Choice/Printz Honor

The Body of Christopher Creed
By Carol Plum-Ucci
2001 Printz Honor Book

Christopher Creed may be the name in the title, but this book is truly about Victor (Torey) Adams. Chris Creed wasn't what you would call popular. He wasn't one of those kids that all too often fade into the crowd of high school either - when he was around you knew it. Call him socially awkward. He didn't really have any friends. In fact his personality annoyed many of the other students and had led to violence on a couple of occasions.

The story starts with Torey's senior year of high school. He's starting a new school this year, mostly because he just can't deal with facing everyone after the previous year. Some think he went crazy. Others think he killed Christopher Creed, or at the very least had a hand in it. No one understands his personal mission - to find some evidence that Creed is out there, alive.

When Creed disappears, leaving behind only an email, no one knows where he is. Thanks to one of Torey's friend's ability to hack into the schools computers, they have a copy of the letter. At first Creed's parents, who are also awkward and clearly don't know their son anymore than anyone else does. When Creed doesn't appear in the following weeks, the opportunity arises for Mrs. Creed to indicate that she believes one of the Boons (poor students from the boondocks) had killed her son. Prior to this Torey was already somewhat tormented by his hand in harassing Creed. Now his sense of justice inspires him to find Creed himself. This quest is formidable, and tests all of Torey's relationships. An experience at an Indian burial site doesn't take him any closer to finding Creed - but it might just be enough to push Torey over the edge as well.

In the end no one know where Chris is. Torey is still searching. He has a feeling that Creed is alive out there, and will be found when he wants to be.

I really enjoyed this book. I found the relationships and conversations to be "real" and I think that junior high and high school students will identify well with both Torey and Christopher Creed. I would recommend this for grades 8 and up. While there is no graphic violence or sexuality, there are some scary/intense sense and a number of references to promiscuous behavior. I think that this book would be appropriate for mature junior high readers as well as high school students. I believe that this is a book that both male and female readers will enjoy. Torey is your typical high school boy, but one that has a conscience and feels great empathy for others. There is a lot of action, which makes the book hard to put down. Though the ending is somewhat ambiguous, there is still a sense of resolution.

Book Talk Hook

What if one of your classmates disappeared?
Leaving behind no trace of where they went?

Would you wonder what happened?
Would you look for them?

How far would you go?