The Golden Compass
The trailer for the movie adaptation of Philip Pullman’s “The Golden Compass” is now available online!
http://imdb.com/title/tt0385752/trailers-screenplay-E32812-10-2
“The Golden Compass” is the first book in a fantasy trilogy by children’s author Philip Pullman, and is set in alternate universe wherein each person’s soul takes the form of a “daemon”–an animal who loves its human so much that it can never leave its side. Lyra, a young girl with a daemon named Pantalaimon, discovers that her long lost mother is inventing a machine that will separate humans from their souls/daemons, AND that her father is inventing a machine that will crack open the universe, allowing humans and ghosts to travel between worlds. With the help of mercenary bears, 400 year-old witches, and gypsies, Lyra and Pantalaimon work against time to save the daemons and the universe.
The series is best for grades 5+, but motivated fourth graders can share it with a parent. Book two, “The Subtle Knife” is set in multiple worlds, introduces new characters, and is the shorter of the three. Book three, “The Amber Spyglass” introduces new lifeforms, is partly set in purgatory, and is best understood by older readers.
The movie is coming out this winter, so now’s the time to check the books out of the public library for the summer and get reading. I can’t wait to compare the book with the movie!