This is a great book! I don't know anyone who wouldn't like this. The only innapropriate parts aren't used for people. When the book says, "humped", it means the colors of the sunsets were mixing. I don't see how anyone sees that innapropriate.

A great read, with plenty of action and violence to keep readers interested. I enjoyed this book much more than the Amber Spyglass or the Subtle Knife, because it contained less atheism and gore and kept me entertained. Recommended highly!

gypsies, and experiments in a parallel world. there is some violence.

Its amazing. Its beautiful. Heart- breaking, etc. Go read it. This is the only book I've ever given 5 stars to. It is the first in a epic about a device, and the one child who is meant to protect it against all evil. A golden compass which can see the truth. Lyra is a determined, and loyal girl, who will stop at nothing to do the right thing. You will never read a book better than this. Its breath- taking, and I'm not trying to be cheesy here. It really is. Read it. Read it to your kids. Give it to your family, and neighbors. Let them pass it on. This book is the story of growing up, and learning from your mistakes. You will laugh, you will cry, you will stand up cheer, you will run, and save gas, to the nearest book store for the sequel; The Subtle Knife, which is shorter but it won't stop you from reading the finale story. The bad stuff: Sex: Two characters make- out , and their Daemons 'play' which each other too. (that includes dogs with birds, or cats with rabbits etc.) Violence includes blood, but don't consider it gory. Fights with guns, bows N arrows, hands or paws. If an Daemon is tortured the person feels the pain too. Language: D***, H***, son of a B. Smocking and drinking: A character smokes, and men gamble, and men drink. Two kids get drunk by sneaking wine, and they also get hangovers. Other stuff: Poison, and a death of an child. A children are tortured, thats the plot. _- SPOILER- kids daemons are cut away, leaving the kids in zombie like states, screaming for their daemon. O.K. TO READ: Just read the book. No need to past on if your a christen, it has nothing to do with religion. SO COME DOWN!!! ITS THE BEST BOOK IN THE HISTORY OF BOOKS, JUST READ IT!!!!!!!

Okay, for all the morons who are using this to attack religion- WHY THE HECK ARE YOU FREAKING OUT!?! 1. It's a FANTASY, in most FANTASY books, they don't talk about RELIGION, some books don't even bring up RELIGION. So why all you idiots are wandering around the street going, this book hates God, think about this, "Does he ever actually say, 'Kids, God doesn't exist!' or 'Hate God people!'. No, he doesn't. And I thought Christian and Catholic belief was to quote "RESPECT OTHER PEOPLES BELIEFS AND DO NOT HARASS NOR PUNISH FOR DIFFERENT BELIEFS." And kids are not so stupid that when one person states there opinion, then everything goes hay-wire and his opinion is either right or wrong, your OPINION is what you belief. So don't go around hating on people because they're not the same as you. How would you feel if thousands of people started just hating you for no reason what so ever, because you said something. Now go ahead and disagree, but that doesn't mean you should be opening your flap about every little thing wrong and cursing people. Because apparently adults act stupider and idiotic than children. Now for number 2. Don't say this book is bad for kids, because this book has amazing grammar and is written like art is drawn! More kids SHOULD be reading this book. This man obviously put his heart and soul into writing this and was hoping people would enjoy this, instead he got a ton of stupid, pissed off wierdos cursing him off because apparently he some how put his beliefs on every page of the book. Think about it...

It's nearly impossible to even look at this book and not have the rumors of it fly into your head. All the anti-religious publicity has really worn down hard on this book, and the movie adaptation has brought down even more disdain. And it's really unfortunate, because this is really a great book; it's chock full of suspense, realistically portrayed characters, and hardcore fantasy leaning on the verge of science fiction. It's a must read for those who feel that their faith is strong enough for it; if your faith is easily offended, it's probably a book to be left alone.

This is an absolutely wonderful book - even if the beginning starts out slow, and you might have to read it a few times to "get" it. It's definitely not a cliffhanger: instead, the appeal is discovering more about the characters and the world. The foreshadowing is brilliant and you catch something different every time. I am reading it aloud to my 9-year-old sister and she doesn't always understand it, but is enjoying it anyway. It truly is for all ages! There is violence and some (mild) sexual reference, as well as some language, but as long as you discuss it with a younger kid it shouldn't be a problem.

This book is in my top ten. I read it when I was eight. It took me about a month. I have reread it since. It's fantastic. I am on break now and my teacher said to finish the series. It is on the middel school reading list. I am not in middel school yet but that may be a slighty mort abropriate adiance. I know this series is for adults if you are either very advaned in reading or older then 14 you may not grasp the concepts in the book the story line is amazeing. If you start it but dont understand it wait a few years and try again if you dont a fantastic piece of literature will be lost on you.

This book has had so many arguments and debates about it, but i think it boils down to this. This is an amazing book that looks at everything from a whole new perspective. And if your God is so weak that he can be banished from your children's lives by a single book, than by complaining against that book, you are missing the point entirely. I don't mean to be rude by that, honestly, but doesn't it strike you as odd, if you sit back and look at it objectively, that you don't think your children believe in their creator enough to hear someone else's opinion? It's going to happen sooner or later anyhow. If anything, sit down with them afterwards and explain where the book differs from what religion is really like. If you can't do that, then maybe the problem isn't the book.