The Golden Compass

Fantasy (fiction), Trade Book

Lyra Belacqua lives a privileged and dull life on the grounds of Jordan College until the day her friend Roger is kidnapped by a mysterious group known as the Gobblers. Lyra, along with her daemon (an animal familiar that every person in this world is born with and bound to), is determined to save him. She is adopted by the charming Mrs. Coulter, only to discover that the intriguing woman is the leader of the Gobblers. Lyra runs away and joins a band of gypsies who harbor her and take her north on an expedition to rescue the kidnapped children. Her quest will lead to unlikely alliances-witches, hot-air balloon pilots, talking warrior polar bears-and heartbreaking discoveries that include learning that the children were taken to have their daemons' bonds severed. In the end, a tragic betrayal will make Lyra question some of her closest relationships and propel her on a new journey, this time to a parallel, unknown world.