The Book of Dust 1: La Belle Sauvage
by Philip Pullman, illustrated by Chris Wormell
Interest age: 13 to 14
Reading age: 10+
Published by Penguin, 2017
About this book
Eleven-year-old Malcolm Polstead and his dæmon, Asta, live with his parents at the Trout Inn on the bank of the Thames. It’s here that Malcolm discovers the nuns across the river are guarding a baby named Lyra.
Malcolm soon finds himself drawn into a dangerous world of secrets and intrigue – and a mission to protect Lyra, whatever the cost.
La Belle Sauvage gives readers a not-to-be-missed chance to be back in the world of His Dark Materials. Everything that made that trilogy of books so enticing is here – there is even more on dæmons (a person’s “animal self”) and the mysterious Dust. It’s wonderful to see Lyra again too, although – being just a baby – she is not the main character.
It needs noting that Pullman mentions, but does not dwell, on some very dark issues, such as rape and paedophilia. There are a few swear words. Bonneville, the villain, is terrifyingly nasty and provides a lot of peril. However, Malcom is a sweet hero – earthy and eager – and seeing things through his eyes helps to ease the intensity. Chris Wormell’s beautiful, evocative illustrations also ground you in the action.
The book bubbles away with Pullman’s trademark ideas around philosophy, physics and religion, but it is first and foremost a really good yarn. Any teen (or adult) who loves thrills and chills will lap up the adventure.
Everything you need to know about The Book Of Dust
About the author
What to read next
We know that children can get hooked on a favourite book series or author and struggle to find something they love as much, but we’re here to help.
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Once you’ve been entranced by His Dark Materials, it can be tricky to find the next book that will give you a similar experience. There are many elements to love in this series, so here are some suggestions for equally enjoyable reads. We want to hear your ideas too!
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