Book Review: The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson

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Pages: 372
Published: October 2012
Genres: YA, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Mystery

Goodreads Synopsis...
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.

Review...
Ok, so you've read the synopsis. Lets list the things this book contains. Its thrilling, its creepy. It invloves lots of awesome Jack the Ripper story lines, and info. It takes place at a boarding school in London! I mean come on, that sounds magical! And it is funny and full of mystery.

Now this book actually contains all of the things I just mentioned! All of them! Its creepy, funny, and beautifully described. But before you go rushing off to buy it. You should know that all of those beautiful things, that would make a brilliant book, have been watered down. Everything is good, but not great. And that basically sums up my whole opinion of this book.

Its a tiny bit scary/creepy, and it does have a lot of Jack the Ripper stuff happening. But its not creepy enough! Nowhere near enough! It is well described, but thats it. I mean London, with all its rich culture. At a boarding school! The author could have surrounded me in this world, instead she just showed it to me. There is mystery and a twist, but to be honest it isnt that surprising, and made it harder to invest in the book.

If your looking for a book that will scare you silly. And leave you dizzy from its detailed descriptions. This is probably not the right book for you. If you looking for a fun, fast read, thats pretty good. Then pick up The Name of the Star.

3/5