Northern Lights

The first book of His Dark Materials, set in a parallel universe where human souls live outside their bodies as animal daemons. Lyra Belacqua journeys to the Arctic in search of her kidnapped friend Roger and her uncle Lord Asriel, who is experimenting with a mysterious substance called Dust. Armed with an alethiometer, a truth-telling instrument, she encounters armoured bears and witches and uncovers a dangerous conspiracy involving the powerful Magisterium.