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A review by drelbszoomer
The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I don't really love Pullman's prose - he has a habit of obviously trying to write ornately and poetically and coming off as stilted and digressive in practice.
But, it's a banger of a book. It isn't a children's book, really, not at all. It's just a book about a child.
The book's message is not controversial at all in my book - there are adults out there that will hurt you, and sometimes those adults are even your own parents, and that means you have to ask yourself tough questions - does this person actually love me, or are they using me? Is this person actually abusive, unkind, controlling and selfish? Am I in danger if I ignore the clear warning signs, just because I am told I must obey this authority figure?
It's not good enough to simply obey authority and be well-behaved and hope everything works out - that'll get you (and others) killed or harmed.
Every kid must learn this, because it's true.
As with so many things adults think they need to hide from kids, it's the adults that can't cope with this fact and are afraid of it.
But, it's a banger of a book. It isn't a children's book, really, not at all. It's just a book about a child.
The book's message is not controversial at all in my book - there are adults out there that will hurt you, and sometimes those adults are even your own parents, and that means you have to ask yourself tough questions - does this person actually love me, or are they using me? Is this person actually abusive, unkind, controlling and selfish? Am I in danger if I ignore the clear warning signs, just because I am told I must obey this authority figure?
It's not good enough to simply obey authority and be well-behaved and hope everything works out - that'll get you (and others) killed or harmed.
Every kid must learn this, because it's true.
As with so many things adults think they need to hide from kids, it's the adults that can't cope with this fact and are afraid of it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Blood
Moderate: Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Torture, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment