RIPPER
Stefan Petrucha
Penguin Group
2012
Available:
Paperback, Kindle, hard copy
Fourteen-year-old Carver Young lives at
the Ellis Orphanage in New York. The year is 1895. Like most orphans, he's
obsessed with his past. Who were his real parents? Why did they abandon him?
Determined to find the answers to these questions, he breaks into the locked
record room only to discover an important clue to his past. But is it enough for him to locate his
real father? To complicate his life even further, Miss Petty announces that the
orphanage is to
be relocated to the country and that the board has decided that
the "orphanage can no longer house residents past age thirteen." To
Carver's surprise, he is taken under the wing of a famous semi-retired
Pinkerton detective who not only sees potential in Carver, but agrees to help
Carver find his real father. At the same time there's a killer loose in the
city. A killer whose crimes seem a lot like those of Jack the Ripper. While
searching for his dad, he seems drawn into the murder cases as well. As he gets
closer, the stakes are raised higher and higher.
This was a fantastic read. I could hardly
put it down. Although the clues strongly suggest one obvious conclusion, there
are numerous unexpected and delightful surprises sprinkled as Carver's quest
unravels. Lots of action. Lots of danger. Lots of intrigue. All told through
the eyes of Carver in his unique voice. I highly recommend this book.
Target audience: grades 7-10
Mystery /suspense: Excellent
Kid appeal: High
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