Inspired by Pure Imagination Blog and Stacked.

Let’s be honest, nobody follows the age-old cliché that tells us not to judge a book by its covers. If you say you do, I am side-eying you. Book covers are the first thing that attracts any of us readers to a book. Before you pick up a book, the cover can essentially make or break a book. If I don’t like a cover design, I won’t pick it up. Lucky for us, publishing companies publish different cover designs, especially when a paperback book comes out. Sometimes we like it, sometimes we don’t. Whatever the changes with cover designs, I will discuss it.

Today, we look at the cover of The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson.

Ever since Lori (or somebody else I can’t remember at the moment) said that the guy on the front cover looked like Abraham Lincoln, that image refuses to leave my brain! Every time I pick up this book, I get confused, thinking, “why is Abe Lincoln on the cover?” and assumed that this book will be a historical YA novel about the President as a teenager who somehow ends up in the 21st century and falls in love with a girl here. (I am actually laughing just imaging it.) It makes no sense because this book is about Jack the Ripper. Where is the mutton chop on this guy’s face? (That was the fad in 19th century, right?) I think the two things I like about this cover is the gold borders on the top corners and the atmosphere of the image. It certainly indicates that this book has the 19th century influences (ie. Jack the Ripper and all that).

The paperback cover is slightly better than the hardcover. I don’t think about Abraham Lincoln, so that’s good. I love the title’s font and the smudges (or whatever you call it) in the letters. In the picture, I do get a feeling that somebody is being stalked. (Y’know, parks are a renowned place for stalking. ;) ) I think my only problem with it is the greenish-teal color. I like it, but it make me think of an infectious outbreak, not Jack the Ripper.

What did you think of the cover design and the changes? Will you now think of Abraham Lincoln when you look at the hardcover design? (I hope you do. ;D) Is there anything you would change?