The Name of the Star , by Maureen Johnson

Paperback, 370 pages

Published September 29th 2011 by HarperCollins (first published September 1st 2011)

more details...

ISBN

0007398638 (ISBN13: 9780007398638)

edition language

English

original title

The Name of the Star

series

Shades of London #1

characters

Rory Deveaux

literary awards

Edgar Award Nominee for Best Young Adult (2012) 

 

The day Louisiana teenager Rory Deveaux arrives in London marks a memorable occasion. For Rory, it's the start of a new life at a London boarding school. But for many, this will be remembered as the day a series of brutal murders broke out across the city, gruesome crimes mimicking the horrific Jack the Ripper events of more than a century ago.

Soon “Rippermania” takes hold of modern-day London, and the police are left with few leads and no witnesses. Except one. Rory spotted the man police believe to be the prime suspect. But she is the only one who saw him. Even her roommate, who was walking with her at the time, didn't notice the mysterious man. So why can only Rory see him? And more urgently, why has Rory become his next target? In this edge-of-your-seat thriller, full of suspense, humor, and romance, Rory will learn the truth about the secret ghost police of London and discover her own shocking abilities.

 

 

My Review
I absolutely loved this book. There was just so much about this novel that you couldn't help but fall in love with it. The fact that it was based on a very old story meant that you found yourself becoming more interested in it. It also led me wanting to read the actual story of jack the ripper, because it is not exactly something that we are taught in school. I love the way the characters were represented here within the book and I have to admit that I never ever expected Alister to be a ghost. Just seemed like he was your ordinary library lover who wanted to spend time alone. Just goes to show though that there are books out there that you can not and will not be able to predict. I felt that the author had clearly down a lot of research in order to make the book as realistic as possible. She had oput a lot of creativity and imagination into her pages, so much so that I found myself transporting into the world that she provided. Of course there was yopur normal young adult romance in there, but it didn't ownt he book, it was not the main focus and this was something that I very much respected because this can be the very thing that will often ruin a book.

I do feel that there were things missed within the book that could have been elaborated on more, like the other characters for example, but seen as there is to be a second book in the series, I know that a lot more doors of mystery will be opened up to us. The thing that I was most surprised by was the fact that the cover and the name of the book does not give away what it is ggoing to be about. I know that it was a fantasy based book but I was not expecting something as original and unique as that. it was actually a very refreshing read after the last book that I had read. Its one of those novels that makes your hope and love for young adult books come alive, because it shows that not all authors stick to the cliches of the novel world. If I had to pick a favorite character from this, then it would probably be a battle between Jazz and Boo because there was a lot there that I could relate to myself. the need to have a very fancy room with a lot of homewarte products to make you feel safe. But also boos fun and free personality that means she lives and enjoys life, even when it knocks her down.

I did enjoy the spooky element that it had because it seemed to emphasize the overal mysterious tone that it had, which just drew me into the book further and further. It was a well thought out novel that has a lot to offer to its readers and I would certainly recommend this to everyone who has not read it yet!

My rating