47. The Christopher Killer by Alane Ferguson

The Christopher Killer by Alane Ferguson

ISBN: 0-670-06008-9

Viking, New York, 2006

274 p.

Plot Summary

Seventeen-year-old Cameryn Mahoney knows what she wants to do with her life and that is to become a forensic pathologist, just like her father.  Although her grandmother disapproves of the macabre subject matter, Cameryn constantly studies books on forensics, intrigued by the stories that corpses can tell.  When her father, Patrick, expresses his need for an assistant, Cameryn jumps at the chance to get some real experience and, after some convincing, her father agrees to hire her.  On her first case, Cameryn spots a bit of evidence that helps lead her father to determine that it was a natural death.  Believing that his daughter is a genius at noticing the small things, Patrick picks Cameryn up from school on his way out to examine a murder case.  However, they soon discover that the victim is her friend from work and, when conducting the autopsy, evidence shows that it was the work of a serial killer that leaves a St. Christopher medal on the victims.  Intent on finding the killer, Cameryn begins to realize that her snooping may cause her to be the next victim.

Critical Evaluation

The Christopher Killer by Alane Ferguson is such a gripping story that I could not put it down.  I have read reviews that compare it to an episode of CSI and that is exactly how it felt to me, as well.  Just as with the detective television shows, readers are taken on a journey along with the protagonist, sorting through the clues as Cameryn finds them and constantly reevaluating which character they believe is the killer.  The author incorporates many scientific facts in the novel, especially when writing the autopsy scene.  This helps to make the story more realistic and allows readers to accept parts of the storyline that are harder to believe.  I especially enjoyed the way Ferguson wrote the character of Cameryn.  Even though she is still a teenager, she is sure about what she wants to do for a living and she is not afraid to go after it.  Also, when she believes that something important is being overlooked in the case, Cameryn does not bow down to the intimidation that adults employ, instead trying her best to make herself heard.  However, her intelligence and strength do not mean that she is infallible and the mistakes that she makes throughout the novel solidify the realness of the character.  Because this is the first of four novels in the Forensic Mystery series, I am interested in how Cameryn’s character will grow in the following novels as she gains more confidence in her abilities and what types of cases she will be faced with next.

Reader's Annotation

Cameryn Mahoney wants to be a forensic pathologist more than anything and when she gets the opportunity to be the assistant to her father, the county coroner, she looks forward to the chance to get some real experience.  However, when one of her first cases is the murder of a friend, Cameryn must learn to separate her emotions from the facts if she wants to find the killer.

Information About the Author

Alane Ferguson was born in Cumberland, Maryland, in 1957.  She attended the University of Utah and Westminster College where she studied journalism.  Later, Alane became interested in writing for children, mostly, she says, to follow the example of her mother, successful author Gloria Skurzynski.  Her mother has written over fifty-seven books for children, while Alane is currently completing her thirty-second.  Alane and her mother co-authored a series for National Geographic.  Their novel, Wolf Stalker, was the first work of fiction National Geographic had published in its as of then 109-year history.  Wolf Stalker was nominated for the 1998 Mystery Writer's of America's Edgar Allan Poe Award and the newest and 13th book in the series, Night of the Black Bear, was launched in spring of 2007.  

A recipient of the 1990 Edgar Allan Poe Award as well as the Belgium's Children's Choice Award for her young adult novel Show Me the Evidence, Alane was also a nominee for her third young-adult mystery, Poison.  She received a 2007 Edgar nomination for her young adult novel, The Christopher Killer, the first in the Sleuth Forensic Mystery series.  Alane won the Children's Crown Classic Award for Cricket and the Crackerbox Kid, the American Bookseller's Association's "Pick of the List" for her picture book entitled That New Pet, and has been on numerous ALA Recommended Books for Reluctant Young Readers and Young Adult's Choice list. (information from author’s website: http://www.alaneferguson.com/About_Alane.html)

Genre

Young Adult – Mystery

Curriculum Ties

N/A

Booktalking Ideas

1. Address the author’s extensive research in forensics for the novel.

2. Focus on the relationship between Cameryn and her father.

3. Discuss the conflict Cameryn feels between science and belief in psychics such as Dr. Jewel.

4. Talk about the impact that her mother’s abandonment has had on Cameryn.

Reading Level/Interest Age

13+

Challenge Issues

The novel contains graphic descriptions of corpses and the steps in an autopsy, as well as violence.

When confronted with complaints about this novel, librarians should become familiar with the material and its content.  Turn to reviews from publications such as Publisher’s Weekly, School Library Journal, and Booklist, as well as reviews from teens that have read it.  Also, it is beneficial for librarians to present reasons backed by the ALA in support of intellectual freedom.  As stated in the Library Bill of Rights:

I. Books and other library resources should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of the community the library serves. Materials should not be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation.

II. Libraries should provide materials and information presenting all points of view on current and historical issues. Materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval.

III. Libraries should challenge censorship in the fulfillment of their responsibility to provide information and enlightenment.

Why Include Book in Selection? 

I first heard about this novel in the Author/Genre presentations for class and, when looking to add different genres to my collection, I decided to choose this novel.