“The thing about being new at school, even if it's new to everyone, is that you're still new, and the others aren't you.”
— Rory's initial thoughts on starting at Wexford, a new experience for all the students.
Archivist's Choice
The Name of the Star
Maureen Johnson (2011)
Genre
Fantasy / Historical Fiction / Mystery / Young Adult
Reading Time
450 min
Key Themes
See below
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A Louisiana teenager in London discovers she's the only one who can see the ghostly new Jack the Ripper, making her both the sole witness and his next spectral target.
Synopsis
Louisiana teenager Rory Deveaux moves to London for boarding school. The city is experiencing murders like Jack the Ripper's original crimes. Police are confused, but Rory sees the killer: a ghost invisible to everyone else. She learns she is a 'Shade,' one of a few people who can see spirits. An old order recruits her to police the spectral world, and Rory begins training to control her abilities. She finds out the new Ripper is a powerful, evil spirit trying to return, and he targets Rory because she can see him. As the Ripper's attacks grow, Rory and other Shades, including the mysterious Callum, work to find the Ripper's identity and his link to the Order's history and an artifact called 'the Box.' The final fight takes Rory to the Tower of London, where she uses her new powers to defeat the Ripper and stop his full return, accepting her role as a protector against the unseen.
Reading time
450 min
Difficulty
Easy
Pacing
Fast
Mood
Suspenseful, Mysterious, Urban Fantasy, Adventurous
✓ Read this if...
You enjoy a blend of historical mystery, urban fantasy, and a boarding school setting with a touch of supernatural suspense.
✗ Skip this if...
You prefer hard-boiled detective stories without supernatural elements or are looking for a purely historical account of Jack the Ripper.
Plot Summary
Arrival in London and Wexford
Sixteen-year-old Rory Deveaux arrives in London from Louisiana with her parents to start her junior year at Wexford School, an old and respected boarding school for girls. Her eccentric Uncle Charles, a historian, and Aunt Jools meet her. Rory finds it hard to adjust to the cool English weather and new customs, feeling very out of place. She quickly connects with her roommate, Jazza, and meets other students like Callum and Alistair. Her first days are filled with the usual new student worries, but a strange tension fills the city, a feeling she cannot quite name.
The First Ripper-Style Murder
Soon after Rory arrives, London becomes afraid as brutal murders begin, copying the Jack the Ripper killings of 1888. The victims are all women, killed in the same way and in places like the original Ripper's hunting grounds. The news calls the killer 'The New Ripper.' The city's police, including Inspector Trevor and Detective Sergeant Jones, are confused, finding no leads or witnesses. Rory knows about the news, but the murders first feel distant, a dark background to her new life.
Rory Witnesses the Unseen
One evening, while out with Jazza near the school, Rory sees a shocking sight: a woman murdered in an alley. What truly scares her is that she sees the killer—a man in old clothes—but Jazza, and later the police, see nothing. The killer seems completely invisible to everyone else. Rory's detailed description of the man, including his old clothes, is met with doubt by Inspector Trevor and Detective Sergeant Jones, who think she is mistaken or making things up because of trauma. Rory feels alone and questions her own mind, certain of what she saw.
The Shades and the Box
After her unsettling experience, Rory's Uncle Charles reveals a family secret: Rory is a 'Shade,' a person who can see the 'shades'—spiritual traces or leftover energy—of past people and events. He explains that the New Ripper is also a Shade, the spirit of the original Jack the Ripper, now able to interact with the physical world. Charles gives Rory a mysterious, complex wooden box, saying it is a family item linked to their abilities. Rory begins to understand the killer's true nature and her special connection to him.
Training and the Order of the Shades
Uncle Charles starts training Rory, helping her understand and control her new abilities as a Shade. He explains the history of the Order of the Shades, a secret group that watches and, if needed, stops dangerous Shades. He reveals that the New Ripper is a powerful and evil Shade, a reanimated part of the original killer's mind, now acting in the present. Rory also learns that her family has a long history with the Order. Her training involves focusing her senses and understanding the subtle signs of the spirit world, preparing her for the inevitable fight.
The Ripper's Pursuit and Rory's Danger
As Rory's abilities grow, the New Ripper realizes she can see him. He starts to stalk her, his presence a chilling, invisible threat only she can sense. The killer's closeness increases Rory's fear but also her resolve. She has unsettling experiences where she feels his presence, sometimes seeing quick glimpses of him in crowds, confirming her unique and frightening connection. The police remain unaware, making Rory's situation more dangerous as she is the only one who truly knows the danger she is in and the Ripper's true nature.
The Boarding School's Secret History
Rory, with Jazza's help, starts researching Wexford School and the area. They find old records and stories suggesting the school has a hidden link to the original Ripper murders and the Order of the Shades. It becomes clear that the site has strong spiritual energy and has been a center for Shade activity for centuries. Rory realizes her enrollment at Wexford was not just luck but part of a larger plan, connecting her directly to the events and the Ripper's return.
Confrontation in the Sewers
Following clues, Rory, Jazza, and Callum, who has shown he believes Rory, go into the winding London sewers, a place linked to the Ripper legend. The sewers are dark, dangerous, and tight. They find signs of the Ripper's presence, and Rory feels him getting closer. A tense chase follows, with the Ripper's invisible form pursuing them through the underground passages. Rory's abilities are pushed to their limits as she tries to avoid him and protect her friends, leading to a terrifying, nearly fatal encounter.
The Ripper's Ritual and the Box's Power
Rory figures out that the New Ripper is not just killing randomly; he is doing a ritual to fully appear in the physical world and become solid, making him visible to everyone and unstoppable. The murder locations are important, forming a pattern. Uncle Charles confirms this, revealing the grave danger. Rory also learns that the mysterious wooden box given to her is not just a family item but a powerful object meant to hold or banish Shades. She must learn to activate and use its power before the Ripper's ritual is complete.
The Final Showdown at the Tower of London
The story ends at a notable London landmark, likely the Tower of London, where the Ripper plans to finish his ritual. Rory, with Jazza and Callum, arrives to stop him. The fight is intense and dangerous. Rory uses her improved Shade abilities, not just to see him, but to predict his moves and stop his ritual. After a hard battle, she manages to activate the power in the wooden box, which acts as a spiritual prison or banishing tool. With great effort, Rory traps or sends the New Ripper Shade back to the spirit world, ending his terror.
Aftermath and New Beginnings
With the New Ripper gone, the murders stop, and London slowly returns to normal, though with lingering questions and an officially unsolved police investigation. Rory, however, is changed forever. She has fully accepted her identity as a Shade and its responsibilities. Her bond with Jazza and Callum is stronger than ever, forged in shared danger. Rory realizes her life in London, and her future, will be far from ordinary, as she is now part of a secret world, ready to face other spectral threats that may appear.
Principal Figures
Rory Deveaux
The Protagonist
Rory transforms from an ordinary, displaced teenager into a powerful, self-assured Shade, accepting her unique abilities and the responsibility they entail.
Jazza
The Supporting
Jazza moves from skeptical friend to a brave and active participant in Rory's supernatural battles, proving her loyalty and courage.
Callum
The Supporting
Callum evolves from a detached, cynical observer to a committed and brave ally, demonstrating loyalty and resourcefulness.
Uncle Charles
The Supporting
Uncle Charles acts as a catalyst and guide for Rory, passing on his knowledge and preparing her to take on the family's legacy.
The New Ripper (Jack the Ripper's Shade)
The Antagonist
The New Ripper's arc involves his attempt to fully manifest in the physical world, culminating in his eventual defeat and banishment by Rory.
Inspector Trevor
The Supporting
Inspector Trevor remains largely unaware of the true nature of the killer, serving as a foil to Rory's supernatural understanding.
Detective Sergeant Jones
The Supporting
Detective Sergeant Jones's arc is less about personal transformation and more about his role in the police investigation, providing a slightly more nuanced reaction to Rory's claims.
Aunt Jools
The Supporting
Aunt Jools's role is primarily supportive, offering comfort and a connection to Rory's family life.
Themes & Insights
The Seen and the Unseen
This theme explores the idea that hidden realities exist beyond normal human sight. Rory's ability to see 'shades' immediately sets her apart, showing the clear difference between what she sees and what the rest of the world, including the police, perceives. The New Ripper's invisibility highlights this, making him a terrifying threat that cannot be fought normally. The theme looks at the isolation and burden of having such sight, as Rory struggles to be believed, and the deep meaning of a world where history is not just remembered but still present, though unseen.
““There are things in this world that are not meant to be seen by everyone. And there are people who are meant to see them.””
Identity and Belonging
Rory's journey starts with her feeling like an outsider in London, struggling to adjust to a new culture and school. This initial feeling of being out of place grows with the discovery of her abilities, which further separates her from the 'normal' world. The theme explores her search for where she belongs—first geographically, then spiritually. As she learns about the Order of the Shades and connects with her family's past, she starts to form a new identity, one that accepts her unique powers and duties. Her friendships with Jazza and Callum also help her find a new sense of belonging.
““I was a stranger in a strange land, and then I found out I was a stranger in a strange world too.””
The Echoes of History
The novel is deeply connected to the history of Jack the Ripper, exploring how past events can still affect and even appear in the present. The New Ripper is not just a copycat but a direct spiritual echo of the original killer, showing that history is not always confined to the past. London's old setting, with its many layers of history, is a strong background, suggesting that old energies and unresolved events remain. The theme questions the nature of time and memory, showing how some historical figures and traumas can leave such a strong mark that they can be reawakened.
““History isn't just written in books, Rory. Sometimes, it walks among us.””
Responsibility and Power
When Rory discovers her abilities as a Shade, she is thrown into a world of great power and great responsibility. She is the only one who can see and therefore fight the New Ripper, placing a heavy burden on her young shoulders. The theme examines the moral and practical effects of having such unique power. Rory must learn to control her abilities, understand their limits, and accept the dangerous role she must play. Her journey is about realizing that power comes with a duty to protect, even with great personal risk, and that ignoring her abilities is not an option.
““With great sight, comes great responsibility, Rory. You are a guardian now.””
Plot Devices & Literary Techniques
The 'Shade' Ability
Rory's unique power to perceive spiritual imprints of past people and events.
The 'Shade' ability is the central supernatural plot device. It allows Rory to see the New Ripper, who is otherwise invisible to the living world, making her the sole witness and the only one capable of confronting him. This ability also connects her to a secret history of supernatural guardians (the Order of the Shades) and explains the Ripper's spectral nature. It creates both her greatest strength and her greatest isolation, driving the plot forward by making her the target and the solution.
The Mysterious Wooden Box
A family heirloom with the power to contain or banish Shades.
The mysterious wooden box serves as a MacGuffin and a crucial tool in Rory's fight. Initially presented as a family heirloom, its true purpose as a powerful artifact for containing or banishing Shades is gradually revealed. It represents Rory's family legacy and the means by which she can ultimately defeat the New Ripper. The box's ancient and intricate nature adds to the mystical atmosphere and provides a tangible object for Rory to master and wield in the climax.
Historical Parallelism (Jack the Ripper)
The use of the original Jack the Ripper murders as a template for the modern crimes.
This device immediately grounds the supernatural mystery in a well-known historical horror, adding a layer of chilling familiarity and intrigue. By mirroring the original Ripper's methods and locations, the plot creates a sense of dread and urgency, while also providing clues for Rory and her allies to follow. It elevates the antagonist from a mere serial killer to a legendary, almost mythical, evil force that transcends time, making the threat more profound and personal to London's history.
The Order of the Shades
A secret society dedicated to monitoring and containing supernatural threats.
The Order of the Shades functions as a secret society, providing exposition, a sense of legacy, and a framework for Rory's abilities. It explains why her family has this power and establishes the rules and history of the supernatural world. This device gives Rory a mentor (Uncle Charles) and a sense of belonging to something larger than herself, offering both guidance and the weight of a long-standing responsibility in her fight against the New Ripper.
Critical analysis
Notable Quotes
“You can't really judge people until you've walked a mile in their shoes. Or, in this case, worn their school uniform and eaten their terrible cafeteria food.”
— Rory reflecting on her changing perceptions of the other students at Wexford.
“London is a city that remembers. It keeps its secrets close, but it never forgets.”
— Rory's growing awareness of London's history and its connection to the Jack the Ripper murders.
“The past isn't dead. It isn't even past. It's just waiting for someone to dig it up.”
— A general observation about historical mysteries and their lingering presence.
“There are some things you just can't Google. Some things you have to find out the hard way.”
— Rory realizing that not all information is readily available online, especially regarding the Ripper case.
“Fear can make you do stupid things, but it can also make you incredibly brave.”
— Rory contemplating the nature of fear as she gets drawn deeper into the mystery.
“It's one thing to read about history; it's another thing entirely to feel it breathing down your neck.”
— Rory experiencing the chilling reality of the Ripper murders coming to life around her.
“Sometimes the most dangerous thing you can do is nothing at all.”
— Rory's internal debate about whether to act or stay silent as the events unfold.
“The line between crazy and brilliant is often very thin, especially when you're dealing with history.”
— Considering the theories and motivations behind the modern-day Ripper killings.
“When you're caught in the middle of something big, you learn who your real friends are.”
— Rory's relationships with her new friends are tested by the extraordinary circumstances.
“It wasn't about solving a puzzle anymore; it was about stopping a monster.”
— Rory's shift in motivation from academic curiosity to a desperate need to prevent further harm.
“The past has a way of repeating itself, especially when people refuse to learn from it.”
— A commentary on the cyclical nature of violence and the failure to understand history.
“You never know what you're capable of until you're put to the test.”
— Rory discovering her own strength and resourcefulness in the face of extreme peril.
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Key Questions (FAQ)
Rory Deveaux, a teenager from Louisiana, moves to London to attend the fictional Wexford Academy. Shortly after her arrival, a new series of murders begins, eerily mirroring the original Jack the Ripper killings. Rory becomes entangled when she uniquely witnesses the killer during an attack, making her the sole witness and subsequently, a target.
About the author
Biography coming soon.
