A fantastic fairy tale from the Master Story-teller, Philip Pullman.

Winner of Smarties Book Prize Silver Award 1997. Shortlisted for Carnegie Medal 1997 and Smarties Book Prize 9-11 Category 1997 and LA Carnegie Medal 1997.

"A thrilling masterwork on stories that become real" -- Amanda Craig The Times "It has the feel of a classic fairy tale. It's the most elegantly constructed, chilling story that makes the hair stand up on the back of your neck" Jacqueline Wilson "Deeply satisfying and deserves to become a classic" TES "Exciting, scary, romantic and deliciously readable" Guardian "It is Pullman's talent for creating an atmospheric mood and tugging at your emotions to add pace and suspense that really keeps you entranced" Junior

Philip Pullman is one of the most highly acclaimed children's authors of the decade. He has been on the shortlist of just about every major children's book award in the last few years, and has won the Smarties Prize (Gold Award, 9-11 age category) for THE FIREWORK-MAKER'S DAUGHTER and the prestigious Carnegie Medal for NORTHERN LIGHTS. He was the first children's author ever to win the Whitbread Prize for his novel THE AMBER SPYGLASS.