Ripped

Ripped by Carr, Shelly Dickson. paperback edition. ISBN: 9781939003003.

RIPPED: Winner of three Ben Franklin Awards from the Independent Book Publishers Association, 2013Gold: The Bill Fisher Award for BEST FIRST BOOK, YA Fiction Silver: BEST NEW VOICE, Fiction and BEST MYSTERY/SUSPENSE An American teen poised to unmask Jack the Ripper. Really? Yes, really. Katie Lennox is no wimp, but neither is she a super hero. Shes an ordinary teen facing extraordinary circumstances, forced to make tough life and death choices. Katies been living in London with Grandma Cleaves since an accident destroyed her family in Boston. Nothing can bring her parents back, but Katie cant help wishing she could change things, erase that horrible day. Her family, hanging out at Starbucks with her friends in Boston and having a sister to talk to-- its all gone. But Katie is settling into her new life-- making friends and even enjoying life in a city with so much history. She can actually walk the same streets Oscar Wilde walked, and stroll down Baker Street where the famous sleuth Sherlock Holmes lived. She loves these historic neighborhoods; they remind her of Boston. Out with her dorky cousin and his cute friend one day, Katie is yanked from the streets of London 2013 back in time to London 1888. She knew about the Legend of the London Stone and yes thats why she visited it, but its not just a legend, it really works? Her long dress, button-up shoes and well... the horses, carriages... theyre all real. This isnt a movie set. Be careful what you wish for... was a thought bubble as Katie tried to collect her wits. Its not long before Katie understands shes there to warn the girls, the ones she read about at the Jack the Ripper exhibit just hours ago. Katie knows all his victims by name, even knows where and when they were killed. She must try and warn them. Dropped once again into a new world, Katie must land on her feet, stay calm and carry on. A modern American girl trying to blend in Victorian society is not an easy task. But Katies determined to do the right thing and with Toby and Colins help, surely they stop the Jack the Ripper. The story unfolds: a tale that uses details from Scotland Yard investigation reports of the murders and the authors own timeline of events as they have been altered by Katies actions and the actions of other players from the authors imagination. RIPPED is a deliberate walk... not a run or high-speed chase of a thriller. Shelly Dickson Carr parses out clues like a trail of breadcrumbs, some meant to lead the reader astray while others will aid the experienced mystery reader in solving the puzzle. While Katie and her friends unravel the mystery of Jack the Ripper, working desperately to save his victims, Katie is faced with tough choices. She knows the difference between right and wrong, but here its different. Will Katie be strong enough to choose between the hard right over the easy wrong, or can she even tell the difference? Why wouldnt she choose to have her parents back? Shed be crazy not to, right?