Most of you will know “The Golden Compass” as a movie, but it was actually based on a book originally titled “Northern Lights” in Great Britain. The title was changed when it was published in North America. The book revolves around Lyra and her daemon Pantalaimon. A daemon is an embodiment of their human in animal form. As the human ages, the daemon ceases to shift shape. Lyra is raised in Jordan College at Oxford University. Her uncle, Lord Asriel, works there, and the Master of the university raises her. Lord Asriel discovers a substance called dust that is primarily attracted to adults. Because of this, cruel experiments are taking place up North by a Mrs. Coulter. Under pressure from the Magisterium, the Master of Jordan college turns Lyra over to Mrs. Coulter. At first, Lyra loves being part of the fancy life of Mrs. Coulter, but everything goes wrong when she finds out that Mrs. Coulter has been the one kidnaping children, including Lyra’s friend Roger, and conducting experiments concerning dust and how to prevent it from infecting children once they have grown up. These adventures keeps you on your toes to the very end and beyond to the next books. No matter how good the movie was, I hope you read the books.
Aedan, Central TLLC, 16
San Antonio Public Library 