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The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson
Series: Shades of London #1
Publication date: October 2nd, 2012
Pages: 372
Synopsis (according to Goodreads):
Jack the Ripper is back, and he's coming for Rory next...
Louisiana teenager Rory Deveaux arrives in London to start a new life at boarding school just as a series of brutal murders mimicking the horrific Jack the Ripper killing spree of more than a century ago has broken out across the city. The police are left with few leads and no witnesses. Except one. Rory spotted the man believed 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... unless she can tap her previously unknown abilities to turn the table.
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Review:
The story opens on a girl named Aurora ("Rory") entering a boarding school because her two genius parents decided to do some work-based vacationing in England. She was able to choose any school she wished to go and she picked a boarding school. Anyone already wondering if Rory has something wrong with her head?
Once she gets there she is completely submerged in the English culture which is vastly different than what she is used to being a deep south American. She slogs her way through the unusual school schedule, mandatory sport (ick), and unfamiliar accents easier than most people would. Howeverm she is met with an unfortunate, near fatal accident which renders her able to see ghosts. A fact that Rory does not come to realize until well into the middle (nearly the end) of the book. I found myself raising a brow at one of her first encounters with a corporeally challenged individual. She meets a boy in her library who doesn't seem to set off the motion sensory lighting as every other living thing seems to do. Hmm. Peculiar, eh, Rory? Not worth questioning?
The romance comes in the form of a prefect by the name of Jerome. Their romantic scenes left so much to be desired. They would get my hopes up about a strong emotional connection and then Johnson would simply move on to the next chapter. Jerome and Roy's love scenes most lusty event involved a line of spit extending between their lips as they violently broke apart. Now that's attractive.
While Rory struggles to come to terms with being able to see people that others can't, a pschopath is cutting a bloody trail across London in much the same manner as Jack the Ripper from 1888. There is much discussion about the theories behind the mysterious serial killer from the 18th century that was absolutely fascinating. I found myself skipping through Rory's "I see dead people" issues so I could get to more of the Jack the Ripper discussions that seemed to be plentiful.
Ultimately Rory becomes the focus of the serial killer and must confront him by the end of the book. In a very Scooby Doo-like manner the killer seems to lay his entire life history out at Rory's feet in a way of explaining both his reasoning for the killings and his plan for the future. The killer's plans, of course, entails Rory's death. Ruh Roh, Rory. All the while, one of the characters lays dying in the middle of the floor. Always time for a monologue, I suppose.
Unfortunately, the book was lackluster. It was all over the place and aside from the historical references to Jack the Ripper, I just couldn't get into it. The characters were so underdeveloped and confusing that I just couldn't seem to make a connection with them. However, the optimist in me hopes that the second book in the series will improve on the shortcomings I found in the first book.
