It doesn’t answer every question or solve every mystery, but I found the end of “The End” to be a very satisfying ending to a wonderfully entertaining series, which I have been reading for much of the past two months.

(I don’t know if anyone has mentioned this, but like all the best children’s literature, this series has some great jokes that only adults will get. In fact, some of the jokes require a knowledge of pop culture, classic literature, and Jewish culture. Nevertheless, you don’t have to get all the jokes to enjoy the series.)

In the end, the series is a wonderful meditation on good and evil, the nature of civilization, and the process of growing up. It’s very clear-eyed on all of these, without sugar-coating anything. Perfect for thoughtful children from ages 8 or 9 and up.