The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman

I read this book in ninth grade and even did a whole book report on it. I decided to read it all over again because I saw the previews for the movie coming out this month. By the way, I suggest you read the book after you see the movie. The book begins with Lyra and her daemon living at Jordan college. There they meet her uncle Arsiel and discover he is traveling north where witch clans and armored bears rule, to do research on Dust. Lyra's best friend, Roger, is kidnapped by the Gobblers along with several other children. Lyra is determined to rescue him and goes away with a lady named Mrs. Coulter in hopes of traveling north and saving Roger. Before Lyra left the college a professor gave her the golden compass and made her promise to never let anyone know she is in possession of it. The compass has the power to tell the truth and give you the answer to any question you ask it. Once Lyra is in the home of Mrs. Coulter she discovers that Mrs. Coulter is behind all the kidnappings of children and runs away. Lyra joins a family of gyptians and forms a plan to go north, hire an armored bear for protection, save the children and once in for all discover what Dust is. The two sequels to this book are: The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spy Glass.