Jack the Ripper

by Michael Burgan

Get a behind-the-scenes glimpse of what it takes to be considered one of the worst figures in history, with this second book in a brand-new nonfiction series that focuses on the most nefarious historical figures.

In 1888, London was terrorized by a mysterious man with a knife. Between the end of August and beginning of November, this man committed five known murders—possibly more. Then, just as suddenly as they started, the killings stopped.

Dubbed “Jack the Ripper” by the press, he slipped through the dark, foggy streets of London’s Whitchapel district, targeting women and leaving no witnesses and no clues as to his identity. The police were stumped. The press went wild. But no one could find Jack the Ripper.

Even today, Jack the Ripper continues to fascinate. Amateur detectives, known as “Ripperologists”, books, movies, and walking tours all focus on one question: who was Jack the Ripper? Get a little closer to finding out with this biography that takes a deeper look at Jack the Ripper…because while he may be one of history’s worst people, his legend lives on.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Mystery, Middle Grade, Childrens

208 pages, Paperback

Published August 15, 2017

Reviews

[Vernon Area Public Library KIDS · Rating 4 out of 5]

A captivating non fiction narrative that takes you through the mystery of the millennium. With a compelling narrative, reviewing witness accounts, and investigating evidence, the story tries to answer one major question. Who was Jack the Ripper?

Recommended for grades 7-12. Lexile Level: NA
Reviewed by Christine Hwang, Youth and School Services, Vernon Area Public Library

[Mignon DeLarre · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gave it four stars because it has enough information to get a kid from middle school interested but not enough to get the school who has this in their library in trouble.

[Haaley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this book was a very interesting look into the history of who Jack the Ripper was and might have been. It was very descriptive for a children's book. That being said, I haven't read any adult text on Jack yet so I am not sure if it gets worse.

It is definitely for older children, considering the topic of prostitutes and their brutal dissections.

[Esther Keller · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read my review in an upcoming issue of SLJ.

[Anhie Greenish · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not knowing who Jack really was creates a sense of mystery that people enjoy. To most people, Jack represents "the fear that we all have of the lurker in the shadows, that thing we can offer no defense against" If Jack identity is discovered, people may no look for another symbol of that universal human fear.

I have known the name Jack the Ripper from many crime detective book that i've read. It appeared a lot in Detective Conan and Sherlock Holmes. But i dont know exactly who or what the crimes that makes it famous, all i know that he is a very famous serial killer.

This book gladly told us the story with very captivating narrative. Benar-benar tidak terasa seperti baca buku non fiksi. Kita dibawa mulai dari kisah korban pertama, latar belakang sang korban hingga ke menit terakhir sang korban terlihat sampai ketika korban ditemukan lengkap dengan penggambaran crime scene itu sendiri. Kemudian dilanjutkan dengan penyelidikan calon-calon tersangka yang kesemuanya menemui jalan buntu, hingga muncul kembali korban berikutnya. Hingga suatu hari ada surat yang dikirim ke Scotland Yard mengklaim akan melakukan pembunuhan lagi dengan memotong telinga korban berikutnya dan menandatangani suratnya dengan nama Jack the Ripper. Dan ketika korban berikutnya muncul dengan deskripsi yang sama dengan surat tersebut, sang pembunuh berantai pun akhirnya punya nama : Jack the Ripper.

Kasus Jack the Ripper memang bukan cuma kasus pembunuhan berantai biasa. Salah satu kesamaan dari kelima korbannya adalah mereka semua perempuan pekerja malam (PSK) yang hobinya mabuk-mabukan dan tinggal di wilayah kumuh Whitechapel. Yang menjadi highlight adalah semua korbannya dibunuh dengan sangat kejam. Tenggorokan mereka disayat, Beberapa organ tubuh seperti rahim, jantung, dan hati diambil. Bahkan ada korban yang wajahnya dimutilasi hingga polisi hanya bisa mengidentifikasi mayatnya dari mata sang korban sang tersisa. That was so sicked!

Jadi, siapa sebenarnya Jack the Ripper? That was still a mystery. This book also gave us some possible suspects and some theory on who or why Jack the Ripper do the crime. You can also take some guesses too. Because the hunt for Jack's identity is still continued by some called Ripperologists yet it still remain mystery.

[Go · Rating 3 out of 5]

Still a mystery to this day, Jack the Ripper is a gruesome fascination. Never caught. It’s strange how we can be drawn to this dangerous man that made history so dark. It has been debated over the years whether or not all of his victims were actually prostitutes, however in this book, it is assumed that they all were. I knew from my teenage years a little bit about Jack, yet I forgot how brutal the murders were. He ripped his victims with a knife (down the front), intestines pulled out and sometimes organs, the womb removed, and the throat cut. Sickening. Understandably, the investigators speculated that the killer had knowledge of the human body. As fast as he appeared, he then disappeared never to return.


There was some taunting that was possibly Jack or someone else trying to scare the public during these dark times: "…in the days after the murder, strange writings appeared on doors and building walls near the murder scene, adding to the neighborhood sphere. One of the most chilling read, ‘This is the fourth. I will murder 16 more and then give myself up.’ "


Chief Inspector Henry Moore of Scotland Yard spoke with a journalist about the challenges of working in the crowded and sometimes dark streets of Whitechapel. He "led the journalist through the network of narrow passageways as dark and loathsome as a great network of sewers that stretches underneath them a few feet below."


"The women on the street made Jack's work even easier for him... lead him, of their own free will, to the spot where they know interruption is least likely. It is not as if he had to wait for his chance... and then they are so miserable and so hopeless, so utterly lost to all that makes a person want to live, that [they] will go in any man's company, and run the risk that it is not him." Such despair it’s so sad.

[The Book Club Makassar]

This book told us the history with a very captivating narrative. We got the story from our five victims, the background of these women, their relationship until the last time they were seen and their dead body were discovered. Then, we'll see how the investigation went with witness and the potential suspects. All of it sadly went to the dead end. One day Scotland Yard got a letter that claimed the next murder would take the victim's ear off. That letter was signed with the name of Jack the Ripper. It was surprised when the next victim showed up with a cut on her ear. For the first time, the Whitechapel murderer had a name: Jack the Ripper!

All the victims were women who worked as a prostitute and lived in the poorest street Whitechapel. The highlight was all of them were brutally murdered. Their body were all ripped and mutilated. Their throat was slit, their stomach was cut open with womb, heart and kidney removed. The last victim was slashed so badly that only identified by her eyes! Some would say it looked more like the work of a devil than of a man.

So, who was Jack The Ripper? That was still a mystery. Still, This book gave us some possible suspects and some theory on who or why Jack the Ripper do the crime. You can also take some guesses too. Because the hunt for Jack's identity is still continued by some called Ripperologists.

Not knowing who Jack really was creates a sense of mystery that people enjoy. To most people, Jack represents "the fear that we all have of the lurker in the shadows, that thing we can offer no defense against" If Jack identity is discovered, people may look for another symbol of that universal human fear.

*Review by Any

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 3 out of 5]

Burgan, Michael. History’s Worst: Jack the Ripper, 181 pgs. NON-FICTION. Aladdin (Simon & Schuster), 2017. $7.99 Language – PG (1 swears, 0 “f”), Mature Content – PG (defining prostitutes); Violence – PG (there are descriptions of the victims, but not overly graphic);

Jack the Ripper is not the worst serial killer who ever lived, but he is one of the most infamous because he has never been identified. Even over 100 years later, people are captivated by the legacy left by this uncaught killer.

History’s Worst: Jack the Ripper was a fun non-fiction book to read. Burgan writes very well and is informative in his writing, giving a history of London and the 1880s as well as theories from the 1880s up to current times of who Jack the Ripper might have been. While there are suspicions shared in this book that are not known facts, Burgan is transparent in presenting both facts and theories in an easy-to-read, flowing manner.

EL, MS – ADVISABLE. Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2017...

[Carolina Colleene · Rating 3 out of 5]

Language – PG (1 swears, 0 “f”), Mature Content – PG (defining prostitutes); Violence – PG (there are descriptions of the victims, but not overly graphic); Jack the Ripper is not the worst serial killer who ever lived, but he is one of the most infamous because he has never been identified. Even over 100 years later, people are captivated by the legacy left by this uncaught killer.
History’s Worst: Jack the Ripper was a fun non-fiction book to read. Burgan writes very well and is informative in his writing, giving a history of London and the 1880s as well as theories from the 1880s up to current times of who Jack the Ripper might have been. While there are suspicions shared in this book that are not known facts, Burgan is transparent in presenting both facts and theories in an easy-to-read, flowing manner.
Reviewed for http://kissthebook.blogspot.com/

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Want a new way to learn about history? The series History’s Worst presents the story of Jack the Ripper, one of the world’s best-known serial killers. A timeline, glossary, and bibliography are included to help further understanding of the Jack the Ripper case. There are also asides that shares a glimpse of what life was like at the time the case was being investigated originally. This book is presented in a chronological order for the crimes. It also addresses the many theories that have been put forth to identify Jack since the killings stopped. These theories are examined to show any inaccuracies that prove the theory is wrong.

[Christine · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this displayed in the 'tween' section at my local library, which is most likely for the 8-12 year old crowd. Given the subject matter (prostitutes, prostitution, sexual killing, etc.), I think its rather inappropriate for the targeted age group. I gave it 2 stars because I think it was an ok non fiction read for a high schooler. Im glad I read it first before allowing my tweens to read it. I will be returning it and they will not be reading it at this time. Highly disappointed with the modern book content advertised to kids these days.

[Colin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a non-fiction book, however it is very interesting. This book has the story of Jack the ripper told in third person, with more of a story style rather than a factual. I enjoyed this story, because I didn't know much about Jack the ripper before I read this book. I would not suggest this book to elementary school kids and people who do not like gore, as a few scenes are quite descriptive and gory.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes I find the best or most interesting books in the YA section while looking for books for my kids. Prior to reading this I knew Jack the Ripper was an English serial killer, but I didn't know how he killed. It's worth reading if you want to learn plus, it's easy and fast.

[Cooper Andreasen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading about how and why jack picked and killed his victims. It was also very cool to see the back stories of the people he killed. I recommend this book to anyone that enjoys murder mystery’s.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Reviewed for professional publication.

[Bookwormgyrl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Can you write a kids version of Jack the Ripper? Yes. This book gives a nice elementary look into Jack the Ripper for middle school readers. 3.0 Folios

[Miranda Noonan · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75/5
This was a pretty good nonfiction book for younger people just learning about Jack the Ripper. It was factual without being dry.

[Dylan Lo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned a lot about Jack the Ripper and the mystery around him, as well as some issues the police faced while trying to detect him. However, I found the possible culprits confusing, as I could not keep track of all of them.

[Nisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dear Boss,

I keep on hearing the police have caught me but they won’t fix me just yet. I have laughed when they look so clever and talk about being on the right track....good luck.

yours truly,

Jack the Ripper

-

This legend has brought me to this book, although it was the only one (book) I’ve read of his story and the rest of it I read on media or watched from YouTube.

I don’t have a courage to imagine if myself was already alive in his era and met him. Would I be his next victim or something?

I highly adore someone who has an egg-head thought particularly of plot twist thing! I mean, how could this legend fool anyone—above all the police—until the end of his day but they didn’t catch him on? But, no. I don't mean to agree what he did to his victims. 🤦🏻‍♀️

This book has speculations that ”this could be Jack, Jack died here, it was Jack’s cemetery” or something like that. It could be proper it could be not.

Other than that, its writing is prone to be comprehended and modest. I think it’s appropriate to those who want to read Jack’s story as a beginner. 💯

[James Bittle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good introduction to Jack.

[Suzy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is in our Juvenile fiction area and it is written at that reading level, but the content was, I thought a bit mature. Considering the topic how could it not be? The book follows the events in an area of London called Whitechapel, a poor and grungy neighborhood infested with crime and prostitution. In 1888 a series of gruesome murders occur to some of young women in the neighborhood-all involved in prostitution. The murderer is deemed "Jack the Ripper" because of the brutal way he murders his victims. The descriptions of the killings are quite ghastly and not for the feint of heart! The author Michael Burgan goes on to talk about all the theories people have proposed of who Jack may have been, some of which have been done as recently as 2016. Sadly there has been no final identification of who Jack was over 100 years later!

[Bernadette J-Hall]

I love