We are introduced to Lyra Belacqua in the first volume of Philip Pullman’s trilogy His Dark Marerials.  She’s an 11-year-old orphan, wise beyond her years, alive like few others.

Even AI enjoys Lyra:

Lyra fights against oppressive religious structures, masters the truth-telling alethiometer, and undergoes a profound journey into adulthood.

Who leads on this planet?  Those who are brave, whose eyes are wide open to the mystery, and whose mouth speaks the truth.

I don’t care how old you are, what you look like, where you’re from.  I’ll be by your side if you’re kind, if you have empathy, if you stand up when others stay seated, if you go towards rather than backing away.

Philip Pullman says some amazing things in his writing.  Here are a bunch of them.  (And I realize you have no context for these quotes and descriptions)

What Lyra says:

“Iorek!” she said in a fierce undertone.  “Listen!  You owe me a debt, right?  Well now you can repay it.  Do as I ask.  Don’t fight these men.  Just turn around and walk away with me.  We want you, Iorek, you can’t stay here.  Just come down the harbour with me and don’t even look back.”

…

“I want to come North,” Lyra said so they could all hear it.  “I want to come and help rescue the kids.“

“We will go,” she said to Pantalaimon.  “Let ’em try to stop us.  We will !”

…

When I get out, I’m going to tell all the kids in the world about this.

You oughter go and see him.  He still loves you, I know he does.

Come on, I’ll make a new bandage, I’ll put some coffee on to cook, I’ll make some omelette, whatever you want, and we’ll sleep …  We’ll be safe now we’ve got the alethiometer back, you’ll see.  I’ll do nothing now except help you find your father, I promise …

***

What people say to Lyra:

The stars are alive, child.  Did you know that?  Everything out there is alive, and there are grand purposes abroad!  The universe is full of intentions, you know.  Everything happens for a purpose.  Your purpose is to remind me of that.

…

She took off her crown, and plucked from it one of the little scarlet flowers that, while she wore them, remained as fresh as if they had just been picked.

“Take this with you,” she said, “and whenever you need my help, hold it in your hand and call to me.  I shall hear you, wherever you are.”

…

Where do you come from?  What are you?  How do you know things like this?

***

What people say about Lyra:

Shame on you!  Think what this child has done!  You might not have more courage, but you should be ashamed to show less.

…

“This little girl’s pretty important, huh?” he said after several minutes.

“More than she will know,” Serafina Pekkala replied.

…

This is no ordinary child.

“We’re looking for a child,” said Serafina.  “A young girl from our world.  Her name is Lyra Belacqua, called Lyra Silvertongue.  But where she might be, in a whole world, we can’t guess.  You haven’t seen a strange child, on her own?”

***

How Lyra breaks open the world:

It was the most dangerous thing she had ever said.  She could see quite clearly that only his astonishment prevented him from killing her on the spot.

She stood still, this tall bony gawky girl in her white nightgown and her bare feet, her face so unguarded it was almost naked, a face where intelligence and honesty and shyness and courage and hope all blended into an expression that touched Lee’s heart so strongly he all but fell in love with her there and then.

The witches have talked about this child for centuries past.  Because they live so close to the place where the veil between the worlds is thin, they hear immortal whispers from time to time, in the voices of those beings who pass between the worlds.  And they have spoken of a child such as this, who has a great destiny that can only be fulfilled elsewhere – not in this world but far beyond.  Without this child, we shall all die.

***

Lyra lives in this world