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Cover of Momo

Age rating and parents' guide:Momo

by Michael Ende

Ages 9–12

Momo by Michael Ende is best for children aged 9–12. It has no violence, a few mildly scary moments, no romance and no bad language. Worth knowing: Menacing grey men; adults drink in a pub and smoke cigars.

Momo lives alone in an old amphitheatre, and people come to her because she really listens. When the grey men start stealing the town's time, only she sees what is happening. Invites children to think about how they spend their own time, and why it matters.

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Content ratings

How much of each a parent can expect, from none to strong.

Violence
None
Scary moments
Mild
Romance
None
Bad language
None

Worth knowing: Menacing grey men; adults drink in a pub and smoke cigars

Dhiraj Bodade

Content checked by Dhiraj Bodade, co-founder of Bookstaken, on 3 November 2026.

At a glance

  • ★Novel
  • ★Emotionally light

Reading mood

  • Thoughtful

Books like Momo

Similar stories for the same ages, none more intense than this one should be for its youngest readers.

  • Cover of Bronze and Sunflower

    Ages 9–12

    Bronze and Sunflower

    by Cao Wenxuan

    Sunflower, a girl from the city, is taken in by a poor village family after her father drowns. Their son, Bronze, cannot speak, but the two become as close as brother and sister through floods, locusts and hard times. Invites children to talk about kindness, hardship and family.

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  • Cover of A Single Shard

    Ages 10–12

    A Single Shard

    by Linda Sue Park

    Tree-ear is an orphan living under a bridge in a 12th-century Korean potters' village, and he dreams of making pottery himself. He works for the master potter Min, and is sent on a long journey to the king's court. Invites children to talk about patience, honesty and hard work.

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  • Cover of The Village by the Sea

    Ages 9–13

    The Village by the Sea

    by Anita Desai

    In a small fishing village in India, young siblings Lila and Hari face severe hardship. With their mother seriously ill and their father struggling with alcoholism, the children must shoulder the burden of keeping the family together. Hari eventually leaves for Bombay in search of work, while Lila manages life at home. It is a poignant, grounded story of resilience, sibling bonds, and hope amidst economic struggle, giving young readers a vivid look at rural life and modern change.

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  • Cover of Asha & the Spirit Bird

    Ages 9–13

    Asha & the Spirit Bird

    by Jasbinder Bilan

    Living in the foothills of the Himalayas, Asha worries when money stops arriving from her father in the city. When a ruthless moneylender threatens to take their family home, Asha sets off on a dangerous trek across the mountains to find him, accompanied by her best friend Jeevan. Invites older readers to reflect on compassion, courage, and resilience.

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  • Cover of A Wolf Called Wander

    Ages 9–11

    A Wolf Called Wander

    by Rosanne Parry

    Swift is a young wolf pup living happily with his pack in the mountains until a rival pack attacks, scattering his family and leaving him alone. Forced to flee, he embarks on an epic, perilous journey across a thousand miles of wilderness to find a new home. Encourages gentle, guided conversations about challenging feelings and experiences.

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  • Cover of The Forbidden Library

    Ages 9–11

    The Forbidden Library

    by Django Wexler

    After her father goes missing at sea, Alice is sent to live with her mysterious uncle Geryon in his massive, labyrinthine estate. She soon discovers that his vast library is magical, and that certain books hold dangerous worlds you can actually step inside. Invites older readers to reflect on compassion, courage, and resilience.

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Questions parents ask

Q: What age is Momo for?
Momo suits children aged 9–12. It is a novel.
Q: Is Momo appropriate for a 9 year old?
Yes. Bookstaken rates it for ages 9–12. It has no violence, a few mildly scary moments, no romance and no bad language. Worth knowing before reading: Menacing grey men; adults drink in a pub and smoke cigars.
Q: What should my child read after Momo?
Try Bronze and Sunflower, A Single Shard and The Village by the Sea. They share the same kind of story and suit the same ages.

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