Status
Available
Call number
Series
Publication
HarperCollinsChildren'sBooks (2011), Kindle Edition, 352 pages
Description
Rory, of Boueuxlieu, Louisiana, is spending a year at a London boarding school when she witnesses a murder by a Jack the Ripper copycat and becomes involved with the very unusual investigation.
User reviews
LibraryThing member callmecayce
I started out listening to this book, but the American accent of the reader was really distracting and I just didn't feel like finishing listening to it. I ended up reading it and loving the book a whole lot more than I did the audio. I am excited for this series and I can't wait to read more about
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Rory and her friends -- and the new world she's discovered. I think this was also one of her best books. Her characters are their relationships seemed less rushed and more fleshed out than in previous books. I can't wait for the rest of this series. Show Less
LibraryThing member wiremonkey
When I picked this book up, I thought I was indulging in my particular affection for a yarn set in the nitty gritty Victorian London. Jack the Ripper, Boarding Schools, a young, vulnerable heroine that is stronger than she looks. Perfect for this dozy winter days.
Imagine my surprise when the first
Right. And it is also set in Modern Day London. Rory Deveaux, a teenager from Louisiana is going to spend a year in London at a boarding school while her parents take a sabbatical to teach in Bristol. The day she arrives happens to coincide with the first murder in what is beginning to look like a copycat Jack the Ripper case and her new school happens to be right smack dab in the middle of Jack's old killing ground. The murders continue on the same exact dates of the original Jack the Ripper killings and, despite the quantity of surveillance cameras and footage of the murders, the police still cannot identify the murderer. It is only when Rory has a near death experience that she understands why.
After a bit of a mental adjustment, I could not put this book down. Rory is a funny, smart teen who mostly closely resembles your average, run -of-the-mill teenage girl that I have had the pleasure to read in a while. She's not Hermione smart though she's not stupid. She's not overly gorgeous though she's pretty. Her friendship with her new room mate and her boy crush all feel right.
But where Johnson really shines is in creep factor. All is well , Rory is adjusting to her life in an English prep school, she makes friends, gets intimidated by her classes and likes a boy. Lalalalalala, everything is good. But in the background are these grizzly murders. Until the next corpse is found in the middle of the school courtyard, murdered only minutes after she crossed it. Oh, and she's seeing people that nobody else is seeing. Creepy guys that appear out of nowhere. And then the book just ramps up the pace until I was left breathless, and I'll admit it, really really wanting a night light.
Quibble time: I did notice a few places where I was conscious of an info dump through dialogue. Now, this is a very hard thing to avoid when you are a writer, especially if your novel has an element that isn't part of people's everyday experience (in this case a supernatural element- and no- not vampires). You need to convey certain things to the reader without them feeling like you are trying to shove a whole bunch of info up their nostrils. There were certain bits in this novel where my nostrils were feeling quite packed.
Still, this did not diminish my need to find out what happens at all costs. Work shmork. Kids shmids. Who needs them when you are in the grip of a good Jacke the ripper mystery ghost story?
Imagine my surprise when the first
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scene takes place in an airplane. Wait. That can't be right- this book is about Jack the Ripper, right?Right. And it is also set in Modern Day London. Rory Deveaux, a teenager from Louisiana is going to spend a year in London at a boarding school while her parents take a sabbatical to teach in Bristol. The day she arrives happens to coincide with the first murder in what is beginning to look like a copycat Jack the Ripper case and her new school happens to be right smack dab in the middle of Jack's old killing ground. The murders continue on the same exact dates of the original Jack the Ripper killings and, despite the quantity of surveillance cameras and footage of the murders, the police still cannot identify the murderer. It is only when Rory has a near death experience that she understands why.
After a bit of a mental adjustment, I could not put this book down. Rory is a funny, smart teen who mostly closely resembles your average, run -of-the-mill teenage girl that I have had the pleasure to read in a while. She's not Hermione smart though she's not stupid. She's not overly gorgeous though she's pretty. Her friendship with her new room mate and her boy crush all feel right.
But where Johnson really shines is in creep factor. All is well , Rory is adjusting to her life in an English prep school, she makes friends, gets intimidated by her classes and likes a boy. Lalalalalala, everything is good. But in the background are these grizzly murders. Until the next corpse is found in the middle of the school courtyard, murdered only minutes after she crossed it. Oh, and she's seeing people that nobody else is seeing. Creepy guys that appear out of nowhere. And then the book just ramps up the pace until I was left breathless, and I'll admit it, really really wanting a night light.
Quibble time: I did notice a few places where I was conscious of an info dump through dialogue. Now, this is a very hard thing to avoid when you are a writer, especially if your novel has an element that isn't part of people's everyday experience (in this case a supernatural element- and no- not vampires). You need to convey certain things to the reader without them feeling like you are trying to shove a whole bunch of info up their nostrils. There were certain bits in this novel where my nostrils were feeling quite packed.
Still, this did not diminish my need to find out what happens at all costs. Work shmork. Kids shmids. Who needs them when you are in the grip of a good Jacke the ripper mystery ghost story?
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LibraryThing member Tatiana_G
"The Name of the Star" is a novel with a great premise but bogged down by a surprisingly mediocre writing.
American teen Aurora (Rory) Deveaux is spending her senior year in London. Her parents work in nearby Bristol and Rory is all set to live and study at a boarding school. On the day of her
Jack the Ripper's case is a truly fascinating and gruesome one. Johnson does a respectable job incorporating the details of the crimes in her story without shying away from the gore - cut-off noses, bowels and heads - it is all here!
What is not so great is Johnson's writing. "The Name of the Star" is the author's 9th book (I think), but it often read like a debut. It is full of mistakes that an experienced writer should not be making any more.
Boring, vanilla characters (all of them, except the villain, are like that BTW) and far too long and indulgent HP-fanfic-like boarding school minutiae aside, I think every YA author should know by now that creating a mean girl as a heroine's arch-nemesis is overdone. In this book I could never figure out why this certain girl (head girl - I am sure you remember those from Harry Potter series) was hated so much. She never does anything bad, except she is quite determined to be accepted into Oxford and is very proactive and school-oriented. What is wrong with that? Can we stop bashing overachievers already?
Then there are absent parents. Murders are happening all around the boarding school (one in its yard!), but the main character's supposedly caring parents don't bat an eye and do not bother to withdraw Rory from school.
Or when Rory reports to the police about possibly seeing the murderer, they let her out without asking her not disclose this information to anyone and she goes out and right away blabs it out to the media.
And my main pet peeve is that the villain, if you think of it, does not really have a reason to murder all these people.
All these things in themselves are not bad enough to make the reading experience unbearable or reprehensible. But why weren't these laps in logic corrected? Or am I nitpicking? Maybe I should just stop reading kids' books?
On the bright side, although "The Name of the Star" is the first book in a trilogy, I have to compliment the author on the ending. Although the last page is slightly cliff-hangery, the book can easily be read as a stand-alone. The case is closed, the characters are in a good place. It is what you'd call a respectful cliff-hanger. I will not be coming back for more of Maureen Johnson's books, so it was nice to have a closure.
American teen Aurora (Rory) Deveaux is spending her senior year in London. Her parents work in nearby Bristol and Rory is all set to live and study at a boarding school. On the day of her
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arrival to London she learns that there is a brutal murderer on the loose. This murderer appears to be mimicking Jack the Ripper - his first victim was sliced and diced in exactly the same manner as the Ripper's in 1888. More murders happen in the neighborhood of Rory's school, and one day she crosses paths with the killer. The strange thing is, she seems to be the only person able to see him. Rory soon discovers that she possesses an ability to see ghosts and is eager to assist the ghost police of London in its search for the serial killer.Jack the Ripper's case is a truly fascinating and gruesome one. Johnson does a respectable job incorporating the details of the crimes in her story without shying away from the gore - cut-off noses, bowels and heads - it is all here!
What is not so great is Johnson's writing. "The Name of the Star" is the author's 9th book (I think), but it often read like a debut. It is full of mistakes that an experienced writer should not be making any more.
Boring, vanilla characters (all of them, except the villain, are like that BTW) and far too long and indulgent HP-fanfic-like boarding school minutiae aside, I think every YA author should know by now that creating a mean girl as a heroine's arch-nemesis is overdone. In this book I could never figure out why this certain girl (head girl - I am sure you remember those from Harry Potter series) was hated so much. She never does anything bad, except she is quite determined to be accepted into Oxford and is very proactive and school-oriented. What is wrong with that? Can we stop bashing overachievers already?
Then there are absent parents. Murders are happening all around the boarding school (one in its yard!), but the main character's supposedly caring parents don't bat an eye and do not bother to withdraw Rory from school.
Or when Rory reports to the police about possibly seeing the murderer, they let her out without asking her not disclose this information to anyone and she goes out and right away blabs it out to the media.
And my main pet peeve is that the villain, if you think of it, does not really have a reason to murder all these people.
All these things in themselves are not bad enough to make the reading experience unbearable or reprehensible. But why weren't these laps in logic corrected? Or am I nitpicking? Maybe I should just stop reading kids' books?
On the bright side, although "The Name of the Star" is the first book in a trilogy, I have to compliment the author on the ending. Although the last page is slightly cliff-hangery, the book can easily be read as a stand-alone. The case is closed, the characters are in a good place. It is what you'd call a respectful cliff-hanger. I will not be coming back for more of Maureen Johnson's books, so it was nice to have a closure.
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LibraryThing member bookworm12
Rory, a Louisiana native, moves to England with her parents and begins life in a boarding school. At the same time a serial killer is making his way around London, mimicking the style of Jack the Ripper with his murders.
One part Anna and the French Kiss and one part Torchwood, this YA book was
I loved how Johnson worked the historical facts of the Ripper case into the story seamlessly. It never felt forced and it was interesting to learn more about the case. The last time I was in London I took a Jack the Ripper night tour and I couldn’t help remember that while reading this book.
BOTTOM LINE: English boarding schools, the impending threat of murder, unexplained occurrences and a teenage crush, all around a really entertaining read. I’ll keep my eye out for the sequels at the library.
“Fear can't hurt you," she said. "When it washes over you, give it no power. It's a snake with no venom. Remember that. That knowledge can save you.”
One part Anna and the French Kiss and one part Torchwood, this YA book was
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really fun. I picked it up when I was in a bit of a slump and blew threw it in a day. It’s a light and fun book with a fast moving plot. It’s also the first in a series. The “twist” was very predictable from early on, but not in a bad way. I wasn’t expecting to be shocked by a big reveal and I just enjoyed the pacing. I loved how Johnson worked the historical facts of the Ripper case into the story seamlessly. It never felt forced and it was interesting to learn more about the case. The last time I was in London I took a Jack the Ripper night tour and I couldn’t help remember that while reading this book.
BOTTOM LINE: English boarding schools, the impending threat of murder, unexplained occurrences and a teenage crush, all around a really entertaining read. I’ll keep my eye out for the sequels at the library.
“Fear can't hurt you," she said. "When it washes over you, give it no power. It's a snake with no venom. Remember that. That knowledge can save you.”
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LibraryThing member dizzyweasel
The Name of the Star was a quick and entertaining paranormal thriller. Rory Deveaux comes to the Wexford School in London, suffers a near-death experience, and then discovers that she can see people that others cannot. She soon learns that she is one of a handful of people in the world to develop a
The Name of the Star is populated with neatly drawn characters who feel differentiated, with sketched in back stories, and do not just serve as backdrops for the heroine. Each character serves a purpose and most are people you would actually enjoy knowing. The pacing is quick, the language is modern, and the story has humor to punctuate the moments of terror and occasional gore. The 'ghost police' angle is unique among YA lit right now, though Johnson may start a new trend here. The Ripper copycat story was frightening and titillating - I'm looking forward to future books in the series to see what other killers and mysteries of yore Johnson takes up. There's so much potential here for other 'ghost police' adventures.
Another thing I appreciate: a YA novel that is not just a romance with paranormal window dressing. There was actually a plot. It was entertaining. The minimal romance between Rory and a school friend took the backseat to the Ripper storyline. There are hints of a future romance for Rory with another character, but this is not explored in book 1. The cliffhanger also left me interested in continuing the story. I'll be keeping an eye on Maureen Johnson's work.
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second sight - she can see ghosts. When a Jack the Ripper copycat, who cannot be seen on film, throws London into terror, Rory sees the killer. He's a ghost. Together with London's 'ghost police', The Shades, she must race to stop the killer and save her own life.The Name of the Star is populated with neatly drawn characters who feel differentiated, with sketched in back stories, and do not just serve as backdrops for the heroine. Each character serves a purpose and most are people you would actually enjoy knowing. The pacing is quick, the language is modern, and the story has humor to punctuate the moments of terror and occasional gore. The 'ghost police' angle is unique among YA lit right now, though Johnson may start a new trend here. The Ripper copycat story was frightening and titillating - I'm looking forward to future books in the series to see what other killers and mysteries of yore Johnson takes up. There's so much potential here for other 'ghost police' adventures.
Another thing I appreciate: a YA novel that is not just a romance with paranormal window dressing. There was actually a plot. It was entertaining. The minimal romance between Rory and a school friend took the backseat to the Ripper storyline. There are hints of a future romance for Rory with another character, but this is not explored in book 1. The cliffhanger also left me interested in continuing the story. I'll be keeping an eye on Maureen Johnson's work.
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LibraryThing member molliekay
Maureen Johnson has deviated from her typical fare of fiction by producing a brilliant piece of supernatural work. Rory is a Louisiana teenager who decides to spend her last year of high school enrolled in a private school in London. Her arrival coincides with the first strike of a Jack the Ripper
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copycat killer. She sees the killer late one night, a man no one else can see. The only question in her mind is, "When will he come after me?" Filled with creepy foggy London nights, ghost sightings, and terrifying murders, this is not a story to read in the dark, but it is one that you must absolutely get your hands on. Show Less
LibraryThing member Bookswithbite
I can't begin to express how much I love it when an author takes a classic story and makes it into something I never thought of before. I have also been a big fan of Jack the Ripper. The stories itself have always intrigued me in who this man was. And why he committed the murders he commit? What
I really enjoyed the plot. It anything the plot grabs you and pulls you in. The re-taling of Jack the Ripper give you goosebumps all over your body! The reason the plot is so amazing is the the flow of it. I like how the reader is slowly introduce to the Jack the Ripper tales and how it weaves it self into Rory life like a weed. You see it slowly take over her life, and you can't help but hold your breath.
The love story in this book totally caught me off guard. While I was caught up with the Jack the Ripper and the murders, I had no idea that a romance had sprung up. I was quite surprised but loved that in the mist of murder and mayhem, that their could be a love after all.
If you love a dark, edgy, amazingly written story, read this book. I think Ms. Johnson did an fantastic job on bring back such a classic tale and putting something new in it. Her characters/plot caught in a way a book has never caught me before. Drowned in a great mystery, The Name of the Star is a book you must read!
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was the purpose? With Ms. Johnson amazing writing style, I, the reader, am taken back to a place I have never been before, and see things new.I really enjoyed the plot. It anything the plot grabs you and pulls you in. The re-taling of Jack the Ripper give you goosebumps all over your body! The reason the plot is so amazing is the the flow of it. I like how the reader is slowly introduce to the Jack the Ripper tales and how it weaves it self into Rory life like a weed. You see it slowly take over her life, and you can't help but hold your breath.
The love story in this book totally caught me off guard. While I was caught up with the Jack the Ripper and the murders, I had no idea that a romance had sprung up. I was quite surprised but loved that in the mist of murder and mayhem, that their could be a love after all.
If you love a dark, edgy, amazingly written story, read this book. I think Ms. Johnson did an fantastic job on bring back such a classic tale and putting something new in it. Her characters/plot caught in a way a book has never caught me before. Drowned in a great mystery, The Name of the Star is a book you must read!
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LibraryThing member BookAddictDiary
Jack the Ripper. Quite possibly the most notorious serial killer in history, and even to this day no one is entirely certainly who the killer was. In this brand new novel from author Maureen Johnson, she plays on the Ripper mythology, throwing in a little contemporary twist, with plenty of
Young Aurora, or Rory, moves from her home in Louisiana to a British boarding school in London, where everything is suddenly more difficult, and more real than it ever was at home. Soon after she starts school, a series of brutal murders break out in London, all of which strangely mimic the ancient Jack the Ripper murders, in all their gruesome disgust. As the murders continue, the London police are baffled, and Rory stands as the only possible witness with the vaguest of leads. But no one else seems to see the strange Ripper, does he truly exist? Or is he just a ghost?
Name of the Star completely lives up to all the hype surrounding it. Johnson flawlessly weaves what history knows about Jack the Ripper into modern-day London, while still managing to throw in something new and unexpected. Rory, in particular, is an excellent protagonist that readers can easily relate to and enjoy. From her struggles at school to her mysterious dealings with the Ripper, Rory is a girl that readers will want to succeed, and follow every single part of her story with edge-of-your-seat anticipation that's unlike any other book I've ever read.
As someone who has always had a mild interest in the Jack the Ripper cases, I found Johnson discussion of the top very accurate, but still flexible enough to fit with her themes. I even felt like I learned a little something about our deal old friend Jack, as gruesome as it may be. I know that this is currently set to be a trilogy, and I can't wait until the sequels hits shelves.
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action-packed thrills that border on paranormal, Johnson brings the age-old tale of Jack the Ripper to modern-day London and modern-day readers.Young Aurora, or Rory, moves from her home in Louisiana to a British boarding school in London, where everything is suddenly more difficult, and more real than it ever was at home. Soon after she starts school, a series of brutal murders break out in London, all of which strangely mimic the ancient Jack the Ripper murders, in all their gruesome disgust. As the murders continue, the London police are baffled, and Rory stands as the only possible witness with the vaguest of leads. But no one else seems to see the strange Ripper, does he truly exist? Or is he just a ghost?
Name of the Star completely lives up to all the hype surrounding it. Johnson flawlessly weaves what history knows about Jack the Ripper into modern-day London, while still managing to throw in something new and unexpected. Rory, in particular, is an excellent protagonist that readers can easily relate to and enjoy. From her struggles at school to her mysterious dealings with the Ripper, Rory is a girl that readers will want to succeed, and follow every single part of her story with edge-of-your-seat anticipation that's unlike any other book I've ever read.
As someone who has always had a mild interest in the Jack the Ripper cases, I found Johnson discussion of the top very accurate, but still flexible enough to fit with her themes. I even felt like I learned a little something about our deal old friend Jack, as gruesome as it may be. I know that this is currently set to be a trilogy, and I can't wait until the sequels hits shelves.
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LibraryThing member BookPurring
When I requested this book I somehow managed to block the "modern-day London" bit in the blurb and thought it was historical fiction, still I didn't cancel it because I was interested in the Jack the Ripper part (morbid I know). When I received the book I saw the Cassie Claire quote on the back and
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I immediately wanted to hurl the book far away from me. But I'd said I read it, so I actually started reading it and it started with a girl named Rory starting on a new school, dear gawd is there no other way to start a YA book? Or is it required that they all start the same way? Anyway, if anyone is interested in reading this because of the Jack the Ripper part. Don't. It's simply a smokescreen for a ghostbusters-esque series that I will probably won't continue to read. The topic seems well researched and for the first part of the book is well incorporated into the story then it practially dissappears because it turns out the story isn't about this. The characters are very uninteresting, I couldn't be bothered with ther roommate woes when the murders subplot was more interesting but half way through the book I realized the book was going in the ghostbusters direction and I lost interest. The ghost mythology is very convenient to what the author needs in the story (some can walk through walls, some can send text messages, yeah, seriously text messages) some are introduced with the sole reason of doing something heroic in the end and you just see it coming from the start. One good thing came out of it I wiki'd other Jack the Ripper literature. Show Less
LibraryThing member Grabbag
Louisiana native Rory relocates to London to attend a boarding school while her parents are on sabbatical in the United Kingdom, but she ends up in the middle of a modern-day paranormal Jack the Ripper situation.
What a fabulous novel! Maureen Johnson gives Rory a very funny personality, in
The story moves along smoothly. Though the action doesn't start until after a quarter of the way in, I still couldn't put it down. The characters really pull you through the story.
My only problem is with the cover. Horrible choice and absolutely irrelevant to the story. (The only red-head is a prefect who has a menial role throughout the novel, and the killer does not wear a top hat. Ever.)
What a fabulous novel! Maureen Johnson gives Rory a very funny personality, in
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juxtaposition to the typical dry British humor. Each character has distinct voice and mannerisms that come through even in the shortest of scenes. I want to be friends with each of Johnson's characters; they're that likeable! The story moves along smoothly. Though the action doesn't start until after a quarter of the way in, I still couldn't put it down. The characters really pull you through the story.
My only problem is with the cover. Horrible choice and absolutely irrelevant to the story. (The only red-head is a prefect who has a menial role throughout the novel, and the killer does not wear a top hat. Ever.)
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LibraryThing member ethel55
Wow, Maureen Johnson has outdone herself again. What seems to begin as a fish out of water tale turns quickly into a somewhat frightening, evenly paced story. Rory arrives in London to attend the Wexford boarding school while her parents spend the year teaching in nearby Bristol. Her roommate,
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Jazza seems nice enough. Charlotte,the prefect type, is about what you'd expect. There's cute boys in the other dorm. It all seems to set up like a run of the mill boarding school tale until murder hits the Wexford area and Jack the Ripper hysteria sweeps London. Perhaps Rory being from Louisiana (with its' many tales of witchcraft and voodoo) is a very important plot point as she feels she saw someone the police can't quite find. Johnson takes many turns in this story and I enjoyed it very much. Show Less
LibraryThing member hrose2931
I was so excited to get a copy of this from Early Reviewers. This is the first Maureen Johnson book I've read but I'm going to get everything she's ever written. I absolutely loved this thriller. The paranormal element of this just added to the awesome. I'm not going to do a full on review, I'm
Here are some of my favorite quotes that I hope make it to the book:
"I decided to deflect her attitude by giving her a long Southern answer. I come from people who know how to draw things out. Annoy a Southerner and we will drain away the moments of your life with our slow, detailed replies until you are nothing but a husk of your former self and that much closer to death." (p. 24)
"She ran up and down the field with that stick like a thing born to run up and down the field with a stick." (p. 149)
"I was learning all kinds of things in London, mostly about ****** and flags and disbanded girl groups, but still. Learning is good. (p.217)
I put the stars in for fear the word would giveaway something.
Anyway, you can see Maureen Johnson's humor. It's sprinkled throughout with a little bit of romance, a lot of thrill and like I said some great characters. I hope she's got book two ready!
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saving it for closer to the time when the book is going to be released but Maureen Johnson knows Southern. And she knows humor and teenagers. And she really knows how to tell a creepy story. If this one was set in the South instead of a London boarding school I'd almost call it Gothic. But the characters are too funny and lively. Here are some of my favorite quotes that I hope make it to the book:
"I decided to deflect her attitude by giving her a long Southern answer. I come from people who know how to draw things out. Annoy a Southerner and we will drain away the moments of your life with our slow, detailed replies until you are nothing but a husk of your former self and that much closer to death." (p. 24)
"She ran up and down the field with that stick like a thing born to run up and down the field with a stick." (p. 149)
"I was learning all kinds of things in London, mostly about ****** and flags and disbanded girl groups, but still. Learning is good. (p.217)
I put the stars in for fear the word would giveaway something.
Anyway, you can see Maureen Johnson's humor. It's sprinkled throughout with a little bit of romance, a lot of thrill and like I said some great characters. I hope she's got book two ready!
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LibraryThing member 24girl
Coming from a small town in Louisiana to a boarding school in London to complete her senior year, Rory Deveaux definitely feels out of place in her new school but she quickly becomes friends with her roommate and things start to look up. That is until a Jack the Ripper copy cat keeps striking
This is my first book by Maureen Johnson. I wasn't even aware that it was a YA novel but that quickly became clear with it's predictability. That aside it really had enough suspense and intrigue to make it a quick enjoyable read. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves suspense with a light sprinkling of paranormal. I will be looking forward to reading the next book in this Shades of London Trilogy.
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closer and closer to home and on the night of one of the murders Rory comes face to face with the murder but she's the only one who sees him. Will he be coming after her next?This is my first book by Maureen Johnson. I wasn't even aware that it was a YA novel but that quickly became clear with it's predictability. That aside it really had enough suspense and intrigue to make it a quick enjoyable read. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves suspense with a light sprinkling of paranormal. I will be looking forward to reading the next book in this Shades of London Trilogy.
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LibraryThing member Panola
The Name of the Star
(Shades of London, Book #1)
by Maureen Johnson
Genre: Young Adult | Supernatural Thriller
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
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.
Moving to London was to be a new experience for Rory's last year of high school. The most she was expecting was to make new friends, try out some new sports, and move back to Louisiana with new memories of living abroad. But what she got instead was a morbid life-altering adventure into one of London's darkest mysteries that became a little to personal for Rory and her roommates. Thus, as the gruesome Ripper copy-cat killer begins re-creating the bloody murders right in Rory's East London neighborhood and Rory herself becomes the only witness . . . a darkness unlike anything she has ever known existed begins to take over the whole city.
I found this book to be quite refreshing within the current YA releases. Yet, the beginning and the end almost created two totally different stories for me. It was easy to devour the first few chapters since Rory was witty and very accepting of her new transition into her London boarding school. The settings created were richly detailed & highly intriguing and the variety of side-characters created added enjoyable sparks to the overall tale. The thrilling murders along with the instant media sensation of "Ripper-Mania" blended realistically well into Rory's new lifestyle and set up for a very dark/suspenseful read, but then the story took a bit of a supernatural spin . . . something one would think I would be highly anticipating, but unfortunately I felt it took away something from the story. It was not as if this new direction during the second portion of The Name of the Star was any less gripping than it's first portion, it just created a different reality within the tale that was some-what lacking. All in all, I'm still tempted to check out Book #2 and will judge the series better after that book.
Likes: The New Orleans/Louisiana references were fun and easily relatable (i.e. hurricanes, swamps, gators, etc.)
Dislikes: Loved the beginning, not so much the ending!
(Shades of London, Book #1)
by Maureen Johnson
Genre: Young Adult | Supernatural Thriller
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
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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.
Moving to London was to be a new experience for Rory's last year of high school. The most she was expecting was to make new friends, try out some new sports, and move back to Louisiana with new memories of living abroad. But what she got instead was a morbid life-altering adventure into one of London's darkest mysteries that became a little to personal for Rory and her roommates. Thus, as the gruesome Ripper copy-cat killer begins re-creating the bloody murders right in Rory's East London neighborhood and Rory herself becomes the only witness . . . a darkness unlike anything she has ever known existed begins to take over the whole city.
I found this book to be quite refreshing within the current YA releases. Yet, the beginning and the end almost created two totally different stories for me. It was easy to devour the first few chapters since Rory was witty and very accepting of her new transition into her London boarding school. The settings created were richly detailed & highly intriguing and the variety of side-characters created added enjoyable sparks to the overall tale. The thrilling murders along with the instant media sensation of "Ripper-Mania" blended realistically well into Rory's new lifestyle and set up for a very dark/suspenseful read, but then the story took a bit of a supernatural spin . . . something one would think I would be highly anticipating, but unfortunately I felt it took away something from the story. It was not as if this new direction during the second portion of The Name of the Star was any less gripping than it's first portion, it just created a different reality within the tale that was some-what lacking. All in all, I'm still tempted to check out Book #2 and will judge the series better after that book.
Likes: The New Orleans/Louisiana references were fun and easily relatable (i.e. hurricanes, swamps, gators, etc.)
Dislikes: Loved the beginning, not so much the ending!
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LibraryThing member ethel55
Wow, Maureen Johnson has outdone herself again. What seems to begin as a fish out of water tale turns quickly into a somewhat frightening, evenly paced story. Rory arrives in London to attend the Wexford boarding school while her parents spend the year teaching in nearby Bristol. Her roommate,
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Jazza seems nice enough. Charlotte,the prefect type, is about what you'd expect. There's cute boys in the other dorm. It all seems to set up like a run of the mill boarding school tale until murder hits the Wexford area and Jack the Ripper hysteria sweeps London. Perhaps Rory being from Louisiana (with its' many tales of witchcraft and voodoo) is a very important plot point as she feels she saw someone the police can't quite find. Johnson takes many turns in this story and I enjoyed it very much. Show Less
LibraryThing member brittanygold
For me to love a book it takes a lot. The Name of the Star was a book that I LOVED. It had everything from romance to humor to suspense. Maureen Johnson wrote an amazing book. With its great plot line and details, you never want to put the book down. I would know because I read it in one sitting. I
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can not wait to read more about the characters and see how the plot will unfold after the cliffhanger The Name of the Star left off with in future books in this series. This is a great book for those who love YA books. I would recommend this to all my friends. Show Less
LibraryThing member elizardkwik
This is such an amazing book - humor, mystery, romance, paranormal, London, horror, a boarding school - really, what more could you want? Rory, our fearless heroine, has a great voice and makes a fun narrator for this story that combines the drama of high school (in London!) with the suspense of a
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serial killer re-enacting the killing of Jack the Ripper - or is he? There's a little bit of something for everyone in this first installment of what is sure to be an amusing trilogy. More, please! Show Less
LibraryThing member Kr15tina
What I Liked
Jack the Ripper Has Returned
The Ripper is a scary figure to choose as the main villain within a book. The murderer that got away, an unknown person and unknown reasons WHY the murders were committed. A perfect villain to choose to scare people. The book brought up an interesting point
Character
Aurora aka Rory: I do like Rory as a female character. I admire how willing she is to change schools her senior year, to a foreign country's school none the less. There is nothing extraordinary about Rory to begin with, she is friendly and an overall fun person with an interesting family. As the book progresses through the Ripper like murders and something strange is going on with her I continue to admire and appreciate her inner strength.
Ending
The ending got very intense and gripping. I liked how things progressed and unfolded for the conclusion. I also like it in a series when the book is summed up, the villain is dealt with and a new villain will arise for the next book. I was left feeling I got a good conclusion, but a final twist was added to keep me coming back for the next book.
Would Have Liked
One of the characters has a cockney accent and I wish Maureen would have written the accent within speaking lines, for example '"Do you think..." Again, she said fink instead of think.' Our character Rory just states how she says things instead of just actually writing the accent within the book. I personally enjoy reading the accent, sometimes it maybe a little bit of puzzling out the sentence but it makes the book feel more authentic.
I Don't Agree
In the summary it states "romance" is in the book and I disagree. I don't really think I would consider this book romantic at all. There was a little bit of the developing crush, some snogging and that was about it. I like having a break from romance, so I was glad there wasn't really much in the book and I won't ever describe this book as romantic or having romance.
Recommendation
YA thriller, slight horror and fantasy. Ripper fans have got to read the book.
Jack the Ripper Has Returned
The Ripper is a scary figure to choose as the main villain within a book. The murderer that got away, an unknown person and unknown reasons WHY the murders were committed. A perfect villain to choose to scare people. The book brought up an interesting point
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if there were to be a copy cat Ripper killer is that how people would act? Buying slogan shirts, top hats and trying to see the murders scenes? I probably would have been more afraid if the book didn't have a paranormal explanation. Which thankfully it did so I am able to sleep at night without fear of the psychotic Ripper.Character
Aurora aka Rory: I do like Rory as a female character. I admire how willing she is to change schools her senior year, to a foreign country's school none the less. There is nothing extraordinary about Rory to begin with, she is friendly and an overall fun person with an interesting family. As the book progresses through the Ripper like murders and something strange is going on with her I continue to admire and appreciate her inner strength.
Ending
The ending got very intense and gripping. I liked how things progressed and unfolded for the conclusion. I also like it in a series when the book is summed up, the villain is dealt with and a new villain will arise for the next book. I was left feeling I got a good conclusion, but a final twist was added to keep me coming back for the next book.
Would Have Liked
One of the characters has a cockney accent and I wish Maureen would have written the accent within speaking lines, for example '"Do you think..." Again, she said fink instead of think.' Our character Rory just states how she says things instead of just actually writing the accent within the book. I personally enjoy reading the accent, sometimes it maybe a little bit of puzzling out the sentence but it makes the book feel more authentic.
I Don't Agree
In the summary it states "romance" is in the book and I disagree. I don't really think I would consider this book romantic at all. There was a little bit of the developing crush, some snogging and that was about it. I like having a break from romance, so I was glad there wasn't really much in the book and I won't ever describe this book as romantic or having romance.
Recommendation
YA thriller, slight horror and fantasy. Ripper fans have got to read the book.
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LibraryThing member Runa
There's an interesting story about how I came to own this book. I've linked to it below. I may have scared Maureen Johnson in the process. Sorry, Maureen! (I mean, I don't apologize for the enthusiasm, creepy as it was. BUT.)
The book itself, though? Definitely lives up to the hype. I've been going
It's going to be personally interesting to me to see how this book gets categorized. With the recent trend toward the 'paranormal romance' genre in YA fiction, one theoretically could label this as such. But I think it's a matter of realizing that the romance is not constantly at the forefront of the story, distinguishing this book as more of a 'supernatural' story than a 'paranormal romance'. I think this is an important distinction that is easily missed by those who are outside of the YA world, and it bothers me that a brilliant book like The Name of the Star could pretty easily be lumped in with the likes of Twilight, when the stories are worlds apart in content.
As far as appealing to an audience, the book markets itself as featuring 'ghost police'. That turned me off a bit, until I read and realized they were more of a detective force. Simple word switch that could mean a lot. (I don't know about you, but 'police' kind of makes me think of one of those cheesy predictable television crime shows.)
I mentioned before that I was glad to see a self-contained book within a series. I do hope it won't be one of those 'book by book series', with a plot of the day kind of story. I would love it if there was an overarching plot with continuity, rather than something out of a repetitive kids' series like the Animorphs books. I am still very excited to see how the story develops in the coming books, and I'm pretty excited about seeing other peoples' reactions to the book as well.
One more nitpicky frustration that has nothing to do with Maureen, though? This is one of those books where you're better off not reading the summary off the back cover. It's not too spoilery, but the story takes time to develop and I felt like reading the summary ruined that for me a bit.
The book itself, though? Definitely lives up to the hype. I've been going
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off on rants lately about how annoying the stretched out YA trilogies/series tend to be, but Maureen does a great job of writing a novel that can be read on its own, but does extend onwards to more books in the future. The Name of the Star is a book that isn't comparable to others in its genre. Come to think of it, it's difficult to even slap a genre label on the book, it's just that good. There's the complicated intertwining of mystery, paranormal, humor, romance, and John-Green-esque boarding school/girl-Hogwarts. Only someone as brilliant (...crazy? =P) as Maureen would have ever been able to craft such an enthralling story. Theorizing about all the impossible possibilities while reading is inevitable, and doesn't stop by the end of the book, either. The plot twists and unique spins on typical tropes kept me reading this novel in a single sitting. It's going to be personally interesting to me to see how this book gets categorized. With the recent trend toward the 'paranormal romance' genre in YA fiction, one theoretically could label this as such. But I think it's a matter of realizing that the romance is not constantly at the forefront of the story, distinguishing this book as more of a 'supernatural' story than a 'paranormal romance'. I think this is an important distinction that is easily missed by those who are outside of the YA world, and it bothers me that a brilliant book like The Name of the Star could pretty easily be lumped in with the likes of Twilight, when the stories are worlds apart in content.
As far as appealing to an audience, the book markets itself as featuring 'ghost police'. That turned me off a bit, until I read and realized they were more of a detective force. Simple word switch that could mean a lot. (I don't know about you, but 'police' kind of makes me think of one of those cheesy predictable television crime shows.)
I mentioned before that I was glad to see a self-contained book within a series. I do hope it won't be one of those 'book by book series', with a plot of the day kind of story. I would love it if there was an overarching plot with continuity, rather than something out of a repetitive kids' series like the Animorphs books. I am still very excited to see how the story develops in the coming books, and I'm pretty excited about seeing other peoples' reactions to the book as well.
One more nitpicky frustration that has nothing to do with Maureen, though? This is one of those books where you're better off not reading the summary off the back cover. It's not too spoilery, but the story takes time to develop and I felt like reading the summary ruined that for me a bit.
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LibraryThing member BookishBrunette
What can I say... I had HIGH hopes for The Name of the Star, and maybe that is why I didn't LOVE it. Let me be specific when I say that I didn't HATE it either. (I'm the picture of vagueness right?)
Rory Deveaux is sent to a boarding school in London for her senior year of High School. Sounds
Now I won't claim to know much about the history of Jack the Ripper, but from the quick Google search I did (seriously... WHAT did we do before Google?!) Maureen Johnson did a pretty incredible job of recounting the killings!
So when Rory SEES the killer, and seems to be the ONLY one that can see him- well, NOW apparently she can see ghosts. Okay... And she's helping the 'ghost police' of London search for the Jack the Ripper copycat killer. Yes. The 'ghost police'.
Anyway, while at times Rory was so funny, clever and witty other times I wanted to reach in the book and smack her. Her parents REALLY irritated me, it's like they didn't even CARE that their daughter was in the midst of murder mayhem in London! Gah!
Basically, this book just didn't do it for me. It wasn't horrible, it wasn't fabulous... It was 'meh' for me. But, I think that people who don't have to have every single detail lined out for them and have reasons for everything will enjoy this book much more than I did. Yes, I'm one of those readers. I NEED to know WHY everything happens. Making assumptions isn't enough for me.
Rory Deveaux is sent to a boarding school in London for her senior year of High School. Sounds
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awesome right? Well, not so much when there's a serial killer on the loose who's seemingly a copycat of Jack the Ripper in her backyard.Now I won't claim to know much about the history of Jack the Ripper, but from the quick Google search I did (seriously... WHAT did we do before Google?!) Maureen Johnson did a pretty incredible job of recounting the killings!
So when Rory SEES the killer, and seems to be the ONLY one that can see him- well, NOW apparently she can see ghosts. Okay... And she's helping the 'ghost police' of London search for the Jack the Ripper copycat killer. Yes. The 'ghost police'.
Anyway, while at times Rory was so funny, clever and witty other times I wanted to reach in the book and smack her. Her parents REALLY irritated me, it's like they didn't even CARE that their daughter was in the midst of murder mayhem in London! Gah!
Basically, this book just didn't do it for me. It wasn't horrible, it wasn't fabulous... It was 'meh' for me. But, I think that people who don't have to have every single detail lined out for them and have reasons for everything will enjoy this book much more than I did. Yes, I'm one of those readers. I NEED to know WHY everything happens. Making assumptions isn't enough for me.
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LibraryThing member pollywannabook
Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy
Jack the Ripper is not a topic I generally spend a lot of time thinking about. The gruesome nature of his crimes are usually enough for me to give a wide berth to books and movies about him. I say usually because THE NAME OF THE STAR by Maureen Johnson
There needed to be an amazingly good protagonist to carry this story, and Aurora “Rory” Deveaux is exactly that. Relocating from Louisiana to London for her senior year of high school—to a boarding school no less—would typically be a recipe for a lot of self pity and surliness, but not in Rory. She uses her humor and resiliency to bounce back from every misstep she makes at her new school, and her quirky spot on observations about the people she meets anchored me into her world and her story in a way that very few YA titles do.
And I can’t say enough about the writing. Loved it from the first line. Strong but subtle descriptions that brought the flavor of London to life without ever bashing the reader over the head with the English flag. I felt the wet cobblestones under my feet, and the vibrations of the London Underground just as keenly as the chill of a ghost’s breath and the thrill of Rory’s first kiss. If I’m nitpicking, I do wish that the rest of the characters had been as dynamic and engaging as Rory, and the fact that one of the characters was nicknamed ‘Boo’ in a ghost story was pushing it.
No details are currently available for the next book in the Shades of London series, but the end of THE NAME OF THE STAR sets up the sequel perfectly, with just enough of a lead in to leave me with a delicious anticipation for more of Rory’s story that takes nothing away from the satisfying conclusion of the debut.
Sexual Content:
Kissing
Jack the Ripper is not a topic I generally spend a lot of time thinking about. The gruesome nature of his crimes are usually enough for me to give a wide berth to books and movies about him. I say usually because THE NAME OF THE STAR by Maureen Johnson
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handles the topic of the first modern murderer in such a fascinating, spooky but never horrifying, and even romantic way that my reticence has completely vanished.There needed to be an amazingly good protagonist to carry this story, and Aurora “Rory” Deveaux is exactly that. Relocating from Louisiana to London for her senior year of high school—to a boarding school no less—would typically be a recipe for a lot of self pity and surliness, but not in Rory. She uses her humor and resiliency to bounce back from every misstep she makes at her new school, and her quirky spot on observations about the people she meets anchored me into her world and her story in a way that very few YA titles do.
And I can’t say enough about the writing. Loved it from the first line. Strong but subtle descriptions that brought the flavor of London to life without ever bashing the reader over the head with the English flag. I felt the wet cobblestones under my feet, and the vibrations of the London Underground just as keenly as the chill of a ghost’s breath and the thrill of Rory’s first kiss. If I’m nitpicking, I do wish that the rest of the characters had been as dynamic and engaging as Rory, and the fact that one of the characters was nicknamed ‘Boo’ in a ghost story was pushing it.
No details are currently available for the next book in the Shades of London series, but the end of THE NAME OF THE STAR sets up the sequel perfectly, with just enough of a lead in to leave me with a delicious anticipation for more of Rory’s story that takes nothing away from the satisfying conclusion of the debut.
Sexual Content:
Kissing
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LibraryThing member DarkFaerieTales
Review Courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales
Quick & Dirty: This book is combines boarding school drama and serial killer mayhem to create the perfect ghost story.
Opening Sentence: The eyes of London were watching Claire Jenkins.
The Review:
I’ve read all Maureen Johnson’s other books and I liked
I loved Rory. She’s snarky, smart, and independent. Everything I look for in a heroine. When she moves to London for her senior year of high school she has to adapt to the English way of life, which involves a lot of late night studying and tea with her roommate Jazza. With the exception of hockey (field hockey; that is) Rory begins to like living at Wexford.
But then she sees a man at the crime scene of the newest Jack the Ripper murder. A man no one saw but her. These murders are as exact as they can be; when they’re occurring more than a century later. Quickly, Rory finds London’s secret police, called the Shades. Every member has come close to death. They can all see ghosts. As Rippermania takes a hold of London, the Shades are searching for the copy cat. Stephen is hesitant to involve her in a classified assignment, but as the only one who’s seen the prime suspect Rory finds herself directly in the middle. Rory saw his face, spoke to him, and can identify him. The Shades are worried about what he’ll do if he finds her.
The first half of this book is very much about character development. A lot of the boarding school drama borders on cliché–high school girl drama, making out in the library and that sort of thing. But Rory’s such a great narrator that even these passages, which should have been boring, made me laugh out loud. There’s Jerome, the Ripper-obsessed perfect boy that Rory crushes on, who’s funny and adventurous and easily lovable. Jerome is the character that gives Rory, and thus us, pretty much everything we need to know about the Ripper murders–both 1888’s and now. It’s clear in these passages, just as it is when Johnson talks about East London, that she’s done her homework.
I loved the plot of this book. I was curious to see how Jack the Ripper was going to be transformed into a fresh, new read and I wasn’t disappointed. It’s got really great pacing. Never did I feel rushed or did the story become boring–I was always turning pages. I loved the fact that the author didn’t beat us over the head with the answers, which ends up happening in a lot of young adult mysteries. I can’t wait to read the next installment, The Madness Underneath!
Notable Scene:
Some other facts I picked up:
Welsh is an actual, currently used language and our next-door neighbors Angela and Gaenor spoke it. It sounds like Wizard.
Baked beans are very popular in England. For breakfast. On toast. On baked potatoes. They can’t get enough.
“American History” is not a subject everywhere.
England and Britain and the United Kingdom are not the same thing. England is the country. Britain is the island containing England and Scotland. The United Kingdom is the formal designation of England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland as a political entity. If you mess this up, you will be corrected. Repeatedly.
The English will play hockey in any weather. Thunder, Lightning, plague of locusts…nothing can stop the hockey. Do not fight the hockey, for the hockey will win.
Jack the Ripper struck the second time very early on September 8th, 1888.
The Shades of London Series:
1. The Name of the Star
2. The Madness Underneath
FTC Advisory: Penguin Teen provided me with a copy of The Name of the Star. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
Quick & Dirty: This book is combines boarding school drama and serial killer mayhem to create the perfect ghost story.
Opening Sentence: The eyes of London were watching Claire Jenkins.
The Review:
I’ve read all Maureen Johnson’s other books and I liked
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them, but I wasn’t a fan. I absolutely fell in love with this book. I don’t know if it’s that I connected with the heroine more, who’s from a suburb of New Orleans, where I live. It could just be that I’m a bigger fan of murder mysteries than I am of high school romances. This book absolutely blew me away. It’s funny just as much as it’s terrifying. There’s a copy cat killer out slicing and dicing his victims, but Johnson makes sure you have something to laugh about every other page. I loved Rory. She’s snarky, smart, and independent. Everything I look for in a heroine. When she moves to London for her senior year of high school she has to adapt to the English way of life, which involves a lot of late night studying and tea with her roommate Jazza. With the exception of hockey (field hockey; that is) Rory begins to like living at Wexford.
But then she sees a man at the crime scene of the newest Jack the Ripper murder. A man no one saw but her. These murders are as exact as they can be; when they’re occurring more than a century later. Quickly, Rory finds London’s secret police, called the Shades. Every member has come close to death. They can all see ghosts. As Rippermania takes a hold of London, the Shades are searching for the copy cat. Stephen is hesitant to involve her in a classified assignment, but as the only one who’s seen the prime suspect Rory finds herself directly in the middle. Rory saw his face, spoke to him, and can identify him. The Shades are worried about what he’ll do if he finds her.
The first half of this book is very much about character development. A lot of the boarding school drama borders on cliché–high school girl drama, making out in the library and that sort of thing. But Rory’s such a great narrator that even these passages, which should have been boring, made me laugh out loud. There’s Jerome, the Ripper-obsessed perfect boy that Rory crushes on, who’s funny and adventurous and easily lovable. Jerome is the character that gives Rory, and thus us, pretty much everything we need to know about the Ripper murders–both 1888’s and now. It’s clear in these passages, just as it is when Johnson talks about East London, that she’s done her homework.
I loved the plot of this book. I was curious to see how Jack the Ripper was going to be transformed into a fresh, new read and I wasn’t disappointed. It’s got really great pacing. Never did I feel rushed or did the story become boring–I was always turning pages. I loved the fact that the author didn’t beat us over the head with the answers, which ends up happening in a lot of young adult mysteries. I can’t wait to read the next installment, The Madness Underneath!
Notable Scene:
Some other facts I picked up:
Welsh is an actual, currently used language and our next-door neighbors Angela and Gaenor spoke it. It sounds like Wizard.
Baked beans are very popular in England. For breakfast. On toast. On baked potatoes. They can’t get enough.
“American History” is not a subject everywhere.
England and Britain and the United Kingdom are not the same thing. England is the country. Britain is the island containing England and Scotland. The United Kingdom is the formal designation of England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland as a political entity. If you mess this up, you will be corrected. Repeatedly.
The English will play hockey in any weather. Thunder, Lightning, plague of locusts…nothing can stop the hockey. Do not fight the hockey, for the hockey will win.
Jack the Ripper struck the second time very early on September 8th, 1888.
The Shades of London Series:
1. The Name of the Star
2. The Madness Underneath
FTC Advisory: Penguin Teen provided me with a copy of The Name of the Star. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
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LibraryThing member sithereandread
THE NAME OF THE STAR, by Maureen Johnson, is a fantastic ghost story/mystery thriller involving one of the most notorious serial killers of all time, Jack the Ripper. Rory thinks that going to England for her senior year will be great, especially on a gorgeous campus but soon enough a copycat is
When I heard that this book was about Jack the Ripper I was excited because I think it is interesting reading about the psychology behind past serial killers and their crimes. But this book went well beyond my expectations. Johnson created characters that jumped right out of the pages and into my heart. Rory was a great main character and I became very attached to her situation. I loved her humor and blatant hatred for anything sporty. She cracked me up when complaining about her horrible hockey skills and it definitely made her seem very real.
Although it seemed that Rory didn't have much of a life back in the U.S. she definitely gained some really great friends and a possible romance at her new school. With her new friends she was able to cope with her new ghost-seeing status and help the Shades with a very dangerous case.
This book was beautifully crafted into a non-stop action and suspense story that I found I could not put down. Johnson created a magnificent start to a series that will definitely be a great competitor in the YA genre. I am very excited for the next in the series!! Oh and just stating now, I am definitely Team Stephen!!
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reenacting the murders of the Ripper and leaving no evidence behind. Rory is the only witness to a strange man at the scene of one of the crimes but she seems to be the only one who saw him. Soon enough she is thrust into the dangerous world of the Shades with no turning back.When I heard that this book was about Jack the Ripper I was excited because I think it is interesting reading about the psychology behind past serial killers and their crimes. But this book went well beyond my expectations. Johnson created characters that jumped right out of the pages and into my heart. Rory was a great main character and I became very attached to her situation. I loved her humor and blatant hatred for anything sporty. She cracked me up when complaining about her horrible hockey skills and it definitely made her seem very real.
Although it seemed that Rory didn't have much of a life back in the U.S. she definitely gained some really great friends and a possible romance at her new school. With her new friends she was able to cope with her new ghost-seeing status and help the Shades with a very dangerous case.
This book was beautifully crafted into a non-stop action and suspense story that I found I could not put down. Johnson created a magnificent start to a series that will definitely be a great competitor in the YA genre. I am very excited for the next in the series!! Oh and just stating now, I am definitely Team Stephen!!
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LibraryThing member breakingdownslowly
I really enjoyed this book. It was creepy and had romance and an interesting plot and just...all the makings of a good book.
I'm going to start off by pointing out the words "London boarding school" in the summary. That's right, guys. London. Boarding. School. We all love boarding schools, we all
Now, there's Jack the Ripper. There's not a lot of books relating to Jack the Ripper in YA (seriously, can we fix this? SATURATE THE MARKET WITH RIPPERS), so that automatically makes it stand out. Then add in the fact that Jack the Ripper was killing in 1888. Which, I think I can safely say, is something in the past. Which makes it historical. More bonus points, for YOU Name of the Star, for incorporating a historical figure and historical happenings.
Including anything Jack the Ripper related instantly ups creep factors. Especially when they're pretty much happening again and you have protagonists who skulk around the area where the murders are happening at night. And then you learn more details and you're just like "OMGOMGOMGOMG" and you start wondering if these things are going to come to your suburb in New York. *coughs awkwardly* Anyway...
Then we have Rory, who's Southern and snarky. Plus she has a roommate who's equally awesome and an avid reader. Both of them are clever (most of the time. Other times they're just TRYING to get killed) and smart and just wonderful. A fabulous dynamic duo.
I really enjoyed the love interest as well. It was a pretty subtle romance, slowly built up and definitely a background plot, but I liked him. He was sweet and funny and kind. Their relationship made sense.
As for the writing? Well, I finished the book before showering. I put the book down and got in the shower. I finished my shower, opened the curtain, saw the book, and got all excited about reading more. Then I remembered I'd already finished it and got sad again. Yup.
In all, I definitely liked this more than Lanna liked it and I highly recommend it. Really looking forward to seeing where the sequel goes!
I'm going to start off by pointing out the words "London boarding school" in the summary. That's right, guys. London. Boarding. School. We all love boarding schools, we all
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love schools set in other countries (though, I guess if you live in England...), so here's some automatic bonus points.Now, there's Jack the Ripper. There's not a lot of books relating to Jack the Ripper in YA (seriously, can we fix this? SATURATE THE MARKET WITH RIPPERS), so that automatically makes it stand out. Then add in the fact that Jack the Ripper was killing in 1888. Which, I think I can safely say, is something in the past. Which makes it historical. More bonus points, for YOU Name of the Star, for incorporating a historical figure and historical happenings.
Including anything Jack the Ripper related instantly ups creep factors. Especially when they're pretty much happening again and you have protagonists who skulk around the area where the murders are happening at night. And then you learn more details and you're just like "OMGOMGOMGOMG" and you start wondering if these things are going to come to your suburb in New York. *coughs awkwardly* Anyway...
Then we have Rory, who's Southern and snarky. Plus she has a roommate who's equally awesome and an avid reader. Both of them are clever (most of the time. Other times they're just TRYING to get killed) and smart and just wonderful. A fabulous dynamic duo.
I really enjoyed the love interest as well. It was a pretty subtle romance, slowly built up and definitely a background plot, but I liked him. He was sweet and funny and kind. Their relationship made sense.
As for the writing? Well, I finished the book before showering. I put the book down and got in the shower. I finished my shower, opened the curtain, saw the book, and got all excited about reading more. Then I remembered I'd already finished it and got sad again. Yup.
In all, I definitely liked this more than Lanna liked it and I highly recommend it. Really looking forward to seeing where the sequel goes!
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LibraryThing member skaohee
The Name of the Star is a story about a girl named Rory who moves from New Orleans to London and then attends boarding school there. Now, you might be thinking.."not another boarding school" - but STOP RIGHT THERE. This book uses the boarding school for the setting and isn't just about running a
This was, for me, an extremely entertaining thriller of a book. Not only did Maureen Johnson keep me captivated throughout the entire book, she blew me away with her creativity. She started the world-building to this awesome "secret ghost police of London" and I can't wait to know more about that world. Ms. Johnson has some rockin' imagination.
This was such a unique take on the idea of a "ghost-story" and is definitely one to read ASAP.
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muck in the halls. We accompany Rory as she settles into her new school, makes friends, and then..Jack the Ripper? Yes, people - Jack the Ripper. Someone is committing copycat murders from the late 19th century and turns out Rory saw him..when no one else did. Don't worry..when you read this book - you'll find out why.This was, for me, an extremely entertaining thriller of a book. Not only did Maureen Johnson keep me captivated throughout the entire book, she blew me away with her creativity. She started the world-building to this awesome "secret ghost police of London" and I can't wait to know more about that world. Ms. Johnson has some rockin' imagination.
This was such a unique take on the idea of a "ghost-story" and is definitely one to read ASAP.
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Awards
Edgar Award (Nominee — Young Adult Novel — 2012)
Sequoyah Book Award (Nominee — High School — 2014)
Utah Beehive Book Award (Nominee — Young Adult — 2015)
Eliot Rosewater Indiana High School Book Award (Nominee — 2016)
Kentucky Bluegrass Award (Nominee — Grades 9-12 — 2013)
Iowa Teen Award (Nominee — 2014)
Green Mountain Book Award (Nominee — 2014)
Arkansas Teen Book Award (Nominee — 2013)
Florida Teens Read Award (Nominee — 2013)
The Flume: NH Teen Reader's Choice Award (Nominee — 2013)
Truman Readers Award (Nominee — 2014)
Milwaukee County Teen Book Award (Nominee — 2013)
Volunteer State Book Award (Nominee — High School — 2014)
Rhode Island Teen Book Award (Nominee — 2013)
Best Fiction for Young Adults (Selection — 2012)
OYAN Book Rave (2012)
Language
Original publication date
2011-09-29
Local notes
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.