This book and all the others in the series have a wonderful message. People talk about the message of "killing God" you obviously did not read the book or have not been educated enough to understand anything. I am a christian and do not find it at all offensive. The children release "God"/"The Authority" as he is called in the book from a prison that he has been encased in so that he could now be apart of everything. And he was being worshiped and used as a form of control through the churches when in reality he was not the real God the real God was never seen in the book only eluded to as the creator of dust and how he created dust which then created everything else...and the authority lied to everyone else claiming to have created it himself when he was himself created. Please read these books and allow your children to read it. It has an interesting twist and story that in timeless and should be read by anyone. Do not give into letting others dogmatically look at the book and please come at it with a fresh mind and openness to let yourself be transported to another world and time to truly enjoy this wonderful story set.
The Subtle Knife (His Dark Materials, Book 2)
(1997, Fiction - Fantasy, Written by Philip Pullman)
-
Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings -
Is it any good?
-
Common Sense says
Brilliant story keeps readers breathless.
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 12 and Up
The good stuff
What to watch out for
-
Violence:
-
Sex:
-
Language:
-
Consumerism:
-
Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
This review of The Subtle Knife (His Dark Materials, Book 2) was written by Matt Berman
Parents need to know that this brilliantly constructed story, even faster-paced than the first book, keeps readers breathless. The brilliant writing inspires imagination. Lyra and Will demonstrate loyalty, determination, and responsibility, even if they are not always honest.
Families Can Talk About
Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
- Families can talk about trust. Why does Lyra trust Will after she's told he's a murderer?
Have you read it? Review It!
More on The Subtle Knife (His Dark Materials, Book 2)
Book Summary
Lyra's desperate adventures continue, as she passes into a world called Citt�igazze, where she meets a boy named Will, destined to become the Bearer of the Subtle Knife, which can cut anything, even the boundaries between worlds. Nonstop pacing and stunning imagination make this a more-than-worthy sequel.
Lyra and her daemon, Pantalaimon, have crossed into another world, called Cittàgazze, across the bridge made by her father's vicious experiments. There she meets Will, who is from our Earth and has found his way accidentally through a window into Cittàgazze while on the run from mysterious men seeking information about his long-missing father.
Together they find the Subtle Knife which can cut through anything, including the boundaries between worlds, and Will becomes the Bearer of the Knife, losing two fingers in the process. Meanwhile Mrs. Coulter is out to stop Lyra from fulfilling her destiny, everyone is after the knife, and Lord Asriel is amassing the greatest army ever gathered, drawn from a multitude of worlds, for an assault on The Authority who is, well, God. And as happened once before, the angels are lining up on both sides.
Is It Any Good?
Two elements make this even better than The Golden Compass, its astonishing predecessor. The first is pacing: This book starts with a bang and never lets up. The second element is breadth of lyric imagination. This quality is a combination of surpassingly poetic writing with a scope of vision that goes far beyond that of ordinary fantasy, and which is, at times, astonishingly reckless and even bizarre.
This quality adds not only the pleasures of beauty and awe, but the excitement of seeing just how far the author can and will go. The relative simplicity of Pullman's lyricism is what makes this trilogy accessible to bright adolescents, while still challenging adults. The ambition, the sheer audacity of this series are breathtaking.
Publisher’s Details
Publisher: Knopf, Publication date: 01/01/1997
Number of pages: 352, Price: $11.95 (paperback)
Read Aloud: 11, Read Alone: 12
Number of pages: 352, Price: $11.95 (paperback)
Read Aloud: 11, Read Alone: 12
Our Members Say
See all 19 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
-
I rate this title on for age 10 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Educational
- Good role models
-
I rate this title on for age 11 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
-
I rate this title on for age 12 and give it
Even Better Than The First
If you loved THE GOLDEN COMPASS, then you'll love THE SUBTLE KNIFE, seeing as it's so much better. There's not really anything to say here, besides that it's an amazing book.
-
I rate this title on for age 9 and give it
why is this bad?
ok, i am catholic. I go to church every sunday. THIS IS NOT THAT BAD OF A BOOK. the whole "god is enemy" plotline is not that bad. They don't even say "god" in the book. They never say "god is our enemy". so, what's so bad about it? it's a really good book, and i enjoyed it.
-
I rate this title pause for age 11 and give it
Give Recommendations, Get Them, Too!
Become a member and get recommendations from other parents based on your child's age.Tell us your child's age:
Already a member? Log inOur Members Rate It
Ratings at a Glance
| 100% | of parents say there are good role models |
| 100% | of parents say it gives kids positive messages |
| 100% | of parents say it's educational |
Have you read it?
For Your Family
Get age-based recommendations for your kids:
Customize based on your child's age
Caroline Knorr recommends:
The Last Olympian: Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 5
for kids age 10
See more from Caroline Kno ...
The Last Olympian: Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 5
for kids age 10
See more from Caroline Kno ...
