The Name of the Star (Shades of London #1) by Maureen Johnson

Jun 19, 2011 Tatiana rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: urban-fantasy, ya, 2011, mysteries-thrillers-horror, ala-ya-2012

As seen on The Readventurer

The Name of the Star is a novel with a great premise but bogged down by a very 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 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...more

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Jan 07, 2012 Erin rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Find the enhanced version of this and other reviews at: http://flashlightcommentary.blogspot....

The only thought in my head for much of the reading was that of Alexis Bledel as Rory Gilmore. It doesn’t do much credit to a story when the reader is perpetually distracted by a pop culture reference. You don’t see Heathcliff or Rochester being thrown around the literary world for a reason. The goal is to hook your reader, not set them in mind of other amusements. Perhaps I am too judgmental but I fe...more Find the enhanced version of this and other reviews at: http://flashlightcommentary.blogspot....

The only thought in my head for much of the reading was that of Alexis Bledel as Rory Gilmore. It doesn’t do much credit to a story when the reader is perpetually distracted by a pop culture reference. You don’t see Heathcliff or Rochester being thrown around the literary world for a reason. The goal is to hook your reader, not set them in mind of other amusements. Perhaps I am too judgmental but I feel this was an exceeding poor choice on Johnson’s part especially since we are talking about her protagonist. Chapter one is bad place to identify your first red flag.

I also found Johnson’s assumptions presumptuous especially as she is an American. For example, the central character is greeted at what I assume to be Heathrow by Mr. Franks who informs her that “Some nutter’s gone and pulled a Jack the Ripper.” She barely even registers the name and doesn’t attempt to understand the reference. Maybe I am mistaken but I was under the impression that the name Jack the Ripper is what sold this book. Okay, Rory is American but we aren’t completely incompetent. She may not know the details of the case but the name would certainly ring a bell. I was similarly irked by Johnson’s need to explain the term “prefect.” Again, I know we are largely considered uncultured, ignorant and arrogant but give us a little credit. Harry Potter mania wasn’t limited to jolly ol’ England mate. To be fair I did appreciate the explanations of Bonfire Night and the local perception of pubs and alcohol in general but I would have been happier if I didn’t feel the author was insulting the general intelligence of teenage America.

Thoroughly annoyed is not a good way to begin the third chapter of any book and things don’t get much better. The writing is mediocre but the pacing is the nail in the coffin. The story doesn’t take off until the last hundred pages but getting there like slogging up a mountain in the rain. Irrelevant anecdotes about Rory’s family, Wexford’s daily menus and occasional episodes of awkward snogging leave little room for character or plot development. Rory doesn’t go after the killer until she realizes she is a target but she also doesn’t have any genuine interest in what is going on around her. No, our insipid heroine is only relieved the threat and subsequent media circus have resulted in cancelled hockey sessions with Charlotte and Call Me Claudia. Why should a reader be interested in a story the primary character is a) not interested in and b) largely uninvolved with?

Before I close I invite those of you own a copy of the book to turn it over. There, on the back cover you will find glowing remarks from Cassandra Clare, Ally Carter and Holly Black. Now again, I beg your indulgence and ask you to open the book to the Acknowledgments section. Here you will find the following statement:

“To my friends, Scott Westerfeld, Justine Larbalestier, Robin Wasserman, Holly Black, Cassie Clare, Sarah Rees Brennan, John Green, Libba Bray, Ally Carter… who read drafts, walked me through plot problems, and talked me off of ledges.”

I don’t know about you but I find it appalling that Johnson and publisher G.P. Putnam’s Sons would stoop so low. It would be different if these were unbiased third parties or professional critics but by the author’s own pen, these are her friends. As such their opinions are irrelevant. Additionally the appearance of their feedback paired with Johnson’s admission call into question the integrity of all three women as they are essentially endorsing a piece they had a hand in creating. Bad form all around, bad form.

At this point you may be wondering why I have issued a two star rating rather than flagging The Name of the Star a complete waste of time. The truth is I, like so many others, have a rather morbid curiosity in regards to the Whitechapel murders. The basic concepts of the story are not altogether horrid and I actually really like the idea Johnson was trying to execute. The Ripper theme wasn't as strong as I had hoped but there were a handful of chapters towards the end where I actually felt the book was getting better. This brief shining moment was subsequently followed but a train wreck but that doesn’t change the fact that for a few pages, hope existed.

On the fence about taking on book two when it is published in the fall. If I learned anything from Anna Godberson’s Luxe series or Libba Bray’s Gemma Doyle trilogy it is to listen to my gut and quit while I’m ahead. Still, I like to think authors improve with time and experience. I have yet to identify anyone who fits the description but I have been known to torture myself searching for that elusive diamond in the rough.(less)

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Sep 18, 2011 Pam Vlieg rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

There are several things I love about Maureen Johnson’s writing. Her ability to describe a setting in such a way that causes vivid imagery to accompany her words, and her incredibly intellectual wit that makes me laugh out loud while reading. When I read that Johnson was publishing a paranormal YA book I knew I had to read it.

Rory is a Southern girl going to school in London, I adore the way Rory sees the city and the brilliant deductions she makes about all things British. She is having an okay...more

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Sep 28, 2011 Rachel rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: egalleys

More like 3.5, but I haven't decided if I'm on the higher or lower side of it...

If you know me at all, you know I love serial killers. I don't love them in a way that'd make me want to be one or anything, don't worry, but I think their mentality and motives are absolutely fascinating. And there is no serial killer as famous as Jack the Ripper. People have been fascinated with the Ripper since he first started killing. There were no definitive eyewitnesses, he stopped at five women, and investig...more More like 3.5, but I haven't decided if I'm on the higher or lower side of it...

If you know me at all, you know I love serial killers. I don't love them in a way that'd make me want to be one or anything, don't worry, but I think their mentality and motives are absolutely fascinating. And there is no serial killer as famous as Jack the Ripper. People have been fascinated with the Ripper since he first started killing. There were no definitive eyewitnesses, he stopped at five women, and investigators couldn't decide whether he had medical training or not. He's the guy that got away, and always will be, because there's no way for us to solve the mystery today. Anyway, needless to say, I was excited to read The Name of the Star.

Given my excitement, The Name of the Star didn't quite live up to my standards. I don't quite know why, but I think it may have been that I wanted more creepy, serial killer craziness and not so much about supernatural powers. I did love the London setting and reading about places I've only seen in movies... Sigh. I also appreciated all the CORRECT facts. The facts of the Jack the Ripper murders are so well-documented and easy to find I probably would've stopped reading the book had a fact been wrong. Sometime I read books that have their facts completely wrong and I want to throw the across the room.

Anyways, I wanted action, action, action, but the beginning of the book was very much about the characters. I love well-developed characters, and most characters were, but it got to be a bit much. I especially didn't like Rory's love interest. He was kinda bleh for me. The second half of the book picked up, and the twist really made it more interesting, and made me really want a sequel, especially the ending. The end really had all the action that I had been waiting patiently for, and made the book definitely worth my time.

If you're creepy like me and love Jack the Ripper, this is a sure bet. Any fans of paranormal novels will get their fill, though I know the synopsis doesn't make it sound like it! All in all, The Name of the Star is a ripping good and creepy time.(less)

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Oct 19, 2011 Giselle rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery-thriller, paranormal

I was really intrigued and quite pleased with The Name of the Star. I read it after seeing many dazzling reviews, so my expectations were quite high and though it wasn't perfect, I was very satisfied with it.

Jack the Ripper! That is all it took to entice me. Unless you have been born and raised under a rock, you have already heard about Jack the Ripper. His case is fascinating and very mysterious. I was really curious to find out how Maureen was going to use an extremely known story and make it...more I was really intrigued and quite pleased with The Name of the Star. I read it after seeing many dazzling reviews, so my expectations were quite high and though it wasn't perfect, I was very satisfied with it.

Jack the Ripper! That is all it took to entice me. Unless you have been born and raised under a rock, you have already heard about Jack the Ripper. His case is fascinating and very mysterious. I was really curious to find out how Maureen was going to use an extremely known story and make it fresh. I was not disappointed. I loved the creativity she used while writing the plot in this book. She obviously did her research and added quite a bit of actual Ripper facts in the story which was very interesting. Then she added some great plot elements to make it an original and refreshing story.

The first part of the book we have Rory who has moved to London to attend a private school. However, we don't have the usual private school cafeteria drama that you'd expect in this setting. Rory doesn't make instant enemies who happen to be the "it" crowd. Nor does she become the it crowd with the hottest guy in school. Rory is an ordinary high school student who works hard to get good grades and makes friends with her roommate. All the while a new killer is terrorizing London in much the same way as Jack the Ripper. Some may find it slow, but I enjoyed getting to know all the characters and Ripper facts before the furor. The second part is much more fast paced with a lot of plot progression and excitement.

The plot itself was nicely done with lots of fascinating facts and creative spooky encounters. I did have a few issues with the motives of the murderer. I can't say exactly what without going into spoilers, but I didn't understand the reasoning behind his motives. He never had any reason to think he was ever in danger unless he became troublesome. That is all I can say without giving away spoilers, but I think those who've read it will understand. I also understand, myself, that this is the first in a series, so the possibility of getting further explanations is still open.

It was refreshing to have no love triangle hanging in the air, but the romance was scarce at best. The love interest wasn't vert attractive or charming. I never felt much of a connection between him and the protagonist, but since it held such a scant part in the novel, it didn't affect my enjoyment of it by any means. I was reading this for the suspense, not the romance.

I was actually surprised and pleased to find quite a bit of humor added in the dialogue. The protagonist is smart and witty. I really enjoyed her way of thinking. There are a good number of great and amusing lines that I could have used as quotes in my review, but I was always too comfortable (or lazy) to write them down so I'll let you read them for yourself. :)

The ending will undoubtedly make anyone want to read the sequel right away. It's not a cliffhanger, but it opens the imagination to a great extent. In the end, it's a pretty good start to a potentially great series.(less)

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Feb 20, 2013 Aa'Ishah rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: reviewed, paranormal-fantasy, supernatural-paranormal, thriller-or-mystery

Jack the Ripper is one of those topics I really wish they'd cover in the History syllabus for school. Instead it's 20th century this, and 20th century that. Even at A level - which, for all you non-British, non-TNofS readers, are the two years of excrutiating study we have before university, in which we study four and then three subjects respectively, of our own choosing - the syllabus for the vast majority of the time is an unimaginative, repetitive look at 20th century European and USA history...more Jack the Ripper is one of those topics I really wish they'd cover in the History syllabus for school. Instead it's 20th century this, and 20th century that. Even at A level - which, for all you non-British, non-TNofS readers, are the two years of excrutiating study we have before university, in which we study four and then three subjects respectively, of our own choosing - the syllabus for the vast majority of the time is an unimaginative, repetitive look at 20th century European and USA history, just in loads more detail. So when I saw that Maureen Johnson had chosen to set her story around Jack the Ripper, and in my home city of London, I instantly knew I had to read it. And, I am delighted to say, it did not disappoint.

Rory Deveaux moves from Louisiana to London to study at Wexford Academy. The same day she arrives, the first in a string of copycat murders takes place. Someone has killed a woman in exactly the same way that Jack the Ripper murdered his first victim. As the murders continue, with the murderer leaving absolutely no trace of themselves despite all the CCTV cameras, London becomes more and more afraid, the media more and more frantic. Rory herself gets swept into a world she didn't even know existed. And it all starts with her seeing a strange man that no-one else can see. It's not long before it's her turn to be a target of the new Ripper.

It's clear that Johnson knows her stuff, right from the beginning. The information given to us in terms of the Ripper cases is clear and detailed. The whole nature of these crimes is completely dark and horrific, and I'm glad that the author didn't shy away from that. The pacing of the first half was somewhat slow, but after a while I actually didn't mind, instead enjoying learning about the boarding school Rory's at and how she settles in. The second half was engaging with its plot developments. Rory herself is just hilarious. Seriously. I really didn't expect this book to be so funny, and yet there were parts where I just had to laugh at Rory's take on things. To begin with, it was amusing to see how shocked she was at the culture difference between here and America, to have to learn different phrases and grow used to the cold and never-ending rain. I still can't believe that Blu-Tack doesn't exist in America. It's just so weird to think about. And the Underground. Oh my God. Rory got so excited about tubes and the Underground, you'd think she was Arthur Weasley. She also had loads of anecdotes from her life in America that she referred to. Rory was independent, down-to-earth and generally really likeable.

I mentioned plot developments. I love the different ideas that Johnson has brought together here. You can tell she had a clear image of what she wanted in this story, and it all came together nicely. The take on Jack the Ripper here is not one you're going to find elsewhere. All the characters generally had their own voice, and I liked how there weren't any stereotypes. What I didn't quite understand, however, was the romance. There was no insta-love, there was no love triangle, but...the romance itself was barely there. The way it was introduced wasn't exactly obvious, and I didn't understand why Rory and her guy of choice were together. I mean, they're both likeable characters, but I didn't get their relationship. The love interest himself is also slightly weird, and I couldn't really see how Rory was so comfortable with it, at least without asking him about it. You'll see what I mean if you read it. Having said that, though, there was something about him that I liked. And for some reason he sounded unbearably cute when he quoted those Spice Girls lyrics. I'm weird, I know.

This being the first book by Maureen Johnson that I've read, I'm sufficiently impressed. Romance aside, this is a well-rounded novel with an intriguing plotline. I appreciated the development of the secondary characters, Alistair and Jazza being particular favourites, and reading from Rory's perspective was truly wonderful. The ending isn't a cliffhanger, but it's definitely a brilliant opening for the sequel - which, luckily for me, I have and will hopefully be starting relatively soon. I highly recommend this to those of you who haven't read it yet.

This review is also posted on my blog.(less)

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Mar 19, 2013 Sam marked it as to-read · review of another edition

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Jan 05, 2012 Jana (The Book Goddess) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011-reads

This is actually the first book I’ve read that’s by Maureen Johnson, so I didn’t know what to expect. Normally, I would shy from these types of things; I mean come on it IS Jack the Ripper. Are you kidding me? I’m not a big fan of horror movies, or horror books ,for that matter.

A few weeks ago before reading the book, I (foolishly) thought that this was a historical paranormal. So imagine my surprise when I started reading and found out that this was set in present day, not in the 1880’s with t...more

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Mar 11, 2012 Michael rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Michael by: Reading Habit

Shelves: ya, 2011, paranormal, detective, serial-killers

I was excited to start this book, I won a copy and I was always interested to see how Maureen Johnston writes. This book was obvious the best choice for me to dive into this authors writing styles. The synopsis looked great; I’m interested in a good mystery, and a Jack the Ripper one...and it could have been a great book if they removed everything paranormal about it. I was really enjoying the mystery and the story of this Jack the Ripper copy cat.

The story opens with Rory Deveaux; just ordinary...more I was excited to start this book, I won a copy and I was always interested to see how Maureen Johnston writes. This book was obvious the best choice for me to dive into this authors writing styles. The synopsis looked great; I’m interested in a good mystery, and a Jack the Ripper one...and it could have been a great book if they removed everything paranormal about it. I was really enjoying the mystery and the story of this Jack the Ripper copy cat.

The story opens with Rory Deveaux; just ordinary, very boring character, starting a new chapter in her life. Her final two years of high school in a London boarding school ~~training to be a wizard~~. When she gets London she finds herself in the midst of Rippermania; a copy cat is killing women in the Whitechapel district the exact same way as Jack the Ripper did in 1888. Rory and some newly found friends are interested in uncovering the mystery but that is pretty much where the excitement ends.

I love books about serial killers, I love to read dark macabre mysteries and even a novel about Jack the Ripper sounds like a good read; turns out, I don’t like Paranormal YA. I don’t see the appeal at all, the second half of this book was just boring and unoriginal, and I had to push myself to finish it. Sure ~~some~~ one of the ghosts was slightly frightening but there was nothing thrilling about them at all. What ever happen to the supernatural sending chills down your spine and getting your heart racing with excitement?

There was some romance, some mystery in the book but that was all overshadowed by this hugely unenjoyable plot about ghosts and ghost police. I couldn’t find anything interesting about this part of the book at all; I just found it bland and very boring. I would hate to read some paranormal romance because this genre seems hugely popular but I find it hugely bland. I wanted to enjoy this book but I really could not recommend this book to anyone, except fans of paranormal romance.

Please note; Reading Habit did not recommend this book but I have marked them as the person who recommended it simply because I won this book in one of their giveaways and wanted to tag them in this review(less)

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Nov 12, 2011 Martha added it · review of another edition

It isn't a bad book. Not at all. Just nothing particularly amazing.
Plot: Could'v been worse but too slow and not suspenseful or scary enough to merit a 4 or 5.
Characters: Again, not terrible. I didn't feel anything towards them. I didn't care what happened to them one way or another. (view spoiler)
Writing: I want to give the writing a higher rating simply because so many people are obsessed with her books. But...It...more

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Nov 25, 2011 Hannah rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Hannah by: Hanneybean

Shelves: 2011-reads, ya

Rating Clarification: 3.5 Stars

It appears that a Jack the Ripper clone is re-enacting his dirty deeds in present day London, and the entire city is caught up in the mania. Aurora (Rory) Deveaux, an American teen, has arrived in the city to attend school at Wexford College, a small boarding school located in Londan's east end - the heart of Jack's killing grounds over 120+ years ago. Under author Maureen Johnson's pen, readers can vicariously experience the feelings Rory has as she learns to adju...more Rating Clarification: 3.5 Stars

It appears that a Jack the Ripper clone is re-enacting his dirty deeds in present day London, and the entire city is caught up in the mania. Aurora (Rory) Deveaux, an American teen, has arrived in the city to attend school at Wexford College, a small boarding school located in Londan's east end - the heart of Jack's killing grounds over 120+ years ago. Under author Maureen Johnson's pen, readers can vicariously experience the feelings Rory has as she learns to adjust to a new country, new friends and a challenging class schedule. In between difficult classes, dreaded hockey practice with "Call me Claudia", and trips to the local pub with new friends Jerome and Jazza, Rory slowly begins to create a niche for herself. However, after having a near-death experience choking on some food, Rory now finds an added complication in her life - it appears that she can see people others cannot. More terrifyingly, she might possibly be the only person who can "see" the elusive Jack.

The Name of the Star had alot going for it in terms of plot. I enjoyed getting to read about Rory adjusting to life as a foreigner in an English boarding school. There were several humorous observations, some genuinely creepy scenes, and the writing had an easy flow throughout. Some of the characters were very well drawn (Rory, Jazza, Boo and Alistair). Others, like Jerome and Charlotte, seemed like cardboard cutouts, and I couldn't get a real fix on them.

It appears this book is going to be the first in a series. The ending, while it wrapped up the mystery of "Jack", was open-ended enough for a sequel. Was it as suspenseful and gruesome as I hoped it would be? Not really. That's not to say it was bad. I enjoyed it. I'll probably read the second in the series. But it could have been so much more . I think with more time and effort, Johnson could have created an extremely intense, well crafted story. But perhaps I'm being unfair. These days I tend to judge all YA literature by The Hunger Games, and there's only ONE The Hunger Games :)

Some additional observations:
Johnson is definitely writing to an American YA audience, as the list of "here's what's different in England" grows with observations about English life and culture. It would be interesting to know if English reading audiences find this aspect of the book boring - I imagine it would be.

For parents who are interested in such things (I know I am), there is limited, mild profanity. No sexual situations (just a few descriptions of kissing), several instances of alcohol use. No drug use. There are descriptions of gore and violence - this is Jack the Ripper, after all.(less)

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Mar 02, 2013 Becky rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: not-a-love-triangle-in-sight, non-stalkery-love-interest

Not amazing, but not mind-numbingly awful either. There are some promising parts, but the premise requires a LOT of suspension of disbelief, even when you're ignoring the whole paranormal aspect. I mean, WHY are Rory's parents so absent when there's a MURDER on her school campus? The whole thing would have made way more sense with Rory being in college (I'm sorry, the parents-on-sabbatical thing is just lazy writing), but I guess that wouldn't technically make it YA anymore? I have no idea. Anyw...more

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Oct 29, 2011 Emily rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: best-of-ya, funny-stuff, kindle, lovely-covers, read-in-2011, so-much-fun

The Name of the Star is the second book I've read by Maureen Johnson. I admit that I love reading her blog and her Twitter feed, but 13 Little Blue Envelopes fell a little flat for me so I always assumed I liked Maureen more than I actually liked her work. However, the premise of TNotS intrigued me (Girl moves to London and becomes tangled up in a Jack the Ripper style murder mystery) so I bought this pretty much as soon as it came out. I wasn't expecting much more than an enjoyable, entertainin...more

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Mar 15, 2013 TheBookSmugglers rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: notable-reads-of-2011

Originally Reviewed on The Book Smugglers

The Name of the Star follows Rory Deveaux, an American teenager from Louisiana as she attends her senior year at a London boarding school. Her arrival in England coincides with the outset of a series of gruesome murders by what seems to be a Jack the Ripper copycat. As the bodies pile up, Rippermania spreads throughout England and Rory gets stuck in the middle of it all when she becomes a witness after seeing a mysterious man on school grounds. A man no o...more Originally Reviewed on The Book Smugglers

The Name of the Star follows Rory Deveaux, an American teenager from Louisiana as she attends her senior year at a London boarding school. Her arrival in England coincides with the outset of a series of gruesome murders by what seems to be a Jack the Ripper copycat. As the bodies pile up, Rippermania spreads throughout England and Rory gets stuck in the middle of it all when she becomes a witness after seeing a mysterious man on school grounds. A man no one else has seen and who becomes the prime suspect of the crimes. As the plot and mystery unfolds, Rory finds herself in great danger and part of a group of people that are, apparently, the secret ghost police of London.

I have yet to read a Maureen Johnson story that I didn’t like. Her books are generally infused with a generous amount of the type of humour (quirky, clever) I love, plus a dollop of awesomesauce and a teaspoon of freshness to make them stand out in whichever crowded genre she decides to write (Contemporary, Paranormal).

Uninspiring culinary metaphors aside, The Name of the Star is a great book. I would say it has two main segments or shall we say, it's part contemporary novel, part paranormal thriller and both are markedly different in terms of tone. Its first half reads more like a contemporary novel as Rory arrives and settles in in England – it follows her adventures at the boarding school and trying to fit in, trying to making friends and attempting to understand England: its school system, its laws (specially with regards to teenage drinking, a revelation to an American), its different accents and social structure and above all, OMG, field hockey. This first part is slowly developed which I found was great because it not only gave the story a real sense of setting and atmosphere but also provided insight on who Rory is. And she is a great heroine: funny, smart, friendly, lover of all things food, talkative (“we Deveauxs preferred to talk you to death, rather than face you in physical combat”), trying hard to adjust to a new life, a new life by the way which she chose to lead. This is also really cool: I loved how she would bring up her life in Louisiana and reminisce about her crazy family but also be aware that she needed some time apart to experience the world on her own. This sense of independence is very important to what happens later in the story.

During this first part, the Ripper case is almost a secondary plot line, surfacing here and there until it becomes the main story after it is clear that Rory has abilities that only few possess: she can see ghosts. The why and the how are explained with aplomb and are intrinsic part of the paranormal world that the author proposes. This second part is markedly different: things Rory didn't know exist are revealed, her interests change and so do her group of friends. In the first part of the novel, she is really close with her room mate Jazza but this relationship becomes strained when Rory becomes the bearer of a secret she is not allowed to share. The drama and danger are significantly amplified and the story becomes a thriller and it makes sense that life at the boarding school and regular activities fade into background noise. It is only to be expected and I loved this shift because it exemplifies how Rory life will change from now. It is not everyday that one discovers that ghosts are real and how are you supposed to go on with your normal life when you learn that?

Not only that, but all of a sudden Rory is part of something really big: she learns about this secret police, one of the biggest Governmental secrets (and just as a quick aside: haha, Scotland GraveYard) in the UK. I won't dwell on this because the fun part of the book is to discover it all alongside Rory, but allow me a quick description of this secret police and how it appears in this story: it is basically ghostbusters. With teenagers. In London. It's kind of ridiculous but awesome at the same time – it appeals to my inner geek so I bought into all this. I suppose it will be different for each reader.

There is some romance but it is more of the “let's make out for now” variety rather than the “ you are my one and only, let's stay together forever” type, which is always a plus and it is such a secondary part of the story to nearly make it tertiary. [1. I am firmly on Team Stephen, by the way. In case you are interested. But only because Callum seems to be taken by a really cool character.]

Finally, the particular Jack the Ripper storyline is wrapped up nicely but something huge happens in the very final page that made me salivate for more. This is another great aspect of the novel and one that speaks volumes about how good it is. I am sick and tired of everything being a series these days but I would read more of The Shades of London now if it were available. This series has real potential: all characters are well developed with background stories that beg further development; what happens in the end opens up a can of worms that will have to be dealt with and is basically an even greater life-changing event for Rory and finally, there are real philosophical, ethical aspects to what the Shades do and I want to see how it will be explored in further instalments.

This book was really and truly a joy to read. Please miss, can I have some more?
(less)

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Feb 24, 2013 Katie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011, 2013

This is, by far, the best book I've read in a long time.

Louisiana high school student Aurora (Rory) Deveaux arrives at boarding school in London (why do all of these YA authors make me wish I went to boarding school? I hated college dorms enough!) just as a string of murders mirroring those of Jack the Ripper's begin terrorizing the city. Rory finds herself caught up in the murders by knowing the face of the killer...and discovers a certain ability to go with it (but nothing too over the top or...more

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May 14, 2011 Melissa Cox rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

"The Name of the Star" is a great read, I loved it. What starts off as a fish out of water story about a girl from the Deep South coming to boarding school in London't East End turns out to be a supernatural thriller of the best possible kind. Rory is one of the most instantly likeable and realistic teen characters I've come across in ages, in fact I would happily have read about her simply going to Wexford and hooking up with some hot English boy but Maureen Johnson gives us much more than that...more

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May 08, 2012 Sandra rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ya, paranormal, mystery

{This review original appeared on Clear Eyes, Full Shelves.}
I love a good mystery, so when Maureen Johnson takes it to another level creating her witty and fun paranormal young adult thriller The Name of the Star, I was instantly hooked.

Aurora (who prefers Rory) Deveaux comes from Louisiana, the land of all things fantastical and magical, a place where her uncle has eight freezers filled with everything from batteries to milk intended to get him through another Hurricane Katrina (no worries abou...more

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Jun 02, 2012 Heather rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Rory Deveaux is an American student attending Wexford, a boarding school in London’s East End. The day Rory arrives in London, the first of a string of murders strikes. The murders are copy-cats of the known Jack-the-Ripper murders, down to the dates, locations, and victims’ names. Then one day, Rory sees a man who may be the killer. The only problem? She’s the only one who can see him.

I really loved this book. Which is kind of a given, because Maureen Johnson has never disappointed me. When I w...more

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Sep 02, 2012 Dominique rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: abandoned-books, worst-books-ever

It would be a lie to say I'd finished this -- I haven't. I abandoned it. For this reason, I was surprised -- I'm not really one of those people who just discards books, ever, really. Trust me, I have persevered through some truly atrocious stuff and came out the other side. But this... I couldn't. i just couldn't.
It was embarrassing. I can't remember the main character's name but she comes over to England goes to a boarding school and her interpretation of England and the mores English people s...more

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Jul 15, 2011 Justin rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: england, ghosts, arc, young-adult

I came from the 2011 ALA Annual Conference in New Orleans with literally dozens of advance reader copies, and had the nice problem of trying to figure out which one to read first. I had a chance to meet Maureen Johnson while I was there, and she was one of the friendliest authors I had the privilege of talking to. So, I started following her Twitter feed, and if you don’t follow her, you really should. She’s manic and adorable, and I couldn't help but decide to read Name of the Star first. I’m g...more I came from the 2011 ALA Annual Conference in New Orleans with literally dozens of advance reader copies, and had the nice problem of trying to figure out which one to read first. I had a chance to meet Maureen Johnson while I was there, and she was one of the friendliest authors I had the privilege of talking to. So, I started following her Twitter feed, and if you don’t follow her, you really should. She’s manic and adorable, and I couldn't help but decide to read Name of the Star first. I’m glad I did, because even with a few hiccups, this is a great start to what looks to be a fantastic YA series.

This first entry in Johnson’s new Shades of London series introduces Rory Deveaux, a Louisiana teenager who comes to England with her parents and enters a boarding school in London. Coinciding with her arrival is a spree of murders that are eerily reminiscent of those committed by London’s most famous serial killer: Jack the Ripper. Rory tries to adjust to her new surroundings, but London has become a surreal carnival of glee and fear, with “Ripper mania” spawning macabre parties, thronging vigils, and 24/7 news coverage. The grim mystery gets deeper when Rory realizes that she spoke to a sinister man at the scene of one the murders that nobody else could see, even when he was in plain sight. Still trying to make sense of being an American in England, Rory quickly finds herself overwhelmed by the discovery of a rare ability, which draws a whole lot of attention. Attention from those who want to help her, but also from the Ripper himself.

It must be said at the beginning that the general setting doesn't really fall outside of what readers might have seen before. It’s a British boarding school, with quirky roommates, mean girls, and a cute boy with a hot British accent. That almost qualifies as a subgenre, by now. Also, a few early twists are apparent a mile away to anyone who has seen the Sixth Sense (but, let’s be honest, that group is mostly comprised of people like me: thirty-somethings who are increasingly panicked about no longer being the arbiters of pop culture). And Ripper stories are always fascinating... seriously, always... but they are also prolific.

So it speaks highly of Johnson’s talent that this well-trodden path is so fun to walk down. The opening chapter grabs you immediately, and the beginning exposition is suffused with atmospheric tension. It also helps that Rory is such a likeable character; she has just the right mix of humor, awkwardness, and angst. Perfectly believable, and wholly sympathetic. Rory’s snark and self-effacing humility is a fantastic counterpoint to the rising tension and bloody attacks as the Ripper re-enacts the famous 19th-century rampage, ensuring that the story never falls too far on one side or the other of the drama/comedy spectrum. The setting is evocative and immersive; both the interiors and exteriors of this book's London resonate in the imagination, because they are written with an easy realism and an effortless eye for important detail.

The book heads in a different direction around halfway through, when Rory finally begins to understand what she can do and what that really means. This is where the story steps away from being a Jack the Ripper story, and determinedly sets up the larger Shades of London series premise. It’s a delicate moment, being the place most likely to lose readers who have been glued to the story so far, but I felt that Johnson handled it masterfully. The brooding tension that permeates the first half isn't lost, and Rory seamlessly moves from the boarding school into the wider, scarier world. Most importantly, though, Johnson keeps hot on the main mystery's heels while setting up the series, ensuring that this remains a strong standalone novel.

There are two minor quibbles I had with the book. At one point, the villain gets excessively monologue-y, which is a pet peeve of mine that I can never get over. The rest of the exposition was so good that it made that one "now I shall reveal my plan!" moment excessively grating. Also, for as much as Rory is smart, resourceful, and brave, she never really moves past being a perpetual damsel-in-distress until the very last moment. She spends the book being guarded, hunted, manipulated, herded, and being forced into uncomfortable situations, and even though there are plenty of moments that exemplify her innate strength, she spends too much time being at the mercy of her environment. To be fair, this could be attributed to overall tone of the book: unfamiliar school, unfamiliar city, unfamiliar culture, and, uh, unfamiliar ghosts. Still, I kind of waited for a definitive "Rory starts to kick ass" part of the story that never really came.

Both of these little issues are redeemed by a fantastic ending that wraps up the mystery nicely, but still leaves the reader with a tantalizing cliffhanger that sets up Rory's future exploits. It actually reminded me of the ending format that most Doctor Who episodes use (coincidence, considering the Amy Pond reference in the book? I THINK NOT). The Name of the Star pulls double duty as a gripping novel and as a series introduction with aplomb.

A word of warning: this is dark YA! *dramatic music* You know, because there's murders, and darkness, and making out, and everything is really foggy and whatnot! So, steer clear if you don't want your precious angel reading about subjects they might discover in other things you presumably don't let them read, like history books, or the newspaper. Otherwise, this is definitely one to check out once it hits shelves. The first Shades of London book is a great read, and I'm excited to see where the series goes from here.(less)

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Sep 07, 2011 Kate (Nomalicious Reads) rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley, reviewed

More reviews can be found over at my blog: Nomalicious Reads

The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson left me with a bunch of mixed feelings.

It started off really slow, for me at least, and at times I felt like I was reading a documentary. It was a slow reading for me, but I was glad that it picked up the pace, eventually.

It was strange, very strange, but it was good too - hence my mixed feelings.

One thing that royally pissed me off was the description of netball, I understand why it was descri...more

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Oct 19, 2011 Lauren (Nose in a Book) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: hard-copy, signed, 2011

Originally reviewed at Nose in a Book.

I’m honestly not sure what drew me to this book. I’ve tried to read some of Maureen Johnson’s books before and I was not a fan…at all. Add to that an ugly cover? I think the main thing I was looking forward to was a Southern girl displaced in London unexpectedly. Somewhat reminiscent of Anna, n’est pas? I’m pretty happy that I gave it a shot though. I was honestly surprised at how much I enjoyed the novel. Contrary to her other YA novels, Johnson delivers an...more Originally reviewed at Nose in a Book.

I’m honestly not sure what drew me to this book. I’ve tried to read some of Maureen Johnson’s books before and I was not a fan…at all. Add to that an ugly cover? I think the main thing I was looking forward to was a Southern girl displaced in London unexpectedly. Somewhat reminiscent of Anna, n’est pas? I’m pretty happy that I gave it a shot though. I was honestly surprised at how much I enjoyed the novel. Contrary to her other YA novels, Johnson delivers an intriguing mystery that keeps you guessing and introduces an exciting storyline for the beginning of a series. I think that, based on my opinion of her previous books, Rory is a more believable heroine than her other main characters. She’s confused, scared and still a teenager. She’s written really well in the respect that she’s not put in a typical situation to begin with and she’s a trooper throughout even though she has a couple breakdowns but it’s all believable.

Going into this book I wasn’t sure if this was supposed to be a fantasy novel or simply a mystery because the synopsis is so vague, but in a good way. Without spoiling everything, it is a fantasy novel but not on the level of Daughter of Smoke and Bone. It’s a pretty realistic setting with just a splash of paranormal. Half of book is trying to figure out what’s happening, however, and I definitely won’t spoil that factor but the cast of characters is definitely interesting and they create a great dynamic with Rory. If I had to compare this novel to any, the plot aspect is comparable to The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer. If you enjoyed that book, then I believe that you would definitely enjoy this one.

Now we can’t forget the love story factor and while there is one in the novel, it isn’t prominent and there also might be a slight love triangle. At least, I hope there is because I wasn’t the biggest fan of the obvious love interest for Rory. As I mentioned before though, this is going to be a series so there is still hope for the guy that I prefer. It’s a nice break from all the angst though. I think that plays into the realistic part of the novel – there is a love story happening but Rory has bigger, supernatural things going in her life and her love life has to take a backseat. It will have its place in the series, I’m sure, but in this first book it wasn’t prominent. This book is definitely worth the read – it’s different from a lot of what’s floating around right now and it’s a nice break from straight up YA novels that you might be inundated with right now.(less)

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Jul 16, 2012 Brigid *Flying Kick-a-pow!* rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-of-summer-12, meh, ghosts, young-adult, fantasy, paranormal, romance, crime-and-mystery

Okay, I love Maureen Johnson. She is a lovely and intelligent and hilarious person. So far, I've enjoyed all the books she's written. (I'm pretty sure I've read all of them...)

That said, I found The Name of the Star somewhat disappointing. I don't know, maybe I had unrealistically high expectations, and I also thought the book would be about something completely different. But, don't get me wrong. I did enjoy this book. But, I suppose it just wasn't quite as good as I had hoped it would be.

First...more Okay, I love Maureen Johnson. She is a lovely and intelligent and hilarious person. So far, I've enjoyed all the books she's written. (I'm pretty sure I've read all of them...)

That said, I found The Name of the Star somewhat disappointing. I don't know, maybe I had unrealistically high expectations, and I also thought the book would be about something completely different. But, don't get me wrong. I did enjoy this book. But, I suppose it just wasn't quite as good as I had hoped it would be.

First of all, I thought this book was going to be historical fiction, about Jack the Ripper. And since I hadn't seen Maureen Johnson do historical fiction yet, I was like, "OOH GOODIES. Something different!" But ... actually, this story is set in modern day. And it's not about Jack the Ripper. It's about a murderer imitating the crimes of Jack the Ripper. Wahhh. But even so, I could see how the premise could work and be something really interesting.

Unfortunately, I found the first 100 or so pages of the book to be pretty ... blahhh. Our protagonist, Rory, is an American girl who goes off to London for boarding school. She knows next to nothing about England or the way the British school system works––so basically, she just tries to figure it out for about the first fourth of the book. She tries to get used to living in a different country, she makes new friends, her friends are like, "Oh hoho you silly American! Let us teach you our British ways!" There are a lot of info dumps about what England is like, what the school is like, and so forth. It's clear that Maureen Johnson either knows a lot about England and/or did a lot of research on it. And yes, of course I respect the fact that she put so much effort into looking up this information to make her story more authentic. However, that doesn't mean she had to explain so much of it in large chunks.

And once we get into the actual plot, it still wasn't the most exciting. Also, it kind of unexpectedly turned into a paranormal book about halfway through. It still kept me interested for the most part, and it involved some cool ideas, but ... I don't know. It always kind of irks me when I think a book is realistic fiction and then it suddenly becomes fantastical. There was some foreshadow, but I felt like it could have been a little more obvious. I mean, I went from thinking this was historical fiction, to thinking it was a modern-day murder mystery, to figuring out that it was actually fantasy. So, that was a little confusing.

But, there were aspects of the book that I liked. Although Rory isn't my favorite protagonist ever, at least she was funny and seemed realistic most of the time. Although, by the end I didn't feel like she had developed enough. She was still kind of the same person. (view spoiler) But, judging from the ending I guess there will be a sequel...? So she still has time to grow, I suppose.

And I liked most of the side characters. Boo and Jazza and Jerome were all pretty likable. (Speaking of which, I loved that part where Jerome and Rory were going through the museum analyzing all the different kinds of butts in the paintings––that is totally something I would do.)

Over all, this wasn't terrible and it wasn't life-changing. It was good. Just good. I enjoyed reading it; I liked the humor and the characters and the premise (although it was a little confusingly executed). There were a lot of unexpected twists and turns to the story. There were some pacing issues, and parts/characters that could have been more developed, but I still liked the book. Although I'm not dying for the sequel (if there is one), I'd read it just to see where this goes. (less)

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Jan 22, 2013 Merna rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

DNF. Not bothering with an actual review.

What a disappointing and dull book.

You would expect a book about Jack the ripper to be an enjoyable and entertaining read.

Though it was an absolute fail for a Jack the ripper story.

I can't stop remembering this particular scene...

It’s when Rory and her love interest are kissing, and they pull apart and a string of their saliva hangs in-between them or something.

Who the fuck puts that kind of description in a kissing scene? What a turn off.
What was t...more

6 likes · like · see review

Dec 11, 2011 April rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: for-review, paranormal, ya, audio

When I started The Name Of The Star by Maureen Johnson I was under the assumption that it was a historical fiction murder mystery. That was an incorrect assumption. Yet, I was not disappointed by The Name Of The Star turning out to be a modern day paranormal murder mystery as opposed to historical fiction. Maureen Johnson wove a story that held me rapt during the entire duration of the audiobook.

Read the rest of my review here

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Nov 28, 2012 Georgina Martin (Bookz and Bitz) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: reviewed, owned-paperback

I picked this up on holiday. I didn't know of Johnson as a writer but thought the story sounded interesting.

The jack the Ripper theme was compelling, I learnt a lot more about the history of london that I knew. The way that Jophnson wrote both about the Rippers killings back in the day, and the media reaction to it this time was fascinating, and I suspect very near the truth (the ripper TV specials bit, especially). The great part of the story was that the supernatural twist didn't take over,...more

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May 12, 2013 Jessica Mcclelland rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Name: Jessica McClelland

APA citation: Johnson, M. (2011). The name of the star. Penguin: NY.

Genre: Mystery

Award (if applicable):

Format: Book

Selection process: The book was favored in School Library Journal. Moon, B. M. (2011). The name of the star. School Library Journal, 57(9), 157.

Review: Rory knows this school year is not going to be like any before; she's just moved to London and left her small Louisiana town life behind. What she doesn't expect is to be caught in the middle of a series of m...more

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Sep 30, 2011 Kelly Hager rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Rory is going to spend the next year at a boarding school in London while her parents teach in Bristol. She quickly makes friends (well, two) and things couldn't be better. Until a copycat starts re-enacting the Jack the Ripper murders. This would be creepy enough until it turns out that it actually may be THE Jack the Ripper who's doing it. And for some reason, Rory can see him. Know what's worse than that? He knows she can see him.

It's not exactly a secret that I love all things terrifying, so...more

2 likes · like · see review

May 26, 2011 Jennifer rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A very all-American girl begins boarding school in London in this series opener... but what could be a typical "fish out of water" story takes a dark turn. Because prowling the modern London streets is a murderer who seems to be reenacting the gruesome exploits of Jack the Ripper. Or is it old Jack himself? A tense, page-turning thriller, leavened with Johnson's great gift for voicey, funny characters.

3 likes · like · see review

May 10, 2012 Sai rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: super-good, reviewed

4.5

This was so so good... a breath of fresh air after being submerged in a fog of disappointing YA.

The writing was SUPERB: the way everything was... not downplayed, but just narrated. Like, the narrative was a narrative, exactly.

No cliches: I am so used to certain plotlines that I started predicting stuff, and it wouldn't happen. O.O Beautiful Especially the love triangle. And the fact that the focus wasn't the romance, rather a complementary niceness. The only thing that was as I thought it wo...more

2 likes · like · see review

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The Name of the Star (Shades of London #1)

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