Review: The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson

New York Times bestseller Maureen Johnson takes on Jack the Ripper in this captivating paranormal thriller!

The day that Louisiana teenager Rory Deveaux arrives in London to start a new life at boarding school is also the day a series of brutal murders breaks out over the city, killings mimicking the horrific Jack the Ripper spree 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--the only one who can see him. And now Rory has 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.

The Name of the Star is an intriguing mystery. It is very exciting and has great edge of your seat moments. I love how little things in the book came together. I also love that we get little tid-bits of the history, and myth surrounding Jack the Ripper. The setting is cool, it’s London how can it not be? I love that Rory was actually excited to go there. All too often in YA books the mc whines and complains, “oh poor me I have to go to some cool place overseas whaaa.” We get none of that with Rory. I also liked the little aspects of her personality, how she is studious without being obsessive, and her southern ability to talk people to death. The friends she makes in London are all people I would gladly hang out with. They are all unique and pretty well rounded.

My only complaints are that her normal friends Jazza, and Jerome seemed to drop off the face of the earth after she meets other people with supernatural abilities. Also I did not like Jerome as her love interest. He felt more like a puppy dog than a crush/swoon worthy guy. I feel the book would have been better if that sub-plot was taken out entirely. Even with those complaints this book is still a great spooky read.

I give this book an A.