The Name of the Star

Great book!

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 is. And why he committed the murders he committed? What 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. If anything the plot grabs you and pulls you in. The re-taling of Jack the Ripper gave 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 itself into Rory's 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 bringing 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!

10 out of 12 people found this review helpful.

A witty tale of intrigue and adventure

Take an American girl from Bénouville, Louisiana. Relocate her to a boarding school in London. Throw in a couple of ghosts, a dallop of mystery and a dash of romance and you've got the page-turning, spine-tingling, keeps-you-up-at-night-to-finish-reading-it novel that is The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson.

Rory, has a witty and spunky voice - which I found to be similar to Maureen's Twitter-chatter style. The story opens up with Rory giving the reader a very brief background of her family and home, the reason she decided to go to Wexford, and her arrival at her new school. We meet Claudia, the house mistress, and Charlotte, the head girl - for some reason I blended the two characters in my head and had a bit of trouble sorting them out in the end, however, this isn't pertinent to the tale. We are introduced to Jazza (Rory's cautious roommate), and Jerome (Rory's Ripper-addicted interest, of sorts); both were such fun characters to read that I found myself looking forward to seeing more of them.

The main plot is the ghost story/mystery that is weaved throughout. There is a killer on the loose, one who is copying the Jack the Ripper slayings. Yet, in a city with CCTVs everywhere, the killer seems to be invisible to the police; that is, until Rory thinks she spotted someone out and about, near the site of one of the killings. Once she tells the police her story, the plot picks up pace and takes you on a whirlwind adventure with eccentric roommates, mysterious strangers, and so much Jack the Ripper information that you come away feeling well versed on the topic - and a somewhat creepier for it.

I love reading Maureen's novels because she is very descriptive about places and situations, so much so that you feel as though you're walking next to the characters - The Name of the Star is written in this fashion. I also enjoyed the bits of family information that Rory litters throughout her narrative; funny little anecdotes to help describe the way she's feeling. One thing that I appreciated about the story is that, compared to other protagonists who have supernatural abilities thrusted upon them, Rory reacts in a very normal and completely expected way. She experiences denial and disbelief in a believable way.

The Name of the Star is the first in a trilogy, and while this story ties up a lot of loose-ends, the ending leaves you with a feeling of satisfaction and curiosity as to what will happen next.

I utterly enjoyed reading it, and highly recommend this to anyone who is a mystery fan.

PS - there are no vampires.

7 out of 8 people found this review helpful.

good read

I enjoyed reading the name of the star. very hard to put down and intriguing.

5 out of 8 people found this review helpful.

Mysterious and kept me guessing!

Rippermania. That's all I have to say! I mean - doesn't that draw you in already? This is why I was so excited to start The Name of the Star and I gotta tell ya.it was pretty awesome! I couldn't learn enough about these murders and the ghostly happenings around Rory's school.

I loved Rory's character. She was the subtly-strong type and getting to know her was a breeze, which allowed me to enjoy her story more! She was normal.besides the fact that she can see people who aren't really there.or are they?! I really enjoyed that this book had a wide spectrum of friends and foe. There was never a dull moment!

Maureen Johnson has fun with her writing, but knows when to get serious. I absolutely loved that she wasn't afraid to write about the Ripper murders and even recreate them - in a way - but still leave out the gory details. Very tastefully done and I appreciate that.believe me I do! Johnson also knows how to keep a reader on the edge of their seats. I was about the pull my own hair out trying to figure out what the heck was going on!!

One let down for me was the no-closure-relationship between Rory and Jerome. I loved the light romance, don't get me wrong, but I would've liked to read more or even get some closure. Then again, the series isn't over!!

The Name of the Star is a must read for those who love suspense and mystery.oh and a bit of supernatural-ness! ;) It really was a pleasant and refreshing read. Definitely a book that should be nudged up to the top of your reading piles!

Review based on ARC

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

YES! YES! YES!!!

I'm going to keep this review short and sweet: this book was AMAZING!!!! It had me laughing and wanting to learn more about Jack the Ripper. Although it's a bit gruesome, it wasn't gruesome enough to stop reading the book or lose my apetite! Now please reward yourself with the possesion of this book! Get it and read it!!!!!

3 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

readers will enjoy Rory vs. the neo Ripper in the enjoyable opening Shades of London

Excited teenager Rory Deveaux leaves Benouville, Louisiana bayou to attend the Wexford boarding school in London for a year while her parents Tulane professors on sabbatical are in Britain. However, she finds much of the city is in fear as Rippermania terrorizes the city with what the cops know is a copy cat serial killer. This psychopath has mutilated and murdered several people, but never appears on the security cameras that are in the city.

As she struggles with the social customs of the school, Rory meets Jerome and her roommate Jazza. Rory and Jazza are walking together when the Louisiana native notices the killer; her new friend fails to see anything. Rory realizes she sees ghosts that other people and the cameras fail to notice. She tells the police who assume she is a typical American teen. However, the killer notices Rory as a threat and plans to bury her.

The key to this young adult paranormal serial killer thriller is the cast, whether they are sightless norms or those who see ghosts, every important player seem genuine. The suspenseful story line is somewhat gory, but jocularity lightens the impact. With satirical asides on the security of the London surveillance network and the new age vamps and weres, readers will enjoy Rory vs. the neo Ripper in the enjoyable opening Shades of London.

Harriet Klausner

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

One Word:SEQUEL!

I tend to jjudge books by their characters. And this one had a bright cast of characters. I must say,even though Jerome is the romantic interest I cant find myself getting attached. As he is neither charming, interesting, or attractive. But did anyone else think that Stephen could be a possible romantic interest in the next book (which btw is coming out january 2013, CANT WAIT THAT LONG!) ? Or was it just me? I thought that Stephen was by far the most interesting character.

2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Loved it

This is one of my fav books.A great read.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Johnson creates a tense mystery all her own

Rory Deveaux's parents decided a long time ago that it would be good for all of them to spend some time living outside of Louisiana which is how Rory finds herself arriving at a London boarding school the September of her senior year while her parents begin a teaching sabbatical in Bristol.

Rory isn't sure what to expect of England much less her English school--especially when she finds out she will be playing hockey every single day as part of her curriculum. Rory's expectations become unimportant soon enough when something strange happens.

Someone is killing London women and mimicking the gruesome crimes of Jack the Ripper--the notorious killer who terrorized London in the autumn of 1888 without ever being captured or even identified. The modern-day murders leave few leads. Nothing shows up on camera. No one sees anything. Still the murders continue as "Rippermania" grips the city.

In the midst of the murders something even stranger happens to Rory. She sees a man the night before a body is found on school grounds. Rory knows what she saw. But her roommate was with her and saw nothing. It can't be coincidence. But can it really be the New Ripper?

An outsider in every way, Rory soon finds herself at center of the investigation of the Ripper murders. As she learns more about the crimes and the suspect, Rory learns she is also at the center of something else--something stranger and possibly much more dangerous in The Name of the Star (2011) by Maureen Johnson.

The Name of the Star is the first book in Johnson's Shades of London series.

Starting with details from the original Ripper murders, Johnson creates a tense mystery all her own in The Name of the Star. Suspense blends with the supernatural as Rory learns more about the Ripper (new and old) and also about her own strange connection to the investigation.

Rory is a completely likable, authentic heroine. Her take on London and English boarding school, colored by her Southern sensibilities, adds much needed wit and humor to what could have been an otherwise horribly grim story.By the middle of the novel Johnson turns everything upside down taking the story in a surprising direction and introducing many of my favorite characters.*

In addition to her usual humor, Johnson keeps the writing her tense building suspense to nearly unbearable levels by the last quarter of the novel.

In addition to being a mystery with a unique setting, The Name of the Star is filled with twists and not a few surprises that will keep readers guessing well past the last page--not to mention leaving readers extremely eager for the next Shades of London book.

The Name of the Star is an exceptional start to what I fully expect to be a brilliant series.

*Team Stephen forever! In all seriousness though, I think the latter half of the novel is more indicative of the direction the series will take in the next book and I'm really excited to see if I'm right. Reading more about Stephen is just an added bonus.

Possible Pairings: White Cat by Holly Black, Heist Society by Ally Carter, Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly, Hourglass by Myra McEntire, The Demon's Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan, The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater, Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

A disappointing read with a promising sequel.

The cover:

I like this one. It does represent Rory and some place of London.

The storyline:

Well, well. This was an interesting read. The story begins when Rory, the main character, goes to a boarding school in London, she settles there and meets new friends. Then, while she’s settling, a murder happens, what’s so special about it is that it has the same characteristics of the victims of the infamous Jack the Ripper. She starts to fall in love with this boy, Jerome, she met while the murders go on.

Then, on the fourth murder, she suddenly becomes the only witness the police has. After interrogating her, she thinks something weird is happening and that’s when she realizes that she’s seeing the ghost of the ripper, because the ripper is a ghost.

That’s when she gets a new roommate whose later found to be a police woman protecting Rory. They become friends along with other two guys who explain things to her and tell her that she has a special gift.

The ripper shows up again and this time he wants Rory. He goes on threating her and the other two guys until she gives up and go with him. Later on, Boo (the new roommate) sends her “ghost” friend to save Rory. She saves Rory but ends up dead too.

At the end, Rory discovers something new and interesting about herself.

What I liked:

The story has some sense in it. I did like how Maureen included Jack the Ripper in this book and how she described every murder very vividly.
The main protagonist, Rory, was brave. And very smart at the beginning.
The writing style was good. Not great but good.
The characters were good.
What I disliked:

The pace in the story was killing me. At the beginning, I got very intrigued by the concept of the book, then the flow of the events was going slowly for me.
I hated how everything seemed easy to happen or to do in this story.
I hated seeing Rory becoming naïve.
The ending wasn’t good at all. I expected more in it and thought maybe what didn’t please me in the beginning and the middle of the book will do at the end, I was disappointed.
I was disappointed not to find the story horrifying. I was expecting it to scare me to death, unfortunately, it didn’t :(.
Why I went for the audiobook eventually:

I started reading the e-book first, but when things started to bore me, I decided to get the audiobook, but guess what? Even the amazing English accents didn’t cheer me up :s. So, thanks to the audiobook, I devoured the story whole even though I was going to stop reading it.

The characters:

Rory is the main protagonist. She’s from the US but goes to a boarding school in England. She’s smart and brave as well as loving and kind.

Jerome is the nice guy. He’s been mostly kept out of story because he had no idea what was going on.

Jazza is Rory’s first roommate and later best friend. She’s kind, nice and smart too. That’s probably why she and Rory became friends in the first place ^_^.

Boo is super cool. She has this funny and cool British accent that I love. She’s been mysterious but later we found out that she’s as nice and cool as Jazza, almost.

The other worth mentioning characters are: Stephen and Callum.

Conclusion:

This could’ve been a great book with the writing style and the characters. Unfortunately, it disappointed me a lot.

Will I be reading the sequel?

Definitely. The sequel has the potential to be way better and I’m having great expectations about it. Let’s hope I won’t be disappointed agai

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Amazing!!

At first I was afraid this was another one of those books where the girl gets conked in the head and she's magically taken back to Merry Olde England during the Jack the Ripper times. In fact its nothing of the sort and its a truly wonderful book about Rory and her life at a boarding school in London. I love how Ms. Johnson really makes you feel part of the setting. I found out so much more about how school are in England and what all goes on over there. I really like how she weaves in stories from the original Jack the Ripper murders in the 1800's in with the ones going on in modern day London. Rory is such a spunky, bright girl and I was laughing so much at her view on things. I think the romance is so nice between her and Jerome. I love how Ms Johnson's writing can make you get that giddy first love feel for him too. I really loved Rory's roommate Jezza. She's sweet and yet she will do anything for Rory.
This is a definite must-read for anyone who likes some history, mystery and a little romance all thrown into one roller coaster of 372 pages.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Light, yet engaging

Like an entertaining episode of Doctor Who. Swings a bit too hard from normal YA to paranormal sci-fi early on, but finds a sweet middle-ground. Light mystery enough to keep reader engaged and satisfied when connections are made. Recommended reading. Would suggest to friends.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Spooky fun!

The creepy Jack-the-Ripper story line drew me into this novel. It does not disappoint!

1 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

This book was terrible. I kept reading to see if it would get be

This book was terrible. I kept reading to see if it would get better and it didnt. I got to page 200 and just stopped reading. While there is some mystery it doesn't start until really late in the book, and even then its only a little bit. I had such high hopes for this book and was very disappointed at what I found.

Great Mystery / Thriller!

I didn't know much about this book when I picked it up from the library, but I thought the premise sounded interesting. I also love New Orleans and London, so bring it on!!

So, our heroine, Rory, has to transfer from a small Louisiana town to a London prep school because her parents have a new job opportunity there. I feel like this has been a recurring setup in the books I've read lately (See: New Girl, The Twisted Thread, The Vampire Academy and Hex Hall series). I guess I get the need for it: Prep school = No parents and limited authority figures, Being new = Easy exposition, Controlled secluded environment = Almost unlimited world building. And I have to say I liked every one of those books, so I guess I am a fool for a good private prep school tale.

So, Rory shows up right when a mysterious Jack the Ripper copycat (or is he...) starts to recreate the heinous murders the Ripper became famous for in the late 1800's. Rory has to deal with the typical new-girl-at-a-boarding-school drama: mean girl, new roommate, tough class schedule, new sports and hot boys. This time though, the twist is she is smack dab in the middle of an ongoing murder mystery.

Different secrets and twists present themselves over the course of the novel, many of which I didn't see coming and some of which I did. I really liked Rory and the rest of the characters. I loved the detail of Johnson's Ripper research and the London setting.

With The Name of the Star, Johnson has had created a well-crafted tale that will keep you turning the pages non-stop!

Spooky London Read

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.

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!

I started this book without really having any knowledge of what

I started this book without really having any knowledge of what it was about. I had seen it mentioned and people were saying good things about it, so I read it without looking at the summary or synopsis. Who says you can’t judge a book by its cover? LOL!

Right off the bat, I knew I would like the writer for the simple fact that she told me how to pronounce the name of the town that Lily, the
main character, was from in Louisiana. I read a lot of Urban Fantasy and there is apparently some dictionary of weird words, impossible to pronounce without some sort of phonetic guide. I do not have access to that dictionary.

Anyway, I really liked this book and am excited that it is the first in a series, Shades of London. The paranormal aspect of the book sneaks up on you about half-way through and makes you want to go back and re-read everything again. Not only does this book deal with ghosts in a new (to me) way, but the lifestyle of the Shades and the twisted nature of being one.

An unexpected side-effect of reading this book is that I have begun to wonder about the Jack the Ripper murders that happened in 1888…

There is so much descriptiveness in this book, the author does a great job of building the setting of London so that those of us who have not been there are able to following along easily and picture the foggy streets in our imagination.

I highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys the YA genre. There is murder, mystery, comedy, and even a little action. There was even one scene, that takes place in the school courtyard, where I was so nervous for the characters I was anxious, telling them (out loud) to hurry up!

I dont know...

This book was good in the beggining but then it got a little far fetched/wierd. If you like ghosts and creepy stuff you will like this book,if you dont then this might not be the book for you.

Hi

Best book ever

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Incredible

This book was amazing. It was very good to start with and comes with a big shot of irony right in the middle. Great read. Extremely recommended.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.