Title: The Name of the Star
Author: Maureen Johnson
Published: 2011
Pages: 372
Category: Fiction: Young Adult
The Name of the Star is a bit of a departure for Maureen Johnson. While Maureen consistently writes about awesome, independent, intelligent teens, they usually don’t have to solve a murder. And there usually aren’t paranormal elements involved.
I really liked The Name of the Star. Rory is an intriguing protagonist, and maybe I’m a little biased, but I loved that she was a North American going to school in London. This is definitely my kind of plotline!
The novel could be described as a modern day telling of the Jack the Ripper story, but there is more than meets the eye and it ends up working really well. I’m excited to read the next two books in the trilogy, as I continue to really enjoy Maureen Johnson’s work.
This novel fits in with the increasing numbers of paranormal YA fiction that is being produced, but Maureen Johnson does a brilliant job with it and it does not seem overdone or tired. Instead we get a bright and fresh take on paranormal elements in a YA fiction novel that is well executed and intriguing. I really enjoyed The Name of the Star and would recommend it!
Philippa Adams 
Sounds good! Maybe I could borrow it!
Definitely!