Momo by Michael Ende

Watch Where You Spend Your Time

            How many times have you heard someone say, "Where does the time go?" You probably hear it quite often. Where does the time go? It goes to the Gray men, those time thieves that lurk in cities and leech away people's time, second by second. Someone must stop them. Is Momo, a young orphan girl with a talent for listening to people's true feelings rather than their words, up to the challenge? A talent for empathy may see through lies, but it will not save Momo from abduction by an angry Gray man. Can Momo bring the time back to its rightful owners, or is it lost forever?

            A sweet and wonderfully touching story, the reader loves Momo from the start. Michael Ende sends the reader on a smooth glide through the story's gradually unfolding plot. Momo is the perfect accidental hero, who foils the time thieves without even meaning to. Momo's ingenuous, caring personality causes the reader to root for this dear, sweet girl in her quest for happiness.
            Published in 1973, this fantasy story was originally written in German and is also known as The Grey Gentlemen or The Men in Grey. This book is being re-published with a new cover and illustrations so watch for it this fall. I found the story's concept of time thought provoking and it causes you to re-examine your use of time. I would definitely recommend it to readers of all ages. If you liked Michael Ende’s other book, Neverending Story, you’ll definitely like this one.  This book is destined to be a classic! 5 Star Favorite!