The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman

The Golden Compass (His Dark Materials, Book 1)
Philip Pullman

Middle Grade Fantasy
416 pages, softcover
Target Reader: Ages 12+

Knopf
978-0375823459
Release Date: 1996



(see review below)

From the publisher:

Lyra is content to run wild among the scholars of Jordan College, with her daemon familiar always by her side. But the arrival of her fearsome uncle, Lord Asriel, draws her to the heart of a terrible struggle—a struggle born of Gobblers and stolen children, witch clans and armored bears. And as she hurtles toward danger in the cold, far North, young Lyra never suspects the shocking truth: she is destined to win, or to lose, this more-than-mortal battle.

Read an excerpt.

That doesn't tell you a lot, so here's a bit more. First, the setting is a parallel universe to ours so while places and customs feel familiar, you can't assume that they are the same. Children are disappearing, being taken North by the Gobblers. The rumor is that they're killed. When one of Lyra's friends disappears, she decides to go after him but she is temporarily distracted by Mrs. Coulter, who at first seems sweet and nice, but she hides some really dark secrets.

Escaping from the Gobblers herself, Lyra travels North with the Gyptians and others, looking for the missing children. She has a compass called an aletheiometer, which lets her see the truth of things and predict what will happen. Through the use of this compass and her own courage and determination, Lyra eventually discovers the secret of the Gobblers and what they're doing with the children, but not why (at least, not in this book).

The Golden Compass is book #1 in the His Dark Materials series. It will be released as a movie in December 2007. It's got a few big stars in it, like Nicole Kidman, Daniel Craig, Kevin Bacon, and it's being advertised as a children's movie. This concerns me, but I'll get to those concerns later.

I would rate this book as PG-14, meaning absolutely not for children under 14. I would also suggest that parents read this book before giving it to their children or letting them see the movie. The book is very dark and brutal. There is some mild swearing. There is violence against children—kidnapping, torture, and one more thing that I won't tell you because it's integral to the secret of the book. It wouldn't, as in couldn't, happen in our universe because we don't have daemon familiars, but the terror of the children and the shock of this abuse is vividly described. There is a war going on, attempted killings, and a blow-by-blow, descriptive fight to the death between bears that seem more human than not.

The book is written in a very slow and "vintage" style, not the fast-paced, high action style we expect in today's fantasy novels. It takes a while to get into it, but once you recognize the pace and adjust your expectations the story moves quite well. The characters are interesting. I love Lyra. She reminds me of a mix between my daughters, when they were younger. I love the dialogue, the word choices, the sentence structure. Setting aside the darkness of the storyline, the writing itself is intriguing and fun.

The plot moves along in a believable way, until the very end (chapter 21), when the main character starts quoting parallel universe scripture and goes off on an "original sin" tangent that turns out to be a major motivator for the story.

What?!

This was, perhaps, the most disturbing part for me. I don't want my theology messed with. But aside from that, it's such a radical departure from the rest of the book that I just didn't buy it. There was no hint that this was coming. I felt like either the author wasn't quite sure where he was going and how to explain the mysterious Dust so he threw in religion; or that he purposely manipulated us through an otherwise good story just so he could preach nonsense at the end. Pullman is clearly preaching anti-Christian philosophy.

Up until chapter 21, I would have given this book 4 stars, recommending it to adults who like fantasy, with the strong disclaimer that it needs parental approval before allowing teens (16+) to read it. But after chapter 21, where I felt the plot fell to pieces, I'm giving it a 2.0. If you really, really want to read it, check it out from the library—but expect to be disappointed in the ending.

Will I read the remainder of the series? Probably not.


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Content Ratings

Language: Mild swearing.

Violence: Very brutally violent in places; not appropriate for children and younger teens. While this is technically not a horror story, many of the scenes are truly horrifying.

Drugs/Alcohol: Some drinking by adults.

Immorality: No sexual situations, but the immorality of killing children for gain...

Values/Themes: Disturbing ending, with anti-Christian messages.

Age Appropriate: Absolutely NOT for children, nor for sensitive readers. Very mature teens and adults, only.

Writing Mechanics: Good until the very end.


© 2010 It's a Book Affair

Pretties by Scott Westerfeld

Pretties (Uglies, Book 2)
Scott Westerfeld

Young Adult Dystopian Future
384 pages, softcover
Target Reader: 14+

Simon Pulse
978-0689865398
Release Date: November 1, 2005



From the publisher:

Gorgeous. Popular. Perfect. Perfectly wrong.

Tally has finally become pretty. Now her looks are beyond perfect, her clothes are awesome, her boyfriend is totally hot, and she's completely popular. It's everything she's ever wanted.

But beneath all the fun—the nonstop parties, the high-tech luxury, the total freedom—is a nagging sense that something's wrong. Something important. Then a message from Tally's ugly past arrives. Reading it, Tally remembers what's wrong with pretty life, and the fun stops cold.

Now she has to choose between fighting to forget what she knows and fighting for her life—because the authorities don't intend to let anyone with this information survive.

Read a chapter.

Reading Group discussion guide.

Series Book: Uglies (book 1)

In Pretties , once again, the theme is that pretty on the outside doesn't guarantee pretty on the inside, and sometimes you have to really fight for what you want—in this case, freedom. It also takes a look at what jealousy, betrayal and power can drive people to do and to become.

"Pretty Tally" is annoying at first. She and Shay are BFFs because neither one of them can clearly remember their time as runaways at the Smoke. But very soon Tally discovers that when she's "bubbly" (filled with adrenaline), her thinking clears and her memories return. She and Zane, her new boyfriend, do everything they can to stay bubbly, encouraging the other members of their clique, the Crims, to do the same.

In the first part of the book, Tally's challenges are overcoming pretty-head (fuzzy thinking), deciding if she wants a pretty life or a bubbly one, and dealing with the fall-out from her and Shay's returning memories. Then around page 250, the plot takes a huge 90 degree turn off into the middle of nowhere. I'm assuming Westerfeld will pick up and resolve all the loose ends in book 3, so I'm participating in the willing suspension of disbelief until I see how it turns out. I think he can do it. I'm really so hoping so because I loved Uglies.

The action is still fast paced. A little slower in places and a little more intense in others when compared to book one. I wasn't quite as endeared to Zane as I was to David. The pretty dialogue just about drove me nuts, but I think that's the point.

There is, I think, only one mild swear word (can't remember which one it was) but I was surprised to see the actual word because everywhere else in the book Westerfeld says, "...she swore." Maybe they wanted a PG rating.

As in Uglies, there is no direct reference to sex. Tally and Zane are living together and waking up in the same room, but there are no descriptions or even hints of physical intimacy beyond kissing, and there's not a lot of that.

There is a lot of drinking and drunkenness going on in Pretty Town. These are teens, age 16 and up, so that was a little disturbing. But it's handled in such a way that it's clear only fuzzy-headed pretty-heads drink. As soon as Tally gets bubbly, she stops drinking. No one in the New Smoke drinks.

Pretties ends with another cliff hanger. Poor Tally, as soon as she gets close to freedom the bad guys get her again. That's not a spoiler because you know it will happen (there is a book 3, after all) and based on the title of book three, you can probably figure out what she wakes up as. But what I can't figure out is how Tally will escape her fate in book 3. Nor can I figure out exactly how and why this culture was created and why it continues. The big reveal at the conclusion of the series had better not be lame.

Overall, I liked the book. I don't mind that I shelled out full price for the paperback. I give it a 4.0, but I reserve the right to upgrade if Westerfeld wraps it up in a believable way.

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Content Ratings

Language: One swear word.

Violence: There's some violent chase scenes, where the Specials are after Tally and friends, but not too bad.

Drugs/Alcohol: The "pretty" teens drink.

Immorality: Tally and Zane live together, but there's not real indication of sexuality.

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Age Appropriate: Many adults will love this book too.

Writing Mechanics: Storyline veers off into unsupported territory—which may or may not be resolved in the next book.

© 2010 It's a Book Affair

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

Uglies (Uglies, Book 1)
Scott Westerfeld

Young Adult Dystopian Future
338 pages, softcover
Target Reader: 14+

Simon Pulse
978-0689865381
Release Date: February 8, 2005



From the publisher:

Everybody gets to be supermodel gorgeous. What could be wrong with that?

Tally is about to turn sixteen, and she can't wait. Not for her license -- for turning pretty. In Tally's world, your sixteenth birthday brings an operation that turns you from a repellent ugly into a stunningly attractive pretty and catapults you into a high-tech paradise where your only job is to have a really great time. In just a few weeks Tally will be there.

But Tally's new friend Shay isn't sure she wants to be pretty. She'd rather risk life on the outside. When Shay runs away, Tally learns about a whole new side of the pretty world -- and it isn't very pretty. The authorities offer Tally the worst choice she can imagine: find her friend and turn her in, or never turn pretty at all. The choice Tally makes changes her world forever.

Read an excerpt.

My daughter chose to get this book while we were vacationing. She really liked it, so I had to read it too. She's not allowed to have book reading fun without me.

I loved this book! Book one of a trilogy, Uglies is an action-packed and highly entertaining futuristic novel which examines the definition of beauty. It should be required reading for all teens, but especially for 14 to 18 year old girls. I think boys would like it too, if they can get past the fact that the main character is a girl.

The plot is good. It's a coming-of-age story, young men and women against the corrupt adult authority, but with a few twists thrown in. This is a YA book (target 14-18), but I was captivated by it.

The characters were very believable. I loved Tally—adventurous and independent without being obnoxious. There is no swearing. There are mentions of Pretties who go to the "pleasure gardens" at night, but it doesn't say what goes on there. There's hand-holding and a couple of kisses, but no sensuality. I feel absolutely comfortable letting anyone over the age of 12 read this.

This is a great book for parents and teens to read and discuss together. It really makes you think about beauty—what it is, who defines it, and how important it is. I found some wonderful discussion questions online.

I know I'll get some argument, but I liked this book a little better than Twilight because I could fully like and respect the main character instead of thinking she was an idiot most of the time. Plus, it is not a romance so the main point of the story is not getting some guy to like you. (puke!) It's about right and wrong, freedom of choice, respect for people because of who they are and how they behave, rather than how they look. I don't know for sure how the series will end up, but I sure like the direction it's going.

I give this book a 5.0 without reservation (except for using leaped instead of leapt). I'm looking forward to reading Pretties as soon as my daughter is done with it. (Hurry up, already!)


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Violence: There's some teenage pranks and hiding from the "Specials" but nothing bad.

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Age Appropriate: Many adults will love this book too.

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© 2010 It's a Book Affair

Blood Trail by Tanya Huff

Blood Trail (Vicki Nelson, Book 2)
Tanya Huff

Adult Paranormal/Horror
272 pages, softcover
Target Reader: Adults

DAW
978-0756405021
Release Date: 1992



(see note below)

From the publisher:

For centuries they had coexisted with ordinary humans. But now death had invaded their London, Ontario farm. It was clear that someone had learned they were werewolves and was determined to destroy them. The only one they could turn to for help was vampire Henry Fitzroy. And, forced to hide from the light of day, Henry called upon Vicki Nelson for assistance. Yet, as silver bullets continued to take their ghastly toll, Henry and Vicki began to fear they might not be able to trace the blood trail of destruction down before it was too late...

Series Books: Blood Price

The second book in the Vicki Nelson series, and book two in the The Blood Books, vol. 1 Omnibus, which I bought while on vacation.

Again, we have a lot of swearing and sensuality, but not as much gory violence as in Blood Price. I wish there was a "Clean Flicks" for books where you could buy an edited copy because I really liked 95% of this book. But the other 5% bothers me enough that I wouldn't want my teenagers to read it.

The 95% that I didn't hate was really good. This book was even better than the first in the series. The characters are developing well and becoming more interesting. I loved the portrayal of the werewolves. Daniel/Shadow was so cute he just about stole the show. I really liked the contrast between human societies and that of the werewolves. Human greed, prejudice and fanaticism create the evil in this book; the werewolves and vampires are the good guys.

Vicki is still tough as nails, yet vulnerable. Still funny. Still fighting with Celluci. Her relationship with Henry the vampire heats up and we see a love triangle developing. We also see the beginning of grudging respect between Celluci and Henry.

I was more uncomfortable with the 5% in this book than I was with the first book. I'm not sure if I'm going to read more of this series or not. It's pretty easy for me to decide to avoid books that clearly cross the line, even if they are wonderfully crafted (George R. R. Martin and Stephen King). But when it's just a toenail over my comfort zone (okay, maybe the whole toe)...I hate that! I already bought the second omnibus so I'll probably read it, but I think I'll wait awhile and give my brain time to clear out the icky stuff.

Also, they typos again. It was really bad. I can't believe DAW would put out something with this many mistakes in it. Where is their professionalism? Their pride? Their proofreader?

I give this book a 4.5 for story, but drop it to a 2.5 for swearing and sexuality.

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Content Ratings

Language: More swearing than I'm comfortable with.

Violence: Lots of murder and violence; gorey.

Drugs/Alcohol: Drinking.

Immorality: Overt sexuality, homosexuality. Too graphic.

Values/Themes: Dark.

Age Appropriate: For adults—definitely!

Writing Mechanics: Mostly editing/typesetting errors.


© 2010 It's a Book Affair