned charm; the dark and dreary pen-and-ink illustrations do not improve on the earlier simple line drawings. Nonetheless, this all-ages delight deserves rescue and is ideal for classroom (or bedtime) read-alouds--especially if the grown-ups pay attention along with the children. (Fantasy. 10 & up)

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August 1, 2016

Gr 5-7-A reissued classic celebrating its 40th anniversary from the author of The Neverending Story. This is a classic fantasy novel whose title character is a young girl of mysterious origin, a most loved orphan living in present-day anywhere (but probably a small village in Italy). Momo doesn't know how old she is but says, "As far as I remember, I've always been around," and she has built strong friendships with her fellow villagers based on her extraordinary listening ability. Around the time the mysterious men in gray start appearing, Momo's friends start to have less time to spend enjoying life or hanging out with her. Momo sets out to get her friends and their time back. The tale of Momo is driven by its plot and moves at a comfortable pace, engaging readers as if they are villagers in the story. Ende is a captivating storyteller, and this edition of the book includes occasional illustrations, adding a bit of shaping and mood to the descriptions. Some mild profanity may make this selection unsuitable for more sensitive readers. VERDICT Sure to delight readers of classic fantasy.-Sara Jurek, Children's English Library, Stuttgart, Germany

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