His Dark Materials
Author Philip Pullman
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Story
One night in Jordan College, Oxford, Lyra and her daemon, Pantalaimon, witness an attempt to poison her uncle, Asriel, before he can describe the mysterious particles known as Dust. The next day her best friend Roger is kidnapped so Lyra sets out to find him, with the help of her golden alethiometer.
So begins Northern Lights, the first of three fantasy novels that follow Lyra across parallel universes in what becomes an epic struggle against the evil and repressive Magisterium. Joining her quest for freedom and knowledge are gyptians, armoured bears, witches, scientists, angels, harpies and a young boy named Will.
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Why we chose it
His Dark Materials has many richly satisfying layers of meaning. Philip Pullman has created a magnificent imaginative adventure that can be enjoyed on many levels.
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What a young reviewer said
A really good book and television series. I really enjoyed reading and subsequently watching this story. (George, age 12)
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First published
1995, Scholastic
Explore Further
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City of Stories
A 25 minute film which travels through a thousand years of Oxford's story history. Stories featured include Beowulf, King Arthur, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Chronicles of Narnia, The Lord of the Rings and His Dark Materials.
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The Spooky Story Museum Podcast
Join members of Barton Youth Group as they visit the Story Museum immersive galleries at Halloween. Our young producers meet visitors and staff and find out what their favourite scary stories are. Listen if you dare!