Northern Lights by Phillip Pullman

This is one of the books that has been on my to read list for an absolute age and I finally managed to do it when it was featured on my OU course reading list, and it was well worth it.

The plot races along and so much happens quickly, the characters are mostly divided into good or bad although there are some that can cross the divide and redeem themselves. Now also a major film, (the golden compass) I knew some of the plot before reading but the book really draws out the characters and wonders of the child that is the main character.

Lyra is a feisty girl, a tomboy in many ways although her initial encounter with Mrs Coulter allows her to explore her more girly, feminine side and so she appeals to girls and boys alike. Written for older children the book although easy enough to read has real danger, intrigue and fear that could frighten more able younger children and there are a lot of characters to keep track of.

The idea is that all humans have daemons that are linked to their soul, when they feel pain so do the humans to which they belong and when the humans die so do the humans. There is however a board that wants to find out what happens when you separate a child from their daemon and then there is the strange dust that settles on everything but also seems do disguise other worlds hidden behind the Aurora in the North.

This is a read that has a little bit of everything, the struggle between good and evil, witches, fantastic creatures, daring children and of course towards the end the blurring of the divide between good and evil and the problem of deciding which is which. For those aged 9 and upwards and adults I would recommend this book.
4/5