After a fateful stint in Bryant and May's match factory leaves 17-year-old orphan Evelyn Fallow with "phossy jaw" d the scars that come with it e seeks refuge within the supposedly secure walls of the London Hospital. Assigned to attend the notorious Elephant Man, Joseph Merrick, Evelyn is both boundlessly grateful and fiercely frightened. Though the two bond almost instantly, their friendship is swiftly punctuated by the arrival of late-night apparitions, which they soon recognize to be victims of "Leather Apron's" concurrent murders. With the nightly return of each rst, the tormented Polly Nichols; second, the shrieking Annie Chapman; third, the inconsolable "Long Liz"; and, finally, the self-destructive Catherine Eddowes . Merrick's fragile condition worsens. In order to save him, Evelyn will have to appease each spirit, inevitably confronting the squalor she escaped, as well as Jack the Ripper. While the anachronistic prose can be distracting, Kirby's character development, particularly his portrayal of the extraordinary Mr. Merrick, is consistently impressive. Austen devotees are sure to appreciate Kirby's commitment to the gothic entanglements of Northanger Abbey.

A kinship over physical deformities evolves into friendship between Joseph Merrick ("the Elephant Man") and his new maid, Evelyn, who has "phossy jaw." As Evelyn seeks refuge from London's streets, a series of murders brings ghosts to their door. Kirby's gritty novel includes historical references within a unique story of self-acceptance, murder, and friendship.

In this grisly fantasy from Kirby (the Dark Gravity Sequence), the year is 1888 and London-s slums are soon to be terrorized by Leather Apron (later known as Jack the Ripper), who murders prostitutes in the most gruesome manner possible. In a nearby East End hospital resides a monster of a gentler sort: Joseph Merrick, the Elephant Man, who has a new maid, 17-year-old Evelyn Fallows. Some would label Evelyn a monster as well, her jaw destroyed by phosphorus necrosis from working in a match factory. Evelyn is initially repulsed by Merrick-s deformity, but she soon recognizes him as a gentle soul. After the murders commence, the ghosts of Leather Apron-s victims begin to appear in Merrick-s room. Concerned about the effect of these monstrous apparitions on Merrick-s health, Evelyn ventures into the slums in an attempt to put the suffering ghosts to rest. Evelyn-all grit, anger, and distrust-is a complex and engaging character, the slums and slang of Victorian-era London are carefully delineated, and the eventual revelation of Leather Apron-s identity and fate will leave readers gasping. Ages 12-up. Agent: Stephen Fraser, Jennifer De Chiara Literary. (Sept.)

Gr 7 Up-In 1888, London is in the grip of a monster: Jack the Ripper is stalking and murdering women in East End's Whitechapel area. Young Evelyn Fallowwhose disfigured face makes her a monster to somehas just been hired as a maid at London Hospital for Joseph Merrick (also known as the Elephant Man). Though he is also considered a monstrosity by many, Evelyn discovers a gentle, compassionate soul in Mr. Merrick. These two find friendship and understanding in each other. But when the murders continue, the duo are visited nightly by the ghosts of the Ripper's victims. As the body count climbs, so do the cast of apparitions, who clearly want something. Mr. Merrick's fragile health begins to decline as the pair face these spirits night after night. Will Evelyn risk leaving the safe haven of the hospital to save her dear friend? This historical fiction blends horror with mystery and results in wonderfully crafted storytelling with strong, well-drawn characters. Kirby carefully balances the gruesome with a well-written, sensitive treatment of what could easily be lurid. VERDICT A great read for fans of history, true crime, or ghost stories. Elaine Baran Black, Georgia Public Library Service, Atlanta

Everywhere Evelyn turns she sees monsters. She works in a hospital taking care of The Elephant Man; she sees and hears of the atrocities of the monster that will become known as Jack the Ripper; and when she looks at her own reflection in the mirror, she sees a monster. Evelyn is a teenager living in England in the late 1800s, and after having worked with poisonous materials in a matchstick factory, she has phossy jaw. The surgery to remove a large section of her jaw has left her with terrible scars and a face that is disfigured. She is saved from a life on the streets by obtaining the job at a London hospital serving The Elephant Man. Their disfigurements put them at ease around one another, and they develop a fast friendship. The job as a maid quickly changes, however, as The Elephant Man asks her to help him deal with ghosts that have been haunting him. Evelyn soon begins to suspect that these ghosts are the women who have been murdered by a serial killer. Evelyn's job is to solve the mystery of the ghosts and to make peace with all her monsters.The historical aspect of this book is quite remarkable. The author weaves together the history of Joseph Merrick, The Elephant Man; the London matchstick girls; and Jack the Ripper in one novel. The history is intriguing, but the graphic and gruesome details of the murders make this book suitable for older readers. The ghost story takes a while to develop, but once the mystery starts to unravel the action picks up quite a bit. If readers can persevere to this part of the story, they will be pleased with the outcome. This book is recommended as an additional purchase where mysteries are in demand.Lynndy Hurdle.