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If Looks Could Kill
CCBC Review:
In this work of historical fiction set in the seedy streets of London and New York City in 1888, earnest, pious Pearl and independent do-gooder Tabitha serve as “Hallelujah Lasses” in the lower ranks of the Salvation Army, a relatively new organization bringing religion and social services to the poor. Tabitha, a homely, humble middle-class teen, chafes against the pretty, pure, zealous farm girl with whom she has been paired. When the white teens encounter Cora, who’s been trafficked by a cruel, exploitative brothel owner, they attempt an undercover rescue with the help of burgeoning journalist Frayda (Jewish). The bustling city, the history of the Salvation Army, and the oil-and-vinegar banter of Tabitha and Pearl are richly drawn and immersive. Across the pond, Jack the Ripper is on his murderous spree in London’s East End. The author depicts Jack as a physically ill, deluded, misogynistic gentleman doctor who butchers his female victims to procure organs for life-giving tonics. During one of Jack’s attempted murders, his victim temporarily paralyzes him with her Medusa stare and writhing crown of snakes. Jack attempts to flee Medusa’s wrath (and London police) by sailing to New York. The stories of Tabitha, Pearl, Jack, Medusa, Cora, Frayda, and others collide in an intricate time bomb of violent events that singes with scorching feminism, fierce friendship, gentle romance, and cat-and-mouse mayhem. Extensive end matter adds rich context to this sharply imagined novel about the mythology of murderers. ©2026 Cooperative Children’s Book Center
CCBC Age Recommendation: Age 14 and older
Age Range:
Grades 9-12 (Age 14 and older)
Format:
Novel
Subjects:
Feminism
Girls and Women
Good and Evil
Historical Fiction
Mythology
Violence
Publisher:
Simon & Schuster
Publish Year: 2025
Pages: 436
ISBN: 9781534470811
CCBC Location: Fiction, Berry