Disappointing and disjointed, 27 Nov 2008
Jacqueline Wilson's stories deal with some very sensitive topics and they're fun to read, too, which is why I read 'Cookie' within a few days of its publication. As a teacher, I was hoping to use it as the basis for a classroom discussion with a group of Year 6s on some of the issues that the book brings up.

In the end I couldn't use it. The book seems to be aimed at much younger children, and the story doesn't fit together properly. When Beauty Cookson's mum realises that Beauty is being bullied over her appearance by her classmates, as well as by her vicious dad, she decides that she will teach Beauty how to bake cookies so that she can share them at school and subtly persuade the bullies to give her a new nickname - Cookie instead of Ugly. This just isn't realistic. Beauty's own method of comforting herself is even less so - she religiously watches a toddlers' programme about a man and his rabbit, and imagines them saying kind things to her. Her conversations with the television are represented as a real dialogue. When Beauty begins to panic about her looks, Sam says to her, "We think you look stunning in your dress and pinafore and special boots." When she complains to him about her name, he 'says' back, "I think Beauty's the most special name in all the world."

A child with low self-esteem just would not imagine those things, as one of the problems that come with low self-esteem is an inability to believe that anyone sees you in a positive light. The story takes a few more bizarre twists and turns - Beauty finally makes a friend, who vanishes halfway through the book and doesn't reappear; she and her mum run away to live in a little guest house by the beach, and the bullying dad is tidily sorted out of the picture; and Beauty's cookie-baking becomes famous so that she gets to go on TV with her hero Sam and his rabbit Lily.

None of it fits together. I read the novel in one sitting and felt very confused by the muddled plot and the unrealistic scenarios that kept cropping up. I can't recommend this one.

P.S. Have any other readers noticed how often Jacqueline Wilson employs the word 'special'? It seems to be her favourite adjective. This is only a minor thing, but it started to grate on me in 'Cookie'.

Not her best., 23 Nov 2008
Im a fifteen year old who's been reading Jacqueline Wilson since I was eight, and I think this is definitly one of Jacquelines worst books, along with Kiss. Reading the inside cover of the book, it sounded pretty good and I thought it wouldnt be too young for me to read.
It turns out to be for nobody older than twelve in my opinion. its extremely babyish, just how all of jacquelines books seem to be nowdays. its about an unfortunatly ugly girl called Beauty who gets bullied blah blah blah... In other words, the same sort of sad, pathetic babyish character in most of her books. The storyline seems to be a mix of 'sleepovers' (because of the whole thing with wanting to be friends with your worst enemys best friend thing)'love lessons' ( the nasty dad, although this one is much worse) and every other book that has a low on self confidence annoying girl as the narrator, which is virtually every book she's written. Thats the thing with this book.Everything is far too recognisable from other books.As Ive already said, the 'narrator' of the story is a whining, babyish girl whos good at art, theres the mean dad, the kind mum, and theres the group of girls at school where one of thems nice and the rest are nasty.A lot of the things the characters say or the way they speak are exactly the same as other characters in other books.The characters need sayings of their own to set them apart from the rest but a lot of the things they say and they way they speak is exactly the same as characters in her other books, which makes them just like clones.Another thing thats wrong is that theres good description, but too much of it. I skipped parts of the book a lot because of its description that just seems to ramble on. Theres also a weired programme on TV that Beauty likes to watch. Its for 3 year olds but its Beauty fav. programme, even though shes about twelve. Its about a quite frankly, freaky man and his creepy pet rabbit. I also skipped about twenty pages of the book due to the saddo dialogue from this man.
If youre under twelve, I wouldnt buy it. rent it from a library or something. if youre over twelve and an experianced reader who has read a lot of jacqueline wilson, i wouldnt advise it.

Not her best., 16 Nov 2008
Yeah, I love Jaqueline Wilson, I've read all her books! She's a great author. But this, I have to say, was one of her worst books. It was just too childish, and uninteresting. If your an amature reader, with an average imagination then this book will be good for you, but for someone like me, an experienced reader, who likes a challenge to read, then this book might not be the best idea. It is very hard to get into, and far too basic. Also, something I found quite boring, Jaqueline Wilson is doing the kind of same book, for eg. Lola Rose, which is along the same lines, just a MUCH better book! I do recommend that one by the way. Just, 'Cookie' is a bit of a disappointment. :D Hope this helped

Boring doom and gloom, 14 Nov 2008
I found this book very boring as all it goes on about is bullying angry dad bullying angry dad and normal life with that lot in. It is sad in places and I don't recomend it as I think you will be waisting your money. Still read it though as you will never know until you have read it and this is my personal opinion. I recomend you to borrow it out of your local library and then buy it if you like it.

FAB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, 06 Nov 2008
Its a great book that i've given 5 stars. Fantastic and fun JW has done a nother fab book i look forward to what she will do next. I say you get it as soon as you can i know you'll enjoy this fab book. I do hope you enjoy this totaly fab book.

Disappointing and disjointed, 27 Nov 2008
Jacqueline Wilson's stories deal with some very sensitive topics and they're fun to read, too, which is why I read 'Cookie' within a few days of its publication. As a teacher, I was hoping to use it as the basis for a classroom discussion with a group of Year 6s on some of the issues that the book brings up.

In the end I couldn't use it. The book seems to be aimed at much younger children, and the story doesn't fit together properly. When Beauty Cookson's mum realises that Beauty is being bullied over her appearance by her classmates, as well as by her vicious dad, she decides that she will teach Beauty how to bake cookies so that she can share them at school and subtly persuade the bullies to give her a new nickname - Cookie instead of Ugly. This just isn't realistic. Beauty's own method of comforting herself is even less so - she religiously watches a toddlers' programme about a man and his rabbit, and imagines them saying kind things to her. Her conversations with the television are represented as a real dialogue. When Beauty begins to panic about her looks, Sam says to her, "We think you look stunning in your dress and pinafore and special boots." When she complains to him about her name, he 'says' back, "I think Beauty's the most special name in all the world."

A child with low self-esteem just would not imagine those things, as one of the problems that come with low self-esteem is an inability to believe that anyone sees you in a positive light. The story takes a few more bizarre twists and turns - Beauty finally makes a friend, who vanishes halfway through the book and doesn't reappear; she and her mum run away to live in a little guest house by the beach, and the bullying dad is tidily sorted out of the picture; and Beauty's cookie-baking becomes famous so that she gets to go on TV with her hero Sam and his rabbit Lily.

None of it fits together. I read the novel in one sitting and felt very confused by the muddled plot and the unrealistic scenarios that kept cropping up. I can't recommend this one.

P.S. Have any other readers noticed how often Jacqueline Wilson employs the word 'special'? It seems to be her favourite adjective. This is only a minor thing, but it started to grate on me in 'Cookie'.

Not her best., 23 Nov 2008
Im a fifteen year old who's been reading Jacqueline Wilson since I was eight, and I think this is definitly one of Jacquelines worst books, along with Kiss. Reading the inside cover of the book, it sounded pretty good and I thought it wouldnt be too young for me to read.
It turns out to be for nobody older than twelve in my opinion. its extremely babyish, just how all of jacquelines books seem to be nowdays. its about an unfortunatly ugly girl called Beauty who gets bullied blah blah blah... In other words, the same sort of sad, pathetic babyish character in most of her books. The storyline seems to be a mix of 'sleepovers' (because of the whole thing with wanting to be friends with your worst enemys best friend thing)'love lessons' ( the nasty dad, although this one is much worse) and every other book that has a low on self confidence annoying girl as the narrator, which is virtually every book she's written. Thats the thing with this book.Everything is far too recognisable from other books.As Ive already said, the 'narrator' of the story is a whining, babyish girl whos good at art, theres the mean dad, the kind mum, and theres the group of girls at school where one of thems nice and the rest are nasty.A lot of the things the characters say or the way they speak are exactly the same as other characters in other books.The characters need sayings of their own to set them apart from the rest but a lot of the things they say and they way they speak is exactly the same as characters in her other books, which makes them just like clones.Another thing thats wrong is that theres good description, but too much of it. I skipped parts of the book a lot because of its description that just seems to ramble on. Theres also a weired programme on TV that Beauty likes to watch. Its for 3 year olds but its Beauty fav. programme, even though shes about twelve. Its about a quite frankly, freaky man and his creepy pet rabbit. I also skipped about twenty pages of the book due to the saddo dialogue from this man.
If youre under twelve, I wouldnt buy it. rent it from a library or something. if youre over twelve and an experianced reader who has read a lot of jacqueline wilson, i wouldnt advise it.

Not her best., 16 Nov 2008
Yeah, I love Jaqueline Wilson, I've read all her books! She's a great author. But this, I have to say, was one of her worst books. It was just too childish, and uninteresting. If your an amature reader, with an average imagination then this book will be good for you, but for someone like me, an experienced reader, who likes a challenge to read, then this book might not be the best idea. It is very hard to get into, and far too basic. Also, something I found quite boring, Jaqueline Wilson is doing the kind of same book, for eg. Lola Rose, which is along the same lines, just a MUCH better book! I do recommend that one by the way. Just, 'Cookie' is a bit of a disappointment. :D Hope this helped

Boring doom and gloom, 14 Nov 2008
I found this book very boring as all it goes on about is bullying angry dad bullying angry dad and normal life with that lot in. It is sad in places and I don't recomend it as I think you will be waisting your money. Still read it though as you will never know until you have read it and this is my personal opinion. I recomend you to borrow it out of your local library and then buy it if you like it.

FAB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, 06 Nov 2008
Its a great book that i've given 5 stars. Fantastic and fun JW has done a nother fab book i look forward to what she will do next. I say you get it as soon as you can i know you'll enjoy this fab book. I do hope you enjoy this totaly fab book.

Northern Lights is the best book I've ever read, 10 Nov 2008
"Northern Lights" is a fantastic novel by Philip Pullman. It is the first book in a trilogy called "His Dark Materials". This book, is about a girl called Lyra, who lives in a universe like ours, but very different in lots of things. Lyra used to attend Oxford College until she finds out about "dust". When her friend Roger disappears, Lyra sets off to the North to find him with help of her "daemon" and an "alethiometer" given to her by the master of Oxford College. This book is one of those books in which someone cannot stop reading. It is perfectly written, exciting, and sometimes even scary. I not only recommend this book to children, but to every person that just needs something to be excited about.

wonderful, 09 Sep 2008
This trilogy is excellent. Took me a while to get into book one but once the story really got going I couldn't put it down. Lyra grows into a young adult throughout the trilogy and its wonderful to follow her through her trials and tribulations.

Armoured bears, witches, deamons, god, angels, heaven and hell-all and more are wonderfully thoguht up by Pullman and I recommend these to anyone.

Goes out with a whimper, 17 May 2008
Northern Lights is brilliant in almost every respect; fast-moving, well-written, imaginative. The Subtle Knife is almost as good, but begins to be diffuse. The Amber Spyglass is, frankly, rubbish. In order to understand what is going on here, you have to have read an obscure essay by a second-rank German author (Heinrich v. Kleist) that Pullman is always going on about. By a logic that defeats me, it concludes that a re-temptation of Eve will undo the disaster that came from the first temptation. Hence Lyra (she's the new Eve, we're told) goes all tingly when she's kissed (only kissed, mind you). This saves the world (don't ask me how). Pullman's cosmogony/theology is even wackier than the Christian version to which he's so hostile. Nor does The Amber Spyglass have a very tight plot -- is the realm of the dead another parallel universe, or what? The Father Gomez episode is totally gratuitous church-baiting, and should have been edited out (along with a few other repetitious bits). It is fairly obvious that Pullman had no idea how to end this trilogy, which accounts for the long delay in publication between parts 2 and 3. But the ending, when it comes, is possibly the most banal I have ever read. One might have thought that having opened the gates of hell, having quite literally witnessed the death of God (and incidentally having saved humankind with a kiss) Lyra and Will deserved some sort of apotheosis. But the ending is like the ending to a children's party: right now kiddies, pack up your things, time to go home.

Recommended, 16 Apr 2008
His Dark Materials is a fantastic series of books. Plenty has already been said in these reviews about the subject matter and writing brilliance. However many people have referred to these as "children's" books, which I slightly disagree with. Young children (8+) will enjoy these if they are read to them - although the subject and language is likely to require further explanation at this age. For sole readers an age of 12+ is more suitable; plus many, many adults (including myself) have enjoyed reading these too.

From my personal experience I didn't enjoy the second book in the series as much as either the first or third as I felt it wasn't as fast-paced and intricate. That said I do not mean that I `didn't enjoy it at all' just that I `preferred' the others.

Other reviews have mentioned that the religious/church bashing may offend, which is perhaps true for deeply/strictly religious folk. However for non-believers I think the books may have the opposite effect, i.e. it may open their minds to the possibility there may be more to life than what we see, in a kind of spiritual sense.

However, a word of warning. After reading this series I purchased Lyra's Oxford which was a big mistake. It adds nothing to this story and took no longer than 15 minutes to read. In fact it left me rather miffed with the author that my feel-good factor from reading the trilogy was then tainted by feeling I'd been ripped off with LO.

In short - the trilogy is a very good buy but give the subsequent books based on this same story a big miss.


His Dark Materials Boxed Set, 13 Mar 2008
What excellent books! i could not put them down. Phillip Pullman has a wonderful imagination and i would recommend this book to adults and older children as i feel children under ten year's maybe a little scared! Can't wait to read his next book.

The Final Chapter
Harry has been burdened with a dark, dangerous and seemingly impossible task: that of locating and destroying Voldemort's remaining Horcruxes. Never has Harry felt so alone, or faced a future so full of shadows. But Harry must somehow find within himself the strength to complete the task he has been given. He must leave the warmth, safety and companionship of The Burrow and follow without fear or hesitation the inexorable path laid out for him.

In this final, seventh installment of the Harry Potter series, J.K. Rowling unveils in spectactular fashion the answers to the many questions that have been so eagerly awaited. The spellbinding, richly woven narrative, which plunges, twists and turns at a breathtaking pace, confirms the author as a mistress of storytelling, whose books will be read, reread and read again.

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Begin at the Beginning

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone Hardcover Paperback

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Hardcover Paperback

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Hardcover Paperback

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Hardcover Paperback

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Hardcover Paperback

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Hardcover Paperback

Why We Love Harry
Favourite Moments from the Series
There are plenty of reasons to love Rowling's wildly popular series--no doubt you have several dozen of your own. Our list features favourite moments, characters, and artefacts from the first six books. Keep in mind that this list is by no means exhaustive (what we love about Harry could fill ten books!) and does not include any of the spectacular revelatory moments that would spoil the books for those (few) who have not read them. Enjoy.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

* Harry's first trip to the zoo with the Dursleys, when a boa constrictor winks at him. * When the Dursleys' house is suddenly besieged by letters for Harry from Hogwarts. Readers learn how much the Dursleys have been keeping from Harry. Rowling does a wonderful job in displaying the lengths to which Uncle Vernon will go to deny that magic exists. * Harry's first visit to Diagon Alley with Hagrid. Full of curiosities and rich with magic and marvel, Harry's first trip includes a trip to Gringotts and Ollivanders, where Harry gets his wand (holly and phoenix feather) and discovers yet another connection to He-Who-Must-No-Be-Named. This moment is the reader's first full introduction to Rowling's world of witchcraft and wizards. * Harry's experience with the Sorting Hat.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

* The de-gnoming of the Weasleys' garden. Harry discovers that even wizards have chores--gnomes must be grabbed (ignoring angry protests "Gerroff me! Gerroff me!"), swung about (to make them too dizzy to come back), and tossed out of the garden--this delightful scene highlights Rowling's clever and witty genius. * Harry's first experience with a Howler, sent to Ron by his mother. * The Duelling Club battle between Harry and Malfoy. Gilderoy Lockhart starts the Duelling Club to help students practice spells on each other, but he is not prepared for the intensity of the animosity between Harry and Draco. Since they are still young, their minibattle is innocent enough, including tickling and dancing charms.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

* Ron's attempt to use a telephone to call Harry at the Dursleys'. * Harry's first encounter with a Dementor on the train (and just about any other encounter with Dementors). Harry's brush with the Dementors is terrifying and prepares Potter fans for a darker, scarier book. * Harry, Ron, and Hermione's behaviour in Professor Trelawney's Divination class. Some of the best moments in Rowling's books occur when she reminds us that the wizards-in-training at Hogwarts are, after all, just children. Clearly, even at a school of witchcraft and wizardry, classes can be boring and seem pointless to children. * The Boggart lesson in Professor Lupin's classroom. * Harry, Ron, and Hermione's knock-down confrontation with Snape.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

* Hermione's disgust at the reception for the veela (Bulgarian National Team Mascots) at the Quidditch World Cup. Rowling's fourth book addresses issues about growing up--the dynamic between the boys and girls at Hogwarts starts to change. Nowhere is this more plain than the hilarious scene in which magical cheerleaders nearly convince Harry and Ron to jump from the stands to impress them. * Viktor Krum's crush on Hermione--and Ron's objection to it. * Malfoy's "Potter Stinks" badge. * Hermione's creation of S.P.E.W., the intolerant bigotry of the Death Eaters, and the danger of the Triwizard Tournament. Add in the changing dynamics between girls and boys at Hogwarts, and suddenly Rowling's fourth book has a weight and seriousness not as present in early books in the series. Candy and tickle spells are left behind as the students tackle darker, more serious issues and take on larger responsibilities, including the knowledge of illegal curses.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

* Harry's outburst to his friends at No. 12 Grimmauld Place. A combination of frustration over being kept in the dark and fear that he will be expelled fuels much of Harry's anger, and it all comes out at once, directly aimed at Ron and Hermione. Rowling perfectly portrays Harry's frustration at being too old to shirk responsibility, but too young to be accepted as part of the fight that he knows is coming. * Harry's detention with Professor Umbridge. Rowling shows her darker side, leading readers to believe that Hogwarts is no longer a safe haven for young wizards. Dolores represents a bureaucratic tyrant capable of real evil, and Harry is forced to endure their private battle of wills alone. * Harry and Cho's painfully awkward interactions. Rowling clearly remembers what it was like to be a teenager. * Harry's Occlumency lessons with Snape. * Dumbledore's confession to Harry.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

* This book is much darker than the rest. Lord Voldemort has been creating chaos in the Wizard and Muggle communities alike, the war is in full swing and the Wizarding community now lives in fear. * It is much more emotional. The story turns at the whim of a temperamental teenager from war and life-changing tragedy, to euphoria and glistening happiness.

Magic, Mystery, and Mayhem: A Conversation with J.K. Rowling

"I am an extraordinarily lucky person, doing what I love best in the world. I'm sure that I will always be a writer. It was wonderful enough just to be published. The greatest reward is the enthusiasm of the readers." --J.K. Rowling

Find out more about Harry's creator in our exclusive interview with J.K. Rowling.

Did You Know?

The Little White Horse was J.K. Rowling's favourite book as a child.

Jane Austen is Rowling's favourite author.

Roddy Doyle is Rowling's favourite living writer.

Disappointing and disjointed, 27 Nov 2008
Jacqueline Wilson's stories deal with some very sensitive topics and they're fun to read, too, which is why I read 'Cookie' within a few days of its publication. As a teacher, I was hoping to use it as the basis for a classroom discussion with a group of Year 6s on some of the issues that the book brings up.

In the end I couldn't use it. The book seems to be aimed at much younger children, and the story doesn't fit together properly. When Beauty Cookson's mum realises that Beauty is being bullied over her appearance by her classmates, as well as by her vicious dad, she decides that she will teach Beauty how to bake cookies so that she can share them at school and subtly persuade the bullies to give her a new nickname - Cookie instead of Ugly. This just isn't realistic. Beauty's own method of comforting herself is even less so - she religiously watches a toddlers' programme about a man and his rabbit, and imagines them saying kind things to her. Her conversations with the television are represented as a real dialogue. When Beauty begins to panic about her looks, Sam says to her, "We think you look stunning in your dress and pinafore and special boots." When she complains to him about her name, he 'says' back, "I think Beauty's the most special name in all the world."

A child with low self-esteem just would not imagine those things, as one of the problems that come with low self-esteem is an inability to believe that anyone sees you in a positive light. The story takes a few more bizarre twists and turns - Beauty finally makes a friend, who vanishes halfway through the book and doesn't reappear; she and her mum run away to live in a little guest house by the beach, and the bullying dad is tidily sorted out of the picture; and Beauty's cookie-baking becomes famous so that she gets to go on TV with her hero Sam and his rabbit Lily.

None of it fits together. I read the novel in one sitting and felt very confused by the muddled plot and the unrealistic scenarios that kept cropping up. I can't recommend this one.

P.S. Have any other readers noticed how often Jacqueline Wilson employs the word 'special'? It seems to be her favourite adjective. This is only a minor thing, but it started to grate on me in 'Cookie'.

Not her best., 23 Nov 2008
Im a fifteen year old who's been reading Jacqueline Wilson since I was eight, and I think this is definitly one of Jacquelines worst books, along with Kiss. Reading the inside cover of the book, it sounded pretty good and I thought it wouldnt be too young for me to read.
It turns out to be for nobody older than twelve in my opinion. its extremely babyish, just how all of jacquelines books seem to be nowdays. its about an unfortunatly ugly girl called Beauty who gets bullied blah blah blah... In other words, the same sort of sad, pathetic babyish character in most of her books. The storyline seems to be a mix of 'sleepovers' (because of the whole thing with wanting to be friends with your worst enemys best friend thing)'love lessons' ( the nasty dad, although this one is much worse) and every other book that has a low on self confidence annoying girl as the narrator, which is virtually every book she's written. Thats the thing with this book.Everything is far too recognisable from other books.As Ive already said, the 'narrator' of the story is a whining, babyish girl whos good at art, theres the mean dad, the kind mum, and theres the group of girls at school where one of thems nice and the rest are nasty.A lot of the things the characters say or the way they speak are exactly the same as other characters in other books.The characters need sayings of their own to set them apart from the rest but a lot of the things they say and they way they speak is exactly the same as characters in her other books, which makes them just like clones.Another thing thats wrong is that theres good description, but too much of it. I skipped parts of the book a lot because of its description that just seems to ramble on. Theres also a weired programme on TV that Beauty likes to watch. Its for 3 year olds but its Beauty fav. programme, even though shes about twelve. Its about a quite frankly, freaky man and his creepy pet rabbit. I also skipped about twenty pages of the book due to the saddo dialogue from this man.
If youre under twelve, I wouldnt buy it. rent it from a library or something. if youre over twelve and an experianced reader who has read a lot of jacqueline wilson, i wouldnt advise it.

Not her best., 16 Nov 2008
Yeah, I love Jaqueline Wilson, I've read all her books! She's a great author. But this, I have to say, was one of her worst books. It was just too childish, and uninteresting. If your an amature reader, with an average imagination then this book will be good for you, but for someone like me, an experienced reader, who likes a challenge to read, then this book might not be the best idea. It is very hard to get into, and far too basic. Also, something I found quite boring, Jaqueline Wilson is doing the kind of same book, for eg. Lola Rose, which is along the same lines, just a MUCH better book! I do recommend that one by the way. Just, 'Cookie' is a bit of a disappointment. :D Hope this helped

Boring doom and gloom, 14 Nov 2008
I found this book very boring as all it goes on about is bullying angry dad bullying angry dad and normal life with that lot in. It is sad in places and I don't recomend it as I think you will be waisting your money. Still read it though as you will never know until you have read it and this is my personal opinion. I recomend you to borrow it out of your local library and then buy it if you like it.

FAB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, 06 Nov 2008
Its a great book that i've given 5 stars. Fantastic and fun JW has done a nother fab book i look forward to what she will do next. I say you get it as soon as you can i know you'll enjoy this fab book. I do hope you enjoy this totaly fab book.

Northern Lights is the best book I've ever read, 10 Nov 2008
"Northern Lights" is a fantastic novel by Philip Pullman. It is the first book in a trilogy called "His Dark Materials". This book, is about a girl called Lyra, who lives in a universe like ours, but very different in lots of things. Lyra used to attend Oxford College until she finds out about "dust". When her friend Roger disappears, Lyra sets off to the North to find him with help of her "daemon" and an "alethiometer" given to her by the master of Oxford College. This book is one of those books in which someone cannot stop reading. It is perfectly written, exciting, and sometimes even scary. I not only recommend this book to children, but to every person that just needs something to be excited about.

wonderful, 09 Sep 2008
This trilogy is excellent. Took me a while to get into book one but once the story really got going I couldn't put it down. Lyra grows into a young adult throughout the trilogy and its wonderful to follow her through her trials and tribulations.

Armoured bears, witches, deamons, god, angels, heaven and hell-all and more are wonderfully thoguht up by Pullman and I recommend these to anyone.

Goes out with a whimper, 17 May 2008
Northern Lights is brilliant in almost every respect; fast-moving, well-written, imaginative. The Subtle Knife is almost as good, but begins to be diffuse. The Amber Spyglass is, frankly, rubbish. In order to understand what is going on here, you have to have read an obscure essay by a second-rank German author (Heinrich v. Kleist) that Pullman is always going on about. By a logic that defeats me, it concludes that a re-temptation of Eve will undo the disaster that came from the first temptation. Hence Lyra (she's the new Eve, we're told) goes all tingly when she's kissed (only kissed, mind you). This saves the world (don't ask me how). Pullman's cosmogony/theology is even wackier than the Christian version to which he's so hostile. Nor does The Amber Spyglass have a very tight plot -- is the realm of the dead another parallel universe, or what? The Father Gomez episode is totally gratuitous church-baiting, and should have been edited out (along with a few other repetitious bits). It is fairly obvious that Pullman had no idea how to end this trilogy, which accounts for the long delay in publication between parts 2 and 3. But the ending, when it comes, is possibly the most banal I have ever read. One might have thought that having opened the gates of hell, having quite literally witnessed the death of God (and incidentally having saved humankind with a kiss) Lyra and Will deserved some sort of apotheosis. But the ending is like the ending to a children's party: right now kiddies, pack up your things, time to go home.

Recommended, 16 Apr 2008
His Dark Materials is a fantastic series of books. Plenty has already been said in these reviews about the subject matter and writing brilliance. However many people have referred to these as "children's" books, which I slightly disagree with. Young children (8+) will enjoy these if they are read to them - although the subject and language is likely to require further explanation at this age. For sole readers an age of 12+ is more suitable; plus many, many adults (including myself) have enjoyed reading these too.

From my personal experience I didn't enjoy the second book in the series as much as either the first or third as I felt it wasn't as fast-paced and intricate. That said I do not mean that I `didn't enjoy it at all' just that I `preferred' the others.

Other reviews have mentioned that the religious/church bashing may offend, which is perhaps true for deeply/strictly religious folk. However for non-believers I think the books may have the opposite effect, i.e. it may open their minds to the possibility there may be more to life than what we see, in a kind of spiritual sense.

However, a word of warning. After reading this series I purchased Lyra's Oxford which was a big mistake. It adds nothing to this story and took no longer than 15 minutes to read. In fact it left me rather miffed with the author that my feel-good factor from reading the trilogy was then tainted by feeling I'd been ripped off with LO.

In short - the trilogy is a very good buy but give the subsequent books based on this same story a big miss.


His Dark Materials Boxed Set, 13 Mar 2008
What excellent books! i could not put them down. Phillip Pullman has a wonderful imagination and i would recommend this book to adults and older children as i feel children under ten year's maybe a little scared! Can't wait to read his next book.

Excellent finish, 16 Nov 2008
Everyone who has read the Harry Potter series knows how fun, interesting and addictive it is to read, so the seventh book is essential for those who have dabbled in the others. Possibly the most engaging book of them all, this last edition takes a different style into what would be Harry's final year at Hogwarts. The sixth book was said to be dark but it is in the seventh that great change happens. The plot deepends enormously as do the characters, who have grown up so much since their first days. J.K. Rowling is a gift to children and adults alike. Conclusion: essential reading if you have read the others, although really that goes without saying!

The series end left me speechless and depressed, 08 Nov 2008
I'd like to say that I was not one of the people who grew up with Harry Potter, it was around me but I never felt interested enough to have a read and even disliked the hype so much that I could have never imagined reading and absolutely loving it.
Eventually, at 22, I gave the first book a chance and read it in a day and I quite enjoyed it, needless to say the more books I read of the series, the more obsessed and involved did I feel and at the last book, The Deathly Hallows I could not imagine that this journey has come to an end.
I felt at points frustrated at the slow pace and not being able to see the light at the end of the tunnel but I think JK Rowling made it quite clear that a big part of this book is about frustration, patience and somewhat hopelessness.
When I then finished this book I was in tears, well I was in tears throughout the book but the end just hit me hard and I realised that there won't be any more books and what I've read can never be read again the same way. I felt depressed, not because it was a bad book, quite the opposite, it was such a good book and such a good series that I felt like I lost friends. As sad as this sounds, I feel that Rowling created a world so detailed, so close to my heart that the end of it felt like a funeral. I think she felt quite the same and of course even worse when she was writing the last chapters of this book and I cannot even imagine the pain she felt for saying goodbye to Harry and his friends.
I don't think any book has touched me the way these did, not because it is the smartest or funniest book I've read but because it feels so real that it is hard to imagine it isn't. For this, I thank JK Rowling, she enriched my life with this epic story and I hope, for generations to come, they feel the same way about it.


Amazing, 16 Oct 2008
The Deathly Hallows is the best book I have ever read, I honestly couldn't put it down. All the questions that were in the books are answered and the story gripped me from beginning to end. Although the ending is weak, this is JK Rowling's masterpiece. A must-have.

Great book, 16 Oct 2008
This is a great end to the harry potter saga, but thats not the reason for this review, i just wanted to ask if anyone knows the difference between the childrens edition and the adult edition? ill thank you in advance if you answer my question

I couldn't put it down, 12 Oct 2008
This thing, the deathly hallows, the beginning wasn't the best beginning, but... I could not stop reading it. I don't understand why people think the ending is disappointing. The Nineteen years later could be expanded into a book, maybe, but, if J.K doesn't then that's all we really need to know to end the Harry potter phenomenon. Hopefully she will deliver another H.P book, because I know, I know, it won't end here.

Disappointing and disjointed, 27 Nov 2008
Jacqueline Wilson's stories deal with some very sensitive topics and they're fun to read, too, which is why I read 'Cookie' within a few days of its publication. As a teacher, I was hoping to use it as the basis for a classroom discussion with a group of Year 6s on some of the issues that the book brings up.

In the end I couldn't use it. The book seems to be aimed at much younger children, and the story doesn't fit together properly. When Beauty Cookson's mum realises that Beauty is being bullied over her appearance by her classmates, as well as by her vicious dad, she decides that she will teach Beauty how to bake cookies so that she can share them at school and subtly persuade the bullies to give her a new nickname - Cookie instead of Ugly. This just isn't realistic. Beauty's own method of comforting herself is even less so - she religiously watches a toddlers' programme about a man and his rabbit, and imagines them saying kind things to her. Her conversations with the television are represented as a real dialogue. When Beauty begins to panic about her looks, Sam says to her, "We think you look stunning in your dress and pinafore and special boots." When she complains to him about her name, he 'says' back, "I think Beauty's the most special name in all the world."

A child with low self-esteem just would not imagine those things, as one of the problems that come with low self-esteem is an inability to believe that anyone sees you in a positive light. The story takes a few more bizarre twists and turns - Beauty finally makes a friend, who vanishes halfway through the book and doesn't reappear; she and her mum run away to live in a little guest house by the beach, and the bullying dad is tidily sorted out of the picture; and Beauty's cookie-baking becomes famous so that she gets to go on TV with her hero Sam and his rabbit Lily.

None of it fits together. I read the novel in one sitting and felt very confused by the muddled plot and the unrealistic scenarios that kept cropping up. I can't recommend this one.

P.S. Have any other readers noticed how often Jacqueline Wilson employs the word 'special'? It seems to be her favourite adjective. This is only a minor thing, but it started to grate on me in 'Cookie'.

Not her best., 23 Nov 2008
Im a fifteen year old who's been reading Jacqueline Wilson since I was eight, and I think this is definitly one of Jacquelines worst books, along with Kiss. Reading the inside cover of the book, it sounded pretty good and I thought it wouldnt be too young for me to read.
It turns out to be for nobody older than twelve in my opinion. its extremely babyish, just how all of jacquelines books seem to be nowdays. its about an unfortunatly ugly girl called Beauty who gets bullied blah blah blah... In other words, the same sort of sad, pathetic babyish character in most of her books. The storyline seems to be a mix of 'sleepovers' (because of the whole thing with wanting to be friends with your worst enemys best friend thing)'love lessons' ( the nasty dad, although this one is much worse) and every other book that has a low on self confidence annoying girl as the narrator, which is virtually every book she's written. Thats the thing with this book.Everything is far too recognisable from other books.As Ive already said, the 'narrator' of the story is a whining, babyish girl whos good at art, theres the mean dad, the kind mum, and theres the group of girls at school where one of thems nice and the rest are nasty.A lot of the things the characters say or the way they speak are exactly the same as other characters in other books.The characters need sayings of their own to set them apart from the rest but a lot of the things they say and they way they speak is exactly the same as characters in her other books, which makes them just like clones.Another thing thats wrong is that theres good description, but too much of it. I skipped parts of the book a lot because of its description that just seems to ramble on. Theres also a weired programme on TV that Beauty likes to watch. Its for 3 year olds but its Beauty fav. programme, even though shes about twelve. Its about a quite frankly, freaky man and his creepy pet rabbit. I also skipped about twenty pages of the book due to the saddo dialogue from this man.
If youre under twelve, I wouldnt buy it. rent it from a library or something. if youre over twelve and an experianced reader who has read a lot of jacqueline wilson, i wouldnt advise it.

Not her best., 16 Nov 2008
Yeah, I love Jaqueline Wilson, I've read all her books! She's a great author. But this, I have to say, was one of her worst books. It was just too childish, and uninteresting. If your an amature reader, with an average imagination then this book will be good for you, but for someone like me, an experienced reader, who likes a challenge to read, then this book might not be the best idea. It is very hard to get into, and far too basic. Also, something I found quite boring, Jaqueline Wilson is doing the kind of same book, for eg. Lola Rose, which is along the same lines, just a MUCH better book! I do recommend that one by the way. Just, 'Cookie' is a bit of a disappointment. :D Hope this helped

Boring doom and gloom, 14 Nov 2008
I found this book very boring as all it goes on about is bullying angry dad bullying angry dad and normal life with that lot in. It is sad in places and I don't recomend it as I think you will be waisting your money. Still read it though as you will never know until you have read it and this is my personal opinion. I recomend you to borrow it out of your local library and then buy it if you like it.

FAB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, 06 Nov 2008
Its a great book that i've given 5 stars. Fantastic and fun JW has done a nother fab book i look forward to what she will do next. I say you get it as soon as you can i know you'll enjoy this fab book. I do hope you enjoy this totaly fab book.

Northern Lights is the best book I've ever read, 10 Nov 2008
"Northern Lights" is a fantastic novel by Philip Pullman. It is the first book in a trilogy called "His Dark Materials". This book, is about a girl called Lyra, who lives in a universe like ours, but very different in lots of things. Lyra used to attend Oxford College until she finds out about "dust". When her friend Roger disappears, Lyra sets off to the North to find him with help of her "daemon" and an "alethiometer" given to her by the master of Oxford College. This book is one of those books in which someone cannot stop reading. It is perfectly written, exciting, and sometimes even scary. I not only recommend this book to children, but to every person that just needs something to be excited about.

wonderful, 09 Sep 2008
This trilogy is excellent. Took me a while to get into book one but once the story really got going I couldn't put it down. Lyra grows into a young adult throughout the trilogy and its wonderful to follow her through her trials and tribulations.

Armoured bears, witches, deamons, god, angels, heaven and hell-all and more are wonderfully thoguht up by Pullman and I recommend these to anyone.

Goes out with a whimper, 17 May 2008
Northern Lights is brilliant in almost every respect; fast-moving, well-written, imaginative. The Subtle Knife is almost as good, but begins to be diffuse. The Amber Spyglass is, frankly, rubbish. In order to understand what is going on here, you have to have read an obscure essay by a second-rank German author (Heinrich v. Kleist) that Pullman is always going on about. By a logic that defeats me, it concludes that a re-temptation of Eve will undo the disaster that came from the first temptation. Hence Lyra (she's the new Eve, we're told) goes all tingly when she's kissed (only kissed, mind you). This saves the world (don't ask me how). Pullman's cosmogony/theology is even wackier than the Christian version to which he's so hostile. Nor does The Amber Spyglass have a very tight plot -- is the realm of the dead another parallel universe, or what? The Father Gomez episode is totally gratuitous church-baiting, and should have been edited out (along with a few other repetitious bits). It is fairly obvious that Pullman had no idea how to end this trilogy, which accounts for the long delay in publication between parts 2 and 3. But the ending, when it comes, is possibly the most banal I have ever read. One might have thought that having opened the gates of hell, having quite literally witnessed the death of God (and incidentally having saved humankind with a kiss) Lyra and Will deserved some sort of apotheosis. But the ending is like the ending to a children's party: right now kiddies, pack up your things, time to go home.

Recommended, 16 Apr 2008
His Dark Materials is a fantastic series of books. Plenty has already been said in these reviews about the subject matter and writing brilliance. However many people have referred to these as "children's" books, which I slightly disagree with. Young children (8+) will enjoy these if they are read to them - although the subject and language is likely to require further explanation at this age. For sole readers an age of 12+ is more suitable; plus many, many adults (including myself) have enjoyed reading these too.

From my personal experience I didn't enjoy the second book in the series as much as either the first or third as I felt it wasn't as fast-paced and intricate. That said I do not mean that I `didn't enjoy it at all' just that I `preferred' the others.

Other reviews have mentioned that the religious/church bashing may offend, which is perhaps true for deeply/strictly religious folk. However for non-believers I think the books may have the opposite effect, i.e. it may open their minds to the possibility there may be more to life than what we see, in a kind of spiritual sense.

However, a word of warning. After reading this series I purchased Lyra's Oxford which was a big mistake. It adds nothing to this story and took no longer than 15 minutes to read. In fact it left me rather miffed with the author that my feel-good factor from reading the trilogy was then tainted by feeling I'd been ripped off with LO.

In short - the trilogy is a very good buy but give the subsequent books based on this same story a big miss.


His Dark Materials Boxed Set, 13 Mar 2008
What excellent books! i could not put them down. Phillip Pullman has a wonderful imagination and i would recommend this book to adults and older children as i feel children under ten year's maybe a little scared! Can't wait to read his next book.

Excellent finish, 16 Nov 2008
Everyone who has read the Harry Potter series knows how fun, interesting and addictive it is to read, so the seventh book is essential for those who have dabbled in the others. Possibly the most engaging book of them all, this last edition takes a different style into what would be Harry's final year at Hogwarts. The sixth book was said to be dark but it is in the seventh that great change happens. The plot deepends enormously as do the characters, who have grown up so much since their first days. J.K. Rowling is a gift to children and adults alike. Conclusion: essential reading if you have read the others, although really that goes without saying!

The series end left me speechless and depressed, 08 Nov 2008
I'd like to say that I was not one of the people who grew up with Harry Potter, it was around me but I never felt interested enough to have a read and even disliked the hype so much that I could have never imagined reading and absolutely loving it.
Eventually, at 22, I gave the first book a chance and read it in a day and I quite enjoyed it, needless to say the more books I read of the series, the more obsessed and involved did I feel and at the last book, The Deathly Hallows I could not imagine that this journey has come to an end.
I felt at points frustrated at the slow pace and not being able to see the light at the end of the tunnel but I think JK Rowling made it quite clear that a big part of this book is about frustration, patience and somewhat hopelessness.
When I then finished this book I was in tears, well I was in tears throughout the book but the end just hit me hard and I realised that there won't be any more books and what I've read can never be read again the same way. I felt depressed, not because it was a bad book, quite the opposite, it was such a good book and such a good series that I felt like I lost friends. As sad as this sounds, I feel that Rowling created a world so detailed, so close to my heart that the end of it felt like a funeral. I think she felt quite the same and of course even worse when she was writing the last chapters of this book and I cannot even imagine the pain she felt for saying goodbye to Harry and his friends.
I don't think any book has touched me the way these did, not because it is the smartest or funniest book I've read but because it feels so real that it is hard to imagine it isn't. For this, I thank JK Rowling, she enriched my life with this epic story and I hope, for generations to come, they feel the same way about it.


Amazing, 16 Oct 2008
The Deathly Hallows is the best book I have ever read, I honestly couldn't put it down. All the questions that were in the books are answered and the story gripped me from beginning to end. Although the ending is weak, this is JK Rowling's masterpiece. A must-have.

Great book, 16 Oct 2008
This is a great end to the harry potter saga, but thats not the reason for this review, i just wanted to ask if anyone knows the difference between the childrens edition and the adult edition? ill thank you in advance if you answer my question

I couldn't put it down, 12 Oct 2008
This thing, the deathly hallows, the beginning wasn't the best beginning, but... I could not stop reading it. I don't understand why people think the ending is disappointing. The Nineteen years later could be expanded into a book, maybe, but, if J.K doesn't then that's all we really need to know to end the Harry potter phenomenon. Hopefully she will deliver another H.P book, because I know, I know, it won't end here.

Loved it!, 20 Jul 2005
A collection of short stories by some of today's most popular authors... and a good cause thrown in for good measure. This collection is extremely varied, in terms of both writing styles and subject matter, so there's bound to be a few stories in there you'll absolutely love.

Buy this book - you won't regret it.

All you could ask for from a collection of short stories., 11 Jan 2005
I'll be honest, I only bought this book because I'm a J.K.Rowling fan and I have to have everything she's ever had published (even if it's only a foreward). I wasn't expecting too much from the actual stories themselves. But I was more than merely pleasantly suprised. The stories are wonderful. Each one is somehow very different from the others but they all share an element of 'sparkle' which makes the collection jell rather well. This 'sparkle' is not just magic, though there is some magic (of sorts) in some of the stories, but is rather a property of the characters. Though the stories are all about different people the main characters have, in their behaviour, something which makes them stand out, something which makes them just a little bit special. Perhaps it's this which makes the stories so enchanting; the fact that the characters are close to being average and normal, but have some small quality which anyone might possess, but which almost no-one actually does possess. I hope that makes some sense. If not, let me simply say that the stories are not only very original but are also very well written and very enjoyable to read. I highly recommend this collection of short stories.

"Magic Moments", 28 Jun 2002
Tilly has wild aspirations of becoming a famous opera diva.
Sandra dreams of creating the perfect bra to revolutionize womens' lives and what has become of Professor Martin Presley whose scientific discovery has the worst repercussions ever?

These are just some of the topics explored in "Magic", which is an interesting anthology produced for The National Council For One-Parent Families. It aims to raise money to support the millions of single parents, like myself, facing financial hardship in bringing up a child single-handedly.
Its forward is by J.K Rowling, Ambassador of this charity and herself a lone parent once caught in the poverty trap.

The stories are kindly donated by well-accomplished authors including Fay Weldon, Sue Townsend and John O' Farrell.
Oozing originality, its tales stretch the imagination and provide its reader with escapism in abundance whilst also supporting a worthwhile cause.
Hocus Pocus this is not. This is British Fiction at its finest.

"Magic Moments", 28 Jun 2002
Tilly has wild aspirations of becoming a famous opera diva.
Sandra dreams of creating the perfect bra to revolutionize womens' lives and what has become of Professor Martin Presley whose scientific discovery has the worst repercussions ever?

These are just some of the topics explored in "Magic", which is an interesting anthology produced for The National Council For One-Parent Families. It aims to raise money to support the millions of single parents, like myself, facing financial hardship in bringing up a child single-handedly.
Its forward is by J.K Rowling, Ambassador of this charity and herself a lone parent once caught in the poverty trap.

The stories are kindly donated by well-accomplished authors including Fay Weldon, Sue Townsend and John O' Farrell.
Oozing originality, its tales stretch the imagination and provide its reader with escapism in abundance whilst also supporting a worthwhile cause.
Hocus Pocus this is not. This is British Fiction at its finest.

Splendid book, filled with sparkling stories, 21 Jun 2002
I rarely read collections of short stories, but this one attracted me - it contans stories written by today's modern (mostly women) writers, and all of them tempted me to read other works by them.

Each story has magic as its theme - that is not to say the rabbit out of the hat magic, but more often the magic of an emotion or a feeling. My personal favourite is indeed the rabbit from a hat story by Meera Syal!

I can imagine that these stories will not appeal to everyone, but most of them will appeal to most women!

Read and enjoy.

Disappointing and disjointed, 27 Nov 2008
Jacqueline Wilson's stories deal with some very sensitive topics and they're fun to read, too, which is why I read 'Cookie' within a few days of its publication. As a teacher, I was hoping to use it as the basis for a classroom discussion with a group of Year 6s on some of the issues that the book brings up.

In the end I couldn't use it. The book seems to be aimed at much younger children, and the story doesn't fit together properly. When Beauty Cookson's mum realises that Beauty is being bullied over her appearance by her classmates, as well as by her vicious dad, she decides that she will teach Beauty how to bake cookies so that she can share them at school and subtly persuade the bullies to give her a new nickname - Cookie instead of Ugly. This just isn't realistic. Beauty's own method of comforting herself is even less so - she religiously watches a toddlers' programme about a man and his rabbit, and imagines them saying kind things to her. Her conversations with the television are represented as a real dialogue. When Beauty begins to panic about her looks, Sam says to her, "We think you look stunning in your dress and pinafore and special boots." When she complains to him about her name, he 'says' back, "I think Beauty's the most special name in all the world."

A child with low self-esteem just would not imagine those things, as one of the problems that come with low self-esteem is an inability to believe that anyone sees you in a positive light. The story takes a few more bizarre twists and turns - Beauty finally makes a friend, who vanishes halfway through the book and doesn't reappear; she and her mum run away to live in a little guest house by the beach, and the bullying dad is tidily sorted out of the picture; and Beauty's cookie-baking becomes famous so that she gets to go on TV with her hero Sam and his rabbit Lily.

None of it fits together. I read the novel in one sitting and felt very confused by the muddled plot and the unrealistic scenarios that kept cropping up. I can't recommend this one.

P.S. Have any other readers noticed how often Jacqueline Wilson employs the word 'special'? It seems to be her favourite adjective. This is only a minor thing, but it started to grate on me in 'Cookie'.

Not her best., 23 Nov 2008
Im a fifteen year old who's been reading Jacqueline Wilson since I was eight, and I think this is definitly one of Jacquelines worst books, along with Kiss. Reading the inside cover of the book, it sounded pretty good and I thought it wouldnt be too young for me to read.
It turns out to be for nobody older than twelve in my opinion. its extremely babyish, just how all of jacquelines books seem to be nowdays. its about an unfortunatly ugly girl called Beauty who gets bullied blah blah blah... In other words, the same sort of sad, pathetic babyish character in most of her books. The storyline seems to be a mix of 'sleepovers' (because of the whole thing with wanting to be friends with your worst enemys best friend thing)'love lessons' ( the nasty dad, although this one is much worse) and every other book that has a low on self confidence annoying girl as the narrator, which is virtually every book she's written. Thats the thing with this book.Everything is far too recognisable from other books.As Ive already said, the 'narrator' of the story is a whining, babyish girl whos good at art, theres the mean dad, the kind mum, and theres the group of girls at school where one of thems nice and the rest are nasty.A lot of the things the characters say or the way they speak are exactly the same as other characters in other books.The characters need sayings of their own to set them apart from the rest but a lot of the things they say and they way they speak is exactly the same as characters in her other books, which makes them just like clones.Another thing thats wrong is that theres good description, but too much of it. I skipped parts of the book a lot because of its description that just seems to ramble on. Theres also a weired programme on TV that Beauty likes to watch. Its for 3 year olds but its Beauty fav. programme, even though shes about twelve. Its about a quite frankly, freaky man and his creepy pet rabbit. I also skipped about twenty pages of the book due to the saddo dialogue from this man.
If youre under twelve, I wouldnt buy it. rent it from a library or something. if youre over twelve and an experianced reader who has read a lot of jacqueline wilson, i wouldnt advise it.

Not her best., 16 Nov 2008
Yeah, I love Jaqueline Wilson, I've read all her books! She's a great author. But this, I have to say, was one of her worst books. It was just too childish, and uninteresting. If your an amature reader, with an average imagination then this book will be good for you, but for someone like me, an experienced reader, who likes a challenge to read, then this book might not be the best idea. It is very hard to get into, and far too basic. Also, something I found quite boring, Jaqueline Wilson is doing the kind of same book, for eg. Lola Rose, which is along the same lines, just a MUCH better book! I do recommend that one by the way. Just, 'Cookie' is a bit of a disappointment. :D Hope this helped

Boring doom and gloom, 14 Nov 2008
I found this book very boring as all it goes on about is bullying angry dad bullying angry dad and normal life with that lot in. It is sad in places and I don't recomend it as I think you will be waisting your money. Still read it though as you will never know until you have read it and this is my personal opinion. I recomend you to borrow it out of your local library and then buy it if you like it.

FAB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, 06 Nov 2008
Its a great book that i've given 5 stars. Fantastic and fun JW has done a nother fab book i look forward to what she will do next. I say you get it as soon as you can i know you'll enjoy this fab book. I do hope you enjoy this totaly fab book.

Northern Lights is the best book I've ever read, 10 Nov 2008
"Northern Lights" is a fantastic novel by Philip Pullman. It is the first book in a trilogy called "His Dark Materials". This book, is about a girl called Lyra, who lives in a universe like ours, but very different in lots of things. Lyra used to attend Oxford College until she finds out about "dust". When her friend Roger disappears, Lyra sets off to the North to find him with help of her "daemon" and an "alethiometer" given to her by the master of Oxford College. This book is one of those books in which someone cannot stop reading. It is perfectly written, exciting, and sometimes even scary. I not only recommend this book to children, but to every person that just needs something to be excited about.

wonderful, 09 Sep 2008
This trilogy is excellent. Took me a while to get into book one but once the story really got going I couldn't put it down. Lyra grows into a young adult throughout the trilogy and its wonderful to follow her through her trials and tribulations.

Armoured bears, witches, deamons, god, angels, heaven and hell-all and more are wonderfully thoguht up by Pullman and I recommend these to anyone.

Goes out with a whimper, 17 May 2008
Northern Lights is brilliant in almost every respect; fast-moving, well-written, imaginative. The Subtle Knife is almost as good, but begins to be diffuse. The Amber Spyglass is, frankly, rubbish. In order to understand what is going on here, you have to have read an obscure essay by a second-rank German author (Heinrich v. Kleist) that Pullman is always going on about. By a logic that defeats me, it concludes that a re-temptation of Eve will undo the disaster that came from the first temptation. Hence Lyra (she's the new Eve, we're told) goes all tingly when she's kissed (only kissed, mind you). This saves the world (don't ask me how). Pullman's cosmogony/theology is even wackier than the Christian version to which he's so hostile. Nor does The Amber Spyglass have a very tight plot -- is the realm of the dead another parallel universe, or what? The Father Gomez episode is totally gratuitous church-baiting, and should have been edited out (along with a few other repetitious bits). It is fairly obvious that Pullman had no idea how to end this trilogy, which accounts for the long delay in publication between parts 2 and 3. But the ending, when it comes, is possibly the most banal I have ever read. One might have thought that having opened the gates of hell, having quite literally witnessed the death of God (and incidentally having saved humankind with a kiss) Lyra and Will deserved some sort of apotheosis. But the ending is like the ending to a children's party: right now kiddies, pack up your things, time to go home.

Recommended, 16 Apr 2008
His Dark Materials is a fantastic series of books. Plenty has already been said in these reviews about the subject matter and writing brilliance. However many people have referred to these as "children's" books, which I slightly disagree with. Young children (8+) will enjoy these if they are read to them - although the subject and language is likely to require further explanation at this age. For sole readers an age of 12+ is more suitable; plus many, many adults (including myself) have enjoyed reading these too.

From my personal experience I didn't enjoy the second book in the series as much as either the first or third as I felt it wasn't as fast-paced and intricate. That said I do not mean that I `didn't enjoy it at all' just that I `preferred' the others.

Other reviews have mentioned that the religious/church bashing may offend, which is perhaps true for deeply/strictly religious folk. However for non-believers I think the books may have the opposite effect, i.e. it may open their minds to the possibility there may be more to life than what we see, in a kind of spiritual sense.

However, a word of warning. After reading this series I purchased Lyra's Oxford which was a big mistake. It adds nothing to this story and took no longer than 15 minutes to read. In fact it left me rather miffed with the author that my feel-good factor from reading the trilogy was then tainted by feeling I'd been ripped off with LO.

In short - the trilogy is a very good buy but give the subsequent books based on this same story a big miss.


His Dark Materials Boxed Set, 13 Mar 2008
What excellent books! i could not put them down. Phillip Pullman has a wonderful imagination and i would recommend this book to adults and older children as i feel children under ten year's maybe a little scared! Can't wait to read his next book.

Excellent finish, 16 Nov 2008
Everyone who has read the Harry Potter series knows how fun, interesting and addictive it is to read, so the seventh book is essential for those who have dabbled in the others. Possibly the most engaging book of them all, this last edition takes a different style into what would be Harry's final year at Hogwarts. The sixth book was said to be dark but it is in the seventh that great change happens. The plot deepends enormously as do the characters, who have grown up so much since their first days. J.K. Rowling is a gift to children and adults alike. Conclusion: essential reading if you have read the others, although really that goes without saying!

The series end left me speechless and depressed, 08 Nov 2008
I'd like to say that I was not one of the people who grew up with Harry Potter, it was around me but I never felt interested enough to have a read and even disliked the hype so much that I could have never imagined reading and absolutely loving it.
Eventually, at 22, I gave the first book a chance and read it in a day and I quite enjoyed it, needless to say the more books I read of the series, the more obsessed and involved did I feel and at the last book, The Deathly Hallows I could not imagine that this journey has come to an end.
I felt at points frustrated at the slow pace and not being able to see the light at the end of the tunnel but I think JK Rowling made it quite clear that a big part of this book is about frustration, patience and somewhat hopelessness.
When I then finished this book I was in tears, well I was in tears throughout the book but the end just hit me hard and I realised that there won't be any more books and what I've read can never be read again the same way. I felt depressed, not because it was a bad book, quite the opposite, it was such a good book and such a good series that I felt like I lost friends. As sad as this sounds, I feel that Rowling created a world so detailed, so close to my heart that the end of it felt like a funeral. I think she felt quite the same and of course even worse when she was writing the last chapters of this book and I cannot even imagine the pain she felt for saying goodbye to Harry and his friends.
I don't think any book has touched me the way these did, not because it is the smartest or funniest book I've read but because it feels so real that it is hard to imagine it isn't. For this, I thank JK Rowling, she enriched my life with this epic story and I hope, for generations to come, they feel the same way about it.


Amazing, 16 Oct 2008
The Deathly Hallows is the best book I have ever read, I honestly couldn't put it down. All the questions that were in the books are answered and the story gripped me from beginning to end. Although the ending is weak, this is JK Rowling's masterpiece. A must-have.

Great book, 16 Oct 2008
This is a great end to the harry potter saga, but thats not the reason for this review, i just wanted to ask if anyone knows the difference between the childrens edition and the adult edition? ill thank you in advance if you answer my question

I couldn't put it down, 12 Oct 2008
This thing, the deathly hallows, the beginning wasn't the best beginning, but... I could not stop reading it. I don't understand why people think the ending is disappointing. The Nineteen years later could be expanded into a book, maybe, but, if J.K doesn't then that's all we really need to know to end the Harry potter phenomenon. Hopefully she will deliver another H.P book, because I know, I know, it won't end here.

Loved it!, 20 Jul 2005
A collection of short stories by some of today's most popular authors... and a good cause thrown in for good measure. This collection is extremely varied, in terms of both writing styles and subject matter, so there's bound to be a few stories in there you'll absolutely love.

Buy this book - you won't regret it.

All you could ask for from a collection of short stories., 11 Jan 2005
I'll be honest, I only bought this book because I'm a J.K.Rowling fan and I have to have everything she's ever had published (even if it's only a foreward). I wasn't expecting too much from the actual stories themselves. But I was more than merely pleasantly suprised. The stories are wonderful. Each one is somehow very different from the others but they all share an element of 'sparkle' which makes the collection jell rather well. This 'sparkle' is not just magic, though there is some magic (of sorts) in some of the stories, but is rather a property of the characters. Though the stories are all about different people the main characters have, in their behaviour, something which makes them stand out, something which makes them just a little bit special. Perhaps it's this which makes the stories so enchanting; the fact that the characters are close to being average and normal, but have some small quality which anyone might possess, but which almost no-one actually does possess. I hope that makes some sense. If not, let me simply say that the stories are not only very original but are also very well written and very enjoyable to read. I highly recommend this collection of short stories.

"Magic Moments", 28 Jun 2002
Tilly has wild aspirations of becoming a famous opera diva.
Sandra dreams of creating the perfect bra to revolutionize womens' lives and what has become of Professor Martin Presley whose scientific discovery has the worst repercussions ever?

These are just some of the topics explored in "Magic", which is an interesting anthology produced for The National Council For One-Parent Families. It aims to raise money to support the millions of single parents, like myself, facing financial hardship in bringing up a child single-handedly.
Its forward is by J.K Rowling, Ambassador of this charity and herself a lone parent once caught in the poverty trap.

The stories are kindly donated by well-accomplished authors including Fay Weldon, Sue Townsend and John O' Farrell.
Oozing originality, its tales stretch the imagination and provide its reader with escapism in abundance whilst also supporting a worthwhile cause.
Hocus Pocus this is not. This is British Fiction at its finest.

"Magic Moments", 28 Jun 2002
Tilly has wild aspirations of becoming a famous opera diva.
Sandra dreams of creating the perfect bra to revolutionize womens' lives and what has become of Professor Martin Presley whose scientific discovery has the worst repercussions ever?

These are just some of the topics explored in "Magic", which is an interesting anthology produced for The National Council For One-Parent Families. It aims to raise money to support the millions of single parents, like myself, facing financial hardship in bringing up a child single-handedly.
Its forward is by J.K Rowling, Ambassador of this charity and herself a lone parent once caught in the poverty trap.

The stories are kindly donated by well-accomplished authors including Fay Weldon, Sue Townsend and John O' Farrell.
Oozing originality, its tales stretch the imagination and provide its reader with escapism in abundance whilst also supporting a worthwhile cause.
Hocus Pocus this is not. This is British Fiction at its finest.

Splendid book, filled with sparkling stories, 21 Jun 2002
I rarely read collections of short stories, but this one attracted me - it contans stories written by today's modern (mostly women) writers, and all of them tempted me to read other works by them.

Each story has magic as its theme - that is not to say the rabbit out of the hat magic, but more often the magic of an emotion or a feeling. My personal favourite is indeed the rabbit from a hat story by Meera Syal!

I can imagine that these stories will not appeal to everyone, but most of them will appeal to most women!

Read and enjoy.

written by a girl, 03 Nov 2008
I think that My Sister Jodie is a brilliant book. I am shocked that people think otherwise but i suppose everyone has their own opinion. It is about two sisters one shy and one outrageous. Them and their family move to the an old fashioned, gothic boarding school. The parents work their as a cook and a caretaker. The ending is dramatic,brilliant but it is also quite sad (you have been warned) but you are comforted, make sure you have a tissue. When i read this book i could not put it down it took me 2 days to read it. I would recommend this book to girls aged 10 and over. I would not recommend it to boys because it is about two sisters.

I am a girl but my dads name is at the top. :)

Great book, 20 Oct 2008
I absoulutley loved this book!
Pearl is quiet and relies on Jodie her older sister who is bad, boysterus and gets into LOTS of trouble. Their mum and Dad get new jobs at a posh boarding school far away. Jodie has always been the bold one but Pearl is the one that is making progress at school and making lots of new friends. Pearl doesn't rely on Jodie as much as she used to. But Jodie seems to be getting into more and more trouble wither every day.........
This was the best book I have ever read By Jaqueline Wilson or maybe even the best book i have ever read! It was the perfect book for me! x

fabulous.review by Taya, 03 Oct 2008
A great story about two sisters who have to leave the comfort of home.I enjoyed this great book because Pearl and sister Jodie have some great adventures with a frind called Hartly. But most different ending. Read now.

Amazing!!!!, 01 Sep 2008
I got hooked on this book and would not stop reading it. though the ending is sad i think it is amazingly well written.
I recomnd this to any one OVER the age 10 as im not sure it is sutible.
BUY THIS BOOK!!!!!!
Oh! I forgot I dont recomend this for boys....
(I am a girl but my fathers name is at the top)

bad attitude, 27 Aug 2008
bad book don't read it bought it for my daughter told me their was swearing, abusive parents,parents getting divorce, 16 year olds getting pregnant very depressing, mums covered with tattoo i band my child from atching tacy beaker in double act 10 year olds going to birmingham without permission, kids bunking of school running away and stealing dont read them ther'e very bad

Say you've spent the first 10 years of your life sleeping under the stairs of a family who loathes you. Then, in an absurd, magical twist of fate you find yourself surrounded by wizards, a caged snowy owl, a phoenix-feather wand and jellybeans that come in every flavour, including strawberry, curry, grass and sardine. Not only that, but you discover that you are a wizard yourself! This is exactly what happens to young Harry Potter in J K Rowling's enchanting, funny debut novel, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. In the non-magical human world--the world of "Muggles"--Harry is a nobody, treated like dirt by the aunt and uncle who begrudgingly inherited him when his parents were killed by the evil Voldemort. But in the world of wizards, small, skinny Harry is renowned as a survivor of the wizard who tried to kill him. He is left only with a lightning-bolt scar on his forehead, curiously refined sensibilities and a host of mysterious powers to remind him that he's quite, yes, altogether different from his aunt, uncle, and spoilt, pig-like cousin Dudley.

A mysterious letter, delivered by the friendly giant Hagrid, wrenches Harry from his dreary, Muggle-ridden existence: "We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry". Of course, Uncle Vernon yells most unpleasantly, "I AM NOT PAYING FOR SOME CRACKPOT OLD FOOL TO TEACH HIM MAGIC TRICKS!" Soon enough, however, Harry finds himself at Hogwarts with his owl Hedwig ... and that's where the real adventure--humorous, haunting, and suspenseful--begins.

This magical, gripping, brilliant book--a future classic to be sure--will leave children clamouring for a sequel. (Ages 8-13) --Karin SnelsonSay you've spent the first 10 years of your life sleeping under the stairs of a family who loathes you. Then, in an absurd, magical twist of fate you find yourself surrounded by wizards, a caged snowy owl, a phoenix-feather wand and jellybeans that come in every flavour, including strawberry, curry, grass and sardine. Not only that, but you discover that you are a wizard yourself! This is exactly what happens to young Harry Potter in J K Rowling's enchanting, funny debut novel, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. In the non-magical human world--the world of "Muggles"--Harry is a nobody, treated like dirt by the aunt and uncle who begrudgingly inherited him when his parents were killed by the evil Voldemort. But in the world of wizards, small, skinny Harry is renowned as a survivor of the wizard who tried to kill him. He is left only with a lightning-bolt scar on his forehead, curiously refined sensibilities and a host of mysterious powers to remind him that he's quite, yes, altogether different from his aunt, uncle, and spoilt, pig-like cousin Dudley.

A mysterious letter, delivered by the friendly giant Hagrid, wrenches Harry from his dreary, Muggle-ridden existence: "We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry". Of course, Uncle Vernon yells most unpleasantly, "I AM NOT PAYING FOR SOME CRACKPOT OLD FOOL TO TEACH HIM MAGIC TRICKS!" Soon enough, however, Harry finds himself at Hogwarts with his owl Hedwig ... and that's where the real adventure--humorous, haunting, and suspenseful--begins.

This magical, gripping, brilliant book--a future classic to be sure--will leave children clamouring for a sequel. (Ages 8-13) --Karin Snelson

Disappointing and disjointed, 27 Nov 2008
Jacqueline Wilson's stories deal with some very sensitive topics and they're fun to read, too, which is why I read 'Cookie' within a few days of its publication. As a teacher, I was hoping to use it as the basis for a classroom discussion with a group of Year 6s on some of the issues that the book brings up.

In the end I couldn't use it. The book seems to be aimed at much younger children, and the story doesn't fit together properly. When Beauty Cookson's mum realises that Beauty is being bullied over her appearance by her classmates, as well as by her vicious dad, she decides that she will teach Beauty how to bake cookies so that she can share them at school and subtly persuade the bullies to give her a new nickname - Cookie instead of Ugly. This just isn't realistic. Beauty's own method of comforting herself is even less so - she religiously watches a toddlers' programme about a man and his rabbit, and imagines them saying kind things to her. Her conversations with the television are represented as a real dialogue. When Beauty begins to panic about her looks, Sam says to her, "We think you look stunning in your dress and pinafore and special boots." When she complains to him about her name, he 'says' back, "I think Beauty's the most special name in all the world."

A child with low self-esteem just would not imagine those things, as one of the problems that come with low self-esteem is an inability to believe that anyone sees you in a positive light. The story takes a few more bizarre twists and turns - Beauty finally makes a friend, who vanishes halfway through the book and doesn't reappear; she and her mum run away to live in a little guest house by the beach, and the bullying dad is tidily sorted out of the picture; and Beauty's cookie-baking becomes famous so that she gets to go on TV with her hero Sam and his rabbit Lily.

None of it fits together. I read the novel in one sitting and felt very confused by the muddled plot and the unrealistic scenarios that kept cropping up. I can't recommend this one.

P.S. Have any other readers noticed how often Jacqueline Wilson employs the word 'special'? It seems to be her favourite adjective. This is only a minor thing, but it started to grate on me in 'Cookie'.

Not her best., 23 Nov 2008
Im a fifteen year old who's been reading Jacqueline Wilson since I was eight, and I think this is definitly one of Jacquelines worst books, along with Kiss. Reading the inside cover of the book, it sounded pretty good and I thought it wouldnt be too young for me to read.
It turns out to be for nobody older than twelve in my opinion. its extremely babyish, just how all of jacquelines books seem to be nowdays. its about an unfortunatly ugly girl called Beauty who gets bullied blah blah blah... In other words, the same sort of sad, pathetic babyish character in most of her books. The storyline seems to be a mix of 'sleepovers' (because of the whole thing with wanting to be friends with your worst enemys best friend thing)'love lessons' ( the nasty dad, although this one is much worse) and every other book that has a low on self confidence annoying girl as the narrator, which is virtually every book she's written. Thats the thing with this book.Everything is far too recognisable from other books.As Ive already said, the 'narrator' of the story is a whining, babyish girl whos good at art, theres the mean dad, the kind mum, and theres the group of girls at school where one of thems nice and the rest are nasty.A lot of the things the characters say or the way they speak are exactly the same as other characters in other books.The characters need sayings of their own to set them apart from the rest but a lot of the things they say and they way they speak is exactly the same as characters in her other books, which makes them just like clones.Another thing thats wrong is that theres good description, but too much of it. I skipped parts of the book a lot because of its description that just seems to ramble on. Theres also a weired programme on TV that Beauty likes to watch. Its for 3 year olds but its Beauty fav. programme, even though shes about twelve. Its about a quite frankly, freaky man and his creepy pet rabbit. I also skipped about twenty pages of the book due to the saddo dialogue from this man.
If youre under twelve, I wouldnt buy it. rent it from a library or something. if youre over twelve and an experianced reader who has read a lot of jacqueline wilson, i wouldnt advise it.

Not her best., 16 Nov 2008
Yeah, I love Jaqueline Wilson, I've read all her books! She's a great author. But this, I have to say, was one of her worst books. It was just too childish, and uninteresting. If your an amature reader, with an average imagination then this book will be good for you, but for someone like me, an experienced reader, who likes a challenge to read, then this book might not be the best idea. It is very hard to get into, and far too basic. Also, something I found quite boring, Jaqueline Wilson is doing the kind of same book, for eg. Lola Rose, which is along the same lines, just a MUCH better book! I do recommend that one by the way. Just, 'Cookie' is a bit of a disappointment. :D Hope this helped

Boring doom and gloom, 14 Nov 2008
I found this book very boring as all it goes on about is bullying angry dad bullying angry dad and normal life with that lot in. It is sad in places and I don't recomend it as I think you will be waisting your money. Still read it though as you will never know until you have read it and this is my personal opinion. I recomend you to borrow it out of your local library and then buy it if you like it.

FAB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, 06 Nov 2008
Its a great book that i've given 5 stars. Fantastic and fun JW has done a nother fab book i look forward to what she will do next. I say you get it as soon as you can i know you'll enjoy this fab book. I do hope you enjoy this totaly fab book.

Northern Lights is the best book I've ever read, 10 Nov 2008
"Northern Lights" is a fantastic novel by Philip Pullman. It is the first book in a trilogy called "His Dark Materials". This book, is about a girl called Lyra, who lives in a universe like ours, but very different in lots of things. Lyra used to attend Oxford College until she finds out about "dust". When her friend Roger disappears, Lyra sets off to the North to find him with help of her "daemon" and an "alethiometer" given to her by the master of Oxford College. This book is one of those books in which someone cannot stop reading. It is perfectly written, exciting, and sometimes even scary. I not only recommend this book to children, but to every person that just needs something to be excited about.

wonderful, 09 Sep 2008
This trilogy is excellent. Took me a while to get into book one but once the story really got going I couldn't put it down. Lyra grows into a young adult throughout the trilogy and its wonderful to follow her through her trials and tribulations.

Armoured bears, witches, deamons, god, angels, heaven and hell-all and more are wonderfully thoguht up by Pullman and I recommend these to anyone.

Goes out with a whimper, 17 May 2008
Northern Lights is brilliant in almost every respect; fast-moving, well-written, imaginative. The Subtle Knife is almost as good, but begins to be diffuse. The Amber Spyglass is, frankly, rubbish. In order to understand what is going on here, you have to have read an obscure essay by a second-rank German author (Heinrich v. Kleist) that Pullman is always going on about. By a logic that defeats me, it concludes that a re-temptation of Eve will undo the disaster that came from the first temptation. Hence Lyra (she's the new Eve, we're told) goes all tingly when she's kissed (only kissed, mind you). This saves the world (don't ask me how). Pullman's cosmogony/theology is even wackier than the Christian version to which he's so hostile. Nor does The Amber Spyglass have a very tight plot -- is the realm of the dead another parallel universe, or what? The Father Gomez episode is totally gratuitous church-baiting, and should have been edited out (along with a few other repetitious bits). It is fairly obvious that Pullman had no idea how to end this trilogy, which accounts for the long delay in publication between parts 2 and 3. But the ending, when it comes, is possibly the most banal I have ever read. One might have thought that having opened the gates of hell, having quite literally witnessed the death of God (and incidentally having saved humankind with a kiss) Lyra and Will deserved some sort of apotheosis. But the ending is like the ending to a children's party: right now kiddies, pack up your things, time to go home.

Recommended, 16 Apr 2008
His Dark Materials is a fantastic series of books. Plenty has already been said in these reviews about the subject matter and writing brilliance. However many people have referred to these as "children's" books, which I slightly disagree with. Young children (8+) will enjoy these if they are read to them - although the subject and language is likely to require further explanation at this age. For sole readers an age of 12+ is more suitable; plus many, many adults (including myself) have enjoyed reading these too.

From my personal experience I didn't enjoy the second book in the series as much as either the first or third as I felt it wasn't as fast-paced and intricate. That said I do not mean that I `didn't enjoy it at all' just that I `preferred' the others.

Other reviews have mentioned that the religious/church bashing may offend, which is perhaps true for deeply/strictly religious folk. However for non-believers I think the books may have the opposite effect, i.e. it may open their minds to the possibility there may be more to life than what we see, in a k