Rating: 
Summary: I hate cute things
Review: When I realized that there are talking bears in this book I almost put it down. I think talking critters are generally overused and show a lack of imagination. I like the bear in this book. I love the plot. I love the main character. I bought the next 2 books.
Rating: 
Summary: Christian parents beware!
Review: I read all of the JK Rowling books, and have heard all the hype. I don't believe that Rowling had an agenda other than to write some good stories, but Pullman DOES have an agenda. When I read these books I was appauled at the overwhelming anti-Christian message. Pullman is anti-Christian and has openly admitted it on the web, he has also admitted that his views are clearly passed along in these books. My problem with these books is that Pullman has taken his anti-Christian agenda to children. If he has a problem with the Christian religion, take it to adults in the form of adult reading material, not to children. This is the cowards way out i.e hiding behind stories. These are good stories, but some of the most anti-Christian material that I've ever read. I urge parents to review their children's reading materials, and don't be fooled by reviews from the Library Assn. or other groups. READ the books your kids might read, be informed. These books, like The Giver, are ones the parents need to have read first.
Rating: 
Summary: Superb fantasy treat!
Review: Poisoned wine, child-stealing "gobblers", and a missing celestial-observing scientist, only hint at the suspense and intrigue readers will find in The Golden Compass, Book 1 in the His Dark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman. Young Lyra Belacqua, raised by the scholars of Jordan College in Oxford, discovers that Roger the kitchen boy, her playmate and friend, is missing. Propelled into action, spunky Lyra is off on a quest to find Roger and other kidnapped children. Aided by her shape-shifting daemon, Pantalaimon, and a golden "truth meter" called an alethiometer, Lyra encounters a golden monkey, a beautiful woman, witches, talking bears, dust from space, zombies, a silver guillotine, and betrayal. Fast paced action rich with believable characters and descriptive writing weave a fantasy story with great depth, one you may never forget. Young adult, as well as adult fantasy readers are in for a sophisticated treat!
Rating:
Summary: Superb...Wonder-Filled
Review: This is one of the most amazing books I have ever read, but only one of the trilogy, which is amazing altogether. Philip Pullman captures our language in a way that makes you able to see the entire story played like a movie inside your head, it's very easy to imagine the characters actions and adventures. The main charater, Lyra is one of the most influential heroines I have ever known, her amazing personality and extremely well-rounded character is superb. In this world, ours, but not ours, everyone has a creature called a Daemon, which are sort-of like a soul, but take the shape of an animal. Their amazing description and feeling makes me long for a daemon of my own. This is a must for any home library, one of the most exquisitely crafted books of our time. Philip Pullman is one author that deserves extreme recognition! It deserves Ten stars, at the least, and don't miss Book 2, The Subtle Knife, and Book 3, The Amber Spyglass, and his other Trilogy, The Sally Lockhart books!
Rating:
Summary: The Best Fantasy Series Ever
Review: I have read Lord of the Rings, and yes, I believe this series is better. Mr. Pullman takes a story of the most original quality and weaves it into a complex, imaginative world parallel to our own. Each part contributes to the plot's development and his diction is of the highest quality. Another positive attribute, is that Mr. Pullman does not "take up space." His story lacks fillers, rhetoric, and wordiness. In short this is a must read for any Fantasy lover. I assure you, it will not be a disappointment.
Rating:
Summary: The Golden Compass
Review: In the book The Golden Compass, Philip Pullman writes about the hardships and rewards of being a witch. He goes through the life of a little girl named Maria, and how hard it is for her to cope with her uncle, the head sourcer of Tourlox the town they live in. All of the people in Tourlox have these little "shape shifters" who are alot alike a servant, they do what they are told but whatever you tell them to do they cant get hurt. Maria and her shape shifter named Pentalomen go through the town causing troubble and finding out what the real scoop is and uncovering the dirt in the town. Many people don't like Maria but everyone knows her and know that they are in for a treat when she is around.
Rating:
Summary: Fantasy and Religion?
Review: This book needs to be read and relished and understood from the outset or it probably will offend some Christian folks. If you take the time to understand that this book is not really even about our world, but a world like ours, the offense should be put to bed. I thought the story to be so well crafted that I have recommended it to many adults. The great thing is that many of my students have read and enjoyed all of the books in the trilogy. They often tell me that they enjoyed Golden Compass the most of the three. Once I began to read I could not put the book down. It is not for the constant action, but for the story. The characters are dynamic and demand the attention of the reader. You will like Lyra and Pantalaimon, not because they have special powers, but because they are charming and clever. Golden Compass has a lot going for it. A unique and powerful storyline, well developed characters, a wonderful setting and although it is a little slow at times it has a magnetism that will draw you back to it each time you put it down. This is quite possibly the most interesting young adult fantasy novel I have encountered.
Rating:
Summary: Better Than Harry Potter!
Review: This was definetly one of the best books I have ever read! It was full of adventure and thrill. At times your heart could stop beating. The story was filled with evil gobblers, armoured bears, witch clans, Gyptians, and mystical creatures. I was verry impressed in how much creativity went into this book it was amazing all the different made up worlds there were!!! On a scale from 1-5 I would rate it a 6!!!!!!!
Rating:
Summary: Incredible!
Review: If you're into fantasy, this is a really good book to read. Pullman combines a lot of really neat ideas into his trilogy, and he keeps the books intense. I couldn't put it down! About the whole anti-Christian aspect, yes, Pullman's "different" way of thinking about religion, etc., is reflected in his writing, and I would not reccommend this for any parents who don't want their children exposed to this. On a lighter note, this book (in fact, trilogy) really made me think about a lot of issues and is a favorite of mine, and so I wish you happy reading!
Rating:
Summary: Captivating, Exciting, WONDERFUL!
Review: Being that I am an avid Harry Potter fan, I thouroughly enjoyed this book. If you're interested in reading fantasies, this book is for you. It's a nail biter you won't want to put down. I would include more in this review, but I don't want to give any part of the book away.
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