The Subtle Knife

The Subtle Knife
Author: Phillip Pullman
ISBN: 978-0-440-41833-7
Publisher: Yearling 1997

Plot summary: Lyra meets Will Parry in the second book of Phillip Pullman's trilogy. Will is a brave and principled boy. He longs to find his father, a great explorer who seems to have vanished years ago. Will was at his home when there was an intruder and Will accidentally murdered him, Now Will is on the run. Together he and Lyra try to move unnoticed through different worlds as Will seeks the truth about his father, and Lyra tries to unlock the mysteries behind Dark Matter and the Dust.

Old characters return to help such as Serafina and Lee Scorsbey. Scorsbey protects Will and Lyra from the Spectors as they flee in a world of "Spector Orphans."

Finally Will meets his father but it is in a bittersweet reuniting and Will learns he is the new protector of The Knife.

Mrs. Coulter continues to seek them and Lyra and Will continue to move to their rightful destiny.

Critical Analysis: Will and Lyra each have their places in the fate of the world, even at their young age it appears as there are many people seeking them. They grow close together quickly as an expression of their understood dependence on one another. With two young heroes both a girl and a boy, this book more than Golden Compass appeals to both genders. Will both acts as protector and guide to Lyra at times. He is also reliant on her for he knowledge and those she has on her side as Will is almost all alone.

Annotation: In the second book of the Dark Materials Trilogy, Pullman bring Lyra and Will together to work toward their fate as integral players in protecting the world against Mrs. Coulter's.

Author Information: Phillip Pullman lives in Oxford, England and has received many awards for his work. His website is www.hisdarkmaterials.com. I recommend looking at his website as it is full of wonderful information about a awesome writer!

Genre: YA/ JF Fiction

Curriculum Ties: English Literature

Age level /interest level: 12 and up/ 7th grade and up

Booktalking ideas:
1.) What was your opinion of the meeting between Will and his father?
2.) Explain the relationship between Lyra and Will.
3.) what do you think about Lee Scorsby? Notice how he acts more like a father to Lyra than her own father; why do you think that is?

Challenge Ideas: Alleged Anti-Christian message

Defense: I did not feel this was an Anti- Christian book. I would advise concerned patrons to e-mail Phillip Pullman. I would also explain that there may be aspect of each book which are troublesome, but reading them first helps to understand the purpose for the difficult material. With Pullman there is a purpose.In addition, I would explain policies for selection for San Diego County Libraries:

http://dbpcosdcsgt.co.san-diego.ca.us/screens/Intranet/policy/sdcl-policy_O.41_material-selection.pdf
If after my working to convince the patron, they still were not satisfied and wanted to file a grievance, I would provide the needed paper work and then it would go to the “Challenged Materials” team for San Diego County and then onward until there is resolution: http://dbpcosdcsgt.co.san-diego.ca.us/screens/Intranet/policy/sdcl-policy_O.34_intellectual_freedom.pdf

Selection Reasons: I chose this book for the types of heroes Will and Lyra are. They are compassionate, strong, independent, and they think critically. Pullman writes this trilogy and invites critical thinking. It appears to many he is anti- Christian, but I would propose that instead he is for evaluating power structures and the motivation behind religion and the act of doing without thinking in blind faith.