Probably 4 1/2 stars, maybe 4 1/4. 
 This took me entirely too long to read. It was because, however deep and captivating and exciting some parts were, in between them, it got slower and slower, and it lost my attention. But, having gotten through it, finally, I must admit that it is very deserving of a decent rating. 
 Bastian becomes from a modest, fat, pale little boy, to the strongest, smartest, best savior Fantastica has ever seen. 
 All of this power dramatically changes him. 
 This book's movie was my favorite when I was younger. However, I assure you, there is hardly any connection between the book and the movie. You hear of poor movie adaptations (Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief, for instance), but I assure you, this movie adaptation is even more far-fetched than that one.