The Golden Compass

Pullman, Philip. (1995). The golden compass. New York: Dell Laurel Leaf.

Reading Level: Grade 7 +

Plot Summary:

This is the first book in Pullman's His Dark Materials series. It is a fantasy book that takes place in a world like ours, but different. Each person has a daemon, their soul in a detached, animal form that is their constant companion. Lyra, a young girl who is used to running wild around Oxford campus with her friends, is given a golden compass before she joins a woman in London who is supposed to educate Lyra. However, Lyra discovers this woman, Mrs. Coulter, is the head of a group of adults Lyra and her friends call the Gobblers. The Gobblers have been kidnapping children, and Lyra left Oxford with the intention of finding out what was happening to the children. When Lyra learns that Mrs. Coulter is involved, she escapes into the London night. She runs into a group of Gyptians she knew from Oxford, and with them she journeys to the far North, where the Gobblers have been taking the kidnapped children. The adventure that follows is exciting, and involves pursuit by Mrs. Coulter, an armored bear named Iorek Byrnison, witches, Lyra's capture and entrance into the Gobblers base, and the discovery of multiple worlds that can be accessed through secret doorways.

Comments:

I really enjoyed this book. It was a bit hard to get into at first, because of all the new terminology that differentiated Lyra's world from ours, but after the first couple chapters I was hooked. Lyra is an excellent character, fully developed and very lovable. All the other characters are also real and interesting. The plot moved along quickly, which made the book difficult to put down. The world that Pullman creates is believable and fascinating. I think most young adults who have an interest in the fantasy genre would be interested in this book.

Rating: 5/5