As in all good fairy tales, the protagonist [of The Neverending Story] undergoes various rites of passage, and Ende does an expert job of conveying a sense of magic in a traditional format. Imaginative readers know that the story doesn't end when the covers close; the magic to be found in books is eternal, and Ende's message comes through vividly.

A review of "The Neverending Story," in Library Journal, Vol. 108, No. 18, October 15, 1983, p. 1975.