The Body of Christopher Creed by Carol Plum-Ucci

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Submitted by Kathleen 
(Nov 21, 2005)

The Body of Christopher Creed was both lovely and terrible. I thought the book started out rather slowly, with a scene in which the main character (Victor "Torey" Adams) is at college, bellowing at so-far-in-the-closet-he's-finding-Christmas-presents gay guy who dares to enter his room without knocking. There is, however, a bit of meat in what I consider to be a rather fatty scene and it is these scraps of meat that keep the reader plodding along through the exposition.
While the main character is likeable, he is not quite engaging. His thoughts are too...bland...in the beginning (an attempt to create a point from which Torey will change throughout the story, no doubt).
The minor characters, also, are not as well-developed as I would have liked. I would have liked the lives of Renee, Alex, Ryan, Ali and Bo to be delved into a bit more deeply. I would also have liked to see a bit more of Leandra, who had a great deal of potential for characterization, but who ended up playing the part of the "token uber-sensitive girlfriend". Sure, there are strained paragraphs in which Plum-Ucci tries to give us a glimpse of each character, but that is all she offers: a glimpse. The characters came across as two-and-a-half dimensional rather than the intended three.
The dialogue was rather strained as well and not true to actual dialogue between teenagers. The profanity was oddly placed, also. I often found myself wondering, "Why does this character use the 'f' bomb here, but not here, in this similar situation?" This faulty dialogue only contributed to the characterization problem.
Also, the scenes were rather erratically placed. The book begins with the afore-mentioned dorm-room scene, then delves deep into the past and then doesn't find the surface of the present again for another two-hundred-fifty pages. This pacing was unrealistic, in my opinion, and weakened the book's spell over its readers.
However, The Body of Christopher Creed had its redeeming qualities. Once I waded through the exposition, the story progressed nicely, though the "twist" at the end was fairly obviously hinted at earlier. I did like the portion in which Torey's mind warps after discovering the body in the woods. It was simply delightful and I was pleasantly surprised in the quality of that particular scene, though I was disappointed in its length.
At the end, though, I adored the last letter with its subtle (but not too subtle) message. That letter and the stylish way it was presented made up for almost everything that disappointed me in the book.
All in all, I give the book a three and would recommend it to most teenagers in search of a good read for a rainy day.

The author of this book has made it suspensful and very appealing to young readers. Personally, I could not put the book down. I was constantly thinking on the clues of what happened to Christopher Creed, and still was even after I had read the book through. The Body of Christopher Creed will lead the reader in one direction than once they think whats going to happen it totally turns around. It also gives a look at each of the characters' lives. Which also help the suspence giving each character an important attribution to the plot and setting.

The Body of Christopher Creed is not your mother's ordinary bland murder mystery. The entire story including the ending will baffle the reader as they are taken on a wild ride into the mind of a town possessed with the anxiety of a missing person. The obvious suspects are just as possible as the kid down the street. Anyone and everyone could have done it, including the victim himself.

The novel surrounds around the disappearance of a misunderstood teenager named Christopher Creed. Throughout his life he was always the whipping boy in the town of Steepleton. The effect of the constant belittling from his peers finally takes its toll and he decides enough is enough, sending a "goodbye" e-mail to his principal from the school library. People formulate their own opinions on this note and many think Christopher has either taken his own life, ran away, or possibly been murdered.

The letter mentions many students that Christopher wishes he could be. Torey Adams is one of these students and takes it upon himself to figure out what really happened to Chris. With the help of his childhood friend turned "floozy" in the eyes of many, Torey and Ali Mcdermott begin spying on Chris's house to gain clues on his disappearance. The information they eventually gain is eye opening and the town of Steepleton will never be the same again.

This novel is a great read. Readers of all ages will connect with the story and its many characters. Whether you're a "boon", a "jock", or a "nerd" The Body Of Christopher Creed can change your outlook on life and the way you treat others forever.

The Body of Christopher Creed is the first and last novel I will read by Carol Plum-Ucci. I admit parts of the novel are quite suspenseful, especially toward the end of the story. This book starts out nicely, with a mysterious letter from a disliked student (Chris Creed) who surprises his classmates with harsh accusations. Torey Adams is one boy who takes into account his own actions toward Chris and other people he has tormented. Although, Plum-Ucci's use of language and storytelling are that of a young kid, obviously not from a high-schooler's point of view.

The two other main characters, Bo and Ali, are from the typical "bad" crowd. Plum-Ucci tries to portray them as rebellious yet responsible teenagers. However, she manages to butcher this attempt with unrealistic events and over-exaggerated characteristics.

Obviously, young minds will like this novel because it is more directed to them. With the exception of some questionable language, this novel is best suited for younger students. As a whole, any age group can relate to the moral of the story: "What goes around, comes around."

This novel deserves a 3 rating. Even though I personally did not enjoy this novel, I'd recommend it to younger students who'd enjoy a good mystery.

Carol Plum-Ucci's novel, The Body of Christopher Creed, is an exciting, spine-tingling mystery that will catch your eye, and take your breathe away. In this novel, Chris Creed is the nerd at school. Everyone tend to take their anger out on him. He is annoying and frustrating. All of his life he has been the kid that people pick on for a laugh, or because they couldn't stand him. Torey Adams, although a good kid, has also beaten on Creed. One day, when the principal receives a letter from Creed over the internet, all of Steepletown realized that Creed was missing. Since Bo Richardson was the "bully" and "trouble-maker" of the town, Mrs. Creed and many other people though it was him who killed Creed. However, many people denied the fact that Creed might still be alive. There was so body, and no clues. Where is Chris Creed? Is he alive? Did he commit suicide? Was he murdered? These are the questions that will run through the readers head throughout the novel. Once you start reading this novel, it will get harder and harder for you to put it down.
Personally, I enjoy this mystery a lot. I thought I was very well written in the sense that the mystery theme continued throughout the entire book. There were clues, but not to many that the reader could figure the entire novel out. It was well written, and the suspense was awesome. The story line was very extraordinary. I would suggest that readers from the 8th and 9th grade should read this. Although the mysterical composure was written well, it was very simply written. The language is derogative, but can be handled. I would recommend this novel to people who enjoy mysteries.