The Name of the Star: Book Review

Novel: The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson

Release Date: September 29th, 2011
Publisher: Putnam

Format: Hardcover Novel

Source: Austin Teen Book Festival

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 in the autumn of 1888. 

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 now believe to be the prime suspect. But she is the only one who saw him. Even her roommate, who was 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.
(Synopsis from Amazon)


Willa's Rambles:
   The newest Maureen Johnson is something new and fresh from a well beloved author, and that title is The Name of the Star. This book incorporates historical facts with present-day theories and mysteries and the outcome is a well-paced novel with twists and turns on every page. 
   One of my favorite things about The Name of the Star is how you don't know what the title stands for until you are almost done with the book, and once you do, the mystery slowly starts to piece itself together.  The mystery of the novel is all about who the new Jack the Ripper is - and why Rory can see him, and her friends can't. 
   Rory is one of those characters that you immediately bond with. She's in a new city, and she feels awkward and out of place, but she stills finds friends and trouble. Rory stays true to herself the entire book, but grows on her before-London self into her experienced-Londoner self. Maureen Johnson does a beautiful job of describing Rory and her surroundings.
   For someone who has never been to London, I got a fantastical glimpse into the streets of London and the day-to-day goings. As readers we get to find out the differences between America and London, and how Rory has to cope and adapt to these differences. 
   The Name of the Star is suspenseful, fast paced, and well beyond any book I've read of it's genre. A fantastic 2011 read.


Check out the book trailer for The Name of the Star below!

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