I read this book as a teen and was rather disappointed. Reason enough to reread it as a grown-up. Once again I welt somewhat uneasy as the story progressed. I did not like the new Bastian and preferred the one from the beginning. But that was exactly what Ende is all about. The journey. The discovery. Learning who we are. How we grow. That we all make mistakes, but in the end we decide who we want to be. Deep and meaningful for all of us.