The Name of the Star

by Maureen Johnson

When Rory's parents accept a teaching job in Bristol, England, she takes the opportunity to spend her senior year at a boarding school in London. As soon as she gets there, some strange murders begin to occur in the neighborhood around her school, which is the area where Jack the Ripper committed his terrible crimes years ago. The killer is recreating the Ripper's crimes, but when caught on video the knife is visible--the killer isn't. Rory finds herself in the middle of a bizarre world, where she can see ghosts, and one of them is trying to kill her.

Love me some Maureen Johnson! She's one of those writers who I imagine writes how she talks. She's witty, clever, and super sharp. This book is a rare treat. You'll laugh out loud at some parts, and be terrified a few minutes later. I also learned a few things about Jack the Ripper I didn't know, and I always find him fascinating. This is the first in a series, but even though there's a bit of a cliffhanger, the ending was still great. Definitely check this one out!

Dragon Seeker

by Anne Forbes

Dragonslayer, a sword with a personality and voice of its own, is dedicated to killing dragons. For centuries it has slumbered with its knight, buried in the depths of Edinburgh Castle. Lord Jezail, a magician, decides he wants to wield Dragonslayer himself, and releases it from its grave. Its grip on him is more intense than he realized. Now the sword and Jezail want to kill Arthur, a kind-hearted dragon, and they begin a mad quest for power. Clara, a human child featured in the previous five novels of the Dragonfire series, has memorized the Book of Spells, and the duo sets out to kidnap her. They need those spells to bring their murderous plans to fruition. Once she’s captured, her brother Neil and their magical friends must work to outsmart Jezail and the sword to save her. The plot-driven story moves quickly, and has enough twists and turns to keep readers involved, but an over-reliance on exclamatory statements is distracting. Those who haven’t started the series may have trouble connecting with the characters, but the tale wraps up neatly, and fans of the previous books will find a satisfying ending to their journey.