Justine Regan

Justine Regan
The Golden Compass
Philip Pullman
Adventure fantasy
Just right/ Challenge
Pg. 173

1. Right now on my book, Lyra has just found out that her mother is evil Mrs. Coulter and her father is her uncle Asriel. Lyra has also recently run away from Mrs. Coulter who she had been living with. Mrs. Coulter told Lyra that she would take her to the North after Lyra learned how to navigate but, Lyra thought she was really lying. Lyra left because, she found out from one of the guests at Mrs. Coulters party that Mrs. Coulter started and runs the Gobblers and that she wants Lyra to one day help her catch children. Now that Lyra has gotten away from Mrs. Coulter she is living with the Gyptians who are hiding her from Mrs. Coulter (Mrs. Coulter is offering a huge reward to anyone who finds Lyra and returns her to her). Lord (john) Faa has issued a trip to the North to find the children that the Gobblers took. He is also planning on retrieving Lyra's father.

2. So far I like that this book is the biggest challenge I've read so far throughout the year- I think I may learn some new vocabulary. It is really confusing though because, some of the concepts are really unfamiliar to me. Such as Dust, I'm not quite sure about what that is yet. I like the storyline though because it has me constantly thinking about whats going on and about what everyone else is thinking. If I could talk to the author of this book I would ask how he got the idea for the Daemons because, I think they are really cool especially how they can change form while you are a child.

3. I think the theme is Determination because, Lyra was really good friends with Roger when he got caught by the Gobblers and this makes her want to fight to get him back even more now. Also I think Lyra is Determined to learn how to read her compass so she can use it to her advantage. If it is one, I also think curiosity is a big theme in this book because, Lyra really wants to go and Explore the North. I think Lyra would also be considered defiant because, she wants to go against Mrs. Coulter- her mom and someone she has trusted and looked up to for so long. She also shows defiance towards her Master at Jordan and all the scholars there because, she was never willing to do her studies or anything for that matter.

4. Lyra is my favorite character because, she wants to help all the children who were taken by the Gobblers so much- even if it means risking her own life to do so. I also like that she has fun no matter what the circumstance and she is not easily influenced by people. I like that she can make decisions for herself yet she is still open to learning new things (especially dust).

5. My least favorite character is the master because, he tried to kill Lyra's father and he never told Lyra that her uncle was really her father. I think Lyra had a right to know who her parents were. I didn't like that the Master tried to plot against Lyra's father and Kill him. Even though Lyra's father seems harsh and unkind I think in the end he could end up having a reason for being the way he is.

6. I think Lyra will make a lot more good decisions in this book and end up really helping the children escape. I think that Mrs. Coulter will find out that Lyra is going to go to The North and try to stop her. I also think that Mrs. Coulter knows about Lyra's compass and that's why she wants to find Lyra so badly. Once Mrs. Coulter finds Lyra I think she will take her compass and use it to do lots of evil that Lyra will have to try to prevent. Thinking back about the Daemons- I think the fact that Lyra's Daemon can change form will help her later when she's in the middle of a major battle or something- or else why would it have been added.

P.S. Dust,Gyptians, The North and Gobblers are all supposed to be capitalized.