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Who Killed Christopher Goodman?
Everybody likes Chris Goodman.
Sure, he’s kind of weird. He wears those crazy bell-bottoms and he really likes the word ennui and he shakes your hand when he meets you, but he’s the kind of guy who’s always up for a good time, always happy to lend a hand. Everybody likes Chris Goodman, which is why it’s so shocking when he’s murdered.
How could a thing like this happen?
Sure, he’s kind of weird. He wears those crazy bell-bottoms and he really likes the word ennui and he shakes your hand when he meets you, but he’s the kind of guy who’s always up for a good time, always happy to lend a hand. Everybody likes Chris Goodman, which is why it’s so shocking when he’s murdered.
How could a thing like this happen?
278 pages, Hardcover
First published March 14, 2017
41 people are currently reading
1674 people want to read
About the author
Allan Wolf
22 books134 followersA versatile writer, Allan Wolf's picture books, poetry collections, young adult novels, and nonfiction celebrate his love of research, history, science, and poetry. He is a Los Angeles Times Book Prize finalist, two-time winner of the North Carolina Young Adult Book Award, and recipient of New York’s Bank Street College Claudia Lewis Award for Poetry. Booklist placed Allan’s The Watch That Ends the Night, on its list of the 50 Best YA Books of All Time.
Wolf believes in the healing powers of poetry recitation and has committed to memory nearly a thousand poems.
His newest titles include: a historical novel, (Junius Leak and the Spiraling Vortex of Doom); a picture book (The Blanket Where Violet Sits); a poetry collection (The Gift of the Broken Teacup); and a graphic novel (The Vanishing of Lake Peigneur).
Wolf believes in the healing powers of poetry recitation and has committed to memory nearly a thousand poems.
His newest titles include: a historical novel, (Junius Leak and the Spiraling Vortex of Doom); a picture book (The Blanket Where Violet Sits); a poetry collection (The Gift of the Broken Teacup); and a graphic novel (The Vanishing of Lake Peigneur).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 203 reviews
February 26, 2017
I was given an ARC of this book from netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
This book was a very fast read for me. However, I was bored through most of it. I did enjoy the "revenge on Mr. Self-Righteous scene. But mostly, the format of this book was just too weird for me.
I also thought it was entirely too short. There was not enough time to get me to love these characters. They were very poorly developed. Except for Squib. Squib was my favorite.
I would have liked to learn more about The killer. I feel like there was just not enough development there, and I just didn't understand his motives.
I enjoyed the author's note. This book was inspired by an actual murder in the author's hometown. He explained which parts of the story were fiction and which were true.
I think this story had so much potential, but it was executed poorly.
This book was a very fast read for me. However, I was bored through most of it. I did enjoy the "revenge on Mr. Self-Righteous scene. But mostly, the format of this book was just too weird for me.
I also thought it was entirely too short. There was not enough time to get me to love these characters. They were very poorly developed. Except for Squib. Squib was my favorite.
I would have liked to learn more about The killer. I feel like there was just not enough development there, and I just didn't understand his motives.
I enjoyed the author's note. This book was inspired by an actual murder in the author's hometown. He explained which parts of the story were fiction and which were true.
I think this story had so much potential, but it was executed poorly.
June 24, 2017
Set in Virgina in 1979, Who Killed Christopher Goodman by author Allan Wolf is a compelling and insightful YA novel based on a real murder in Wolf’s hometown when he was a teenager. Several teens discuss their encounters with another teen, Christopher Goodman, before his murder and their reactions afterwards.
The story is a fast easy read but, in this case, fast and easy in form does not mean lack of emotional impact. As we get to know each of these young people, it is impossible not to develop a sense of empathy and caring towards them. The book is divided between the narratives of each of the teens told in their own distinctive voice and in varying forms including poetry: Doc Chestnut ‘The Sleepwalker’, Squib Kaplan ‘The Genius’, Hunger McCoy ‘The Good Ol’ Boy’, Hazel Turner ‘The Farm Girl’, Mildred Penny ‘The Stamp Collector’ and occasionally Leonard Pelf ‘The Runaway’ and 15-year-old murderer. The only one who does not have his own voice is Christopher whose story is told by the others from their own perspective based on their casual encounters with him before his murder and in a class assignment afterwards. But his name tells us the most important thing the reader needs to know about him – at only seventeen, he was already a good man.
The story, however, is not really about the murder which takes up only a couple of paragraphs in the book as described by Pelf. It is about how we try to find explanations for tragedy, the ‘what ifs’ that accompany them, how we seem to need to find our own role in the event – what we could have done differently to change the outcome and how the little things we do or don’t do may seem to have unintentional consequences. And, as each of the teens including Pelf, think about the tragedy, they contemplate their own ‘what ifs’ wondering how their own actions in which Goodman only paid a very small indirect role or no role at all contributed to his death. As Squib tells us at the end:
This is not Christopher’s murder. It is ours. It belongs to all of us. It belongs to every single one of us who is left alive.
The story is a fast easy read but, in this case, fast and easy in form does not mean lack of emotional impact. As we get to know each of these young people, it is impossible not to develop a sense of empathy and caring towards them. The book is divided between the narratives of each of the teens told in their own distinctive voice and in varying forms including poetry: Doc Chestnut ‘The Sleepwalker’, Squib Kaplan ‘The Genius’, Hunger McCoy ‘The Good Ol’ Boy’, Hazel Turner ‘The Farm Girl’, Mildred Penny ‘The Stamp Collector’ and occasionally Leonard Pelf ‘The Runaway’ and 15-year-old murderer. The only one who does not have his own voice is Christopher whose story is told by the others from their own perspective based on their casual encounters with him before his murder and in a class assignment afterwards. But his name tells us the most important thing the reader needs to know about him – at only seventeen, he was already a good man.
The story, however, is not really about the murder which takes up only a couple of paragraphs in the book as described by Pelf. It is about how we try to find explanations for tragedy, the ‘what ifs’ that accompany them, how we seem to need to find our own role in the event – what we could have done differently to change the outcome and how the little things we do or don’t do may seem to have unintentional consequences. And, as each of the teens including Pelf, think about the tragedy, they contemplate their own ‘what ifs’ wondering how their own actions in which Goodman only paid a very small indirect role or no role at all contributed to his death. As Squib tells us at the end:
This is not Christopher’s murder. It is ours. It belongs to all of us. It belongs to every single one of us who is left alive.
February 14, 2017
http://literary-lion.tumblr.com/
Disclaimer: A free copy of this book was received through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Ask anyone and they’ll tell you that Christopher Goodman is kind. Who would ever want to hurt him? The events leading up to his murder leave everyone in town feeling at least a little guilty. Told through vignettes and different points of view the story explores the lives Christopher was involved in and the moment when he was ripped out of them.
This book is not so much about a crime or the murder, but about the events leading up to it. About how everyone deals with guilt and grief and imagines if things had only gone slightly differently. However, even in that aspect, it uses too many of its pages on the build-up and not enough on the effect.
Who Killed Christopher Goodman? is too short to really accomplish what it sets out to. The six different points of view are too many for so few pages and none of the characters receive proper development. It’s hard to get attached to so many characters in so few pages, and with a book like this one attachment to the characters is paramount.
The characters are reduced to a few tropes. Pretty girl who is shy. Farm girl who is bold. Classic coming of age boy character who is awkward. Weird kid. Redneck. Troublemaker. The attempts to give them depth are there but they ultimately feel forced and we’re left with cast of characters that we’re not really invested in.
I don’t feel there is a sense of mystery leading up to Christopher’s death - it’s clear from the opening who killed him. The focus is more on how they all feel as though they killed Christopher in a million small ways. How maybe if they had said this or done that he would be alive.
Inspired by a true crime the story is still mostly fictitious, it had a strong concept and the theme could be powerful but with too many characters for its page count, it falls a little flat.
Disclaimer: A free copy of this book was received through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Ask anyone and they’ll tell you that Christopher Goodman is kind. Who would ever want to hurt him? The events leading up to his murder leave everyone in town feeling at least a little guilty. Told through vignettes and different points of view the story explores the lives Christopher was involved in and the moment when he was ripped out of them.
This book is not so much about a crime or the murder, but about the events leading up to it. About how everyone deals with guilt and grief and imagines if things had only gone slightly differently. However, even in that aspect, it uses too many of its pages on the build-up and not enough on the effect.
Who Killed Christopher Goodman? is too short to really accomplish what it sets out to. The six different points of view are too many for so few pages and none of the characters receive proper development. It’s hard to get attached to so many characters in so few pages, and with a book like this one attachment to the characters is paramount.
The characters are reduced to a few tropes. Pretty girl who is shy. Farm girl who is bold. Classic coming of age boy character who is awkward. Weird kid. Redneck. Troublemaker. The attempts to give them depth are there but they ultimately feel forced and we’re left with cast of characters that we’re not really invested in.
I don’t feel there is a sense of mystery leading up to Christopher’s death - it’s clear from the opening who killed him. The focus is more on how they all feel as though they killed Christopher in a million small ways. How maybe if they had said this or done that he would be alive.
Inspired by a true crime the story is still mostly fictitious, it had a strong concept and the theme could be powerful but with too many characters for its page count, it falls a little flat.
April 11, 2017
This was a total random pick for me. I'd never heard of it, but I'm a sucker for books with titles like this. Who Killed Christopher Goodman? Well, I instantly wanted to know!!
The thing is, we kind of KNEW who killed him right away. I was hoping for a mystery and what I got was more of a story of how bad things happen-- and the trajectory that puts a person in the wrong place at the wrong time.
The book follows 6 teens (including the killer) through the events that lead up to Christopher's death. None of them knew Chris all that well, but they all feel guilt about not preventing his death. Christopher was kind of too good to be true. A guy who does his own thing, is nice to everyone and makes them feel at ease, is all-inclusive, and charming in so many ways. His personality made him the ultimate tragic victim.
I didn't dislike the book, but I also didn't think it was great. This was more of a case where the story is there, but the writing didn't bring it life. The only character I really clicked with was Doc, the "sleepwalker" who has a crush on the girl who is crushing on Christopher Goodman. I thought that the use of multiple perspectives (which I usually love) didn't do anything for the book. I think Doc's and the killer's should have been the only ones.
OVERALL: I liked it, but wanted more of a mystery (I mean, the title is a bit misleading in that regard, no??). I thought the idea of the story could have worked, but the writing sort of held it back. A few more drafts of this book may have been needed.
My Blog:
The thing is, we kind of KNEW who killed him right away. I was hoping for a mystery and what I got was more of a story of how bad things happen-- and the trajectory that puts a person in the wrong place at the wrong time.
The book follows 6 teens (including the killer) through the events that lead up to Christopher's death. None of them knew Chris all that well, but they all feel guilt about not preventing his death. Christopher was kind of too good to be true. A guy who does his own thing, is nice to everyone and makes them feel at ease, is all-inclusive, and charming in so many ways. His personality made him the ultimate tragic victim.
I didn't dislike the book, but I also didn't think it was great. This was more of a case where the story is there, but the writing didn't bring it life. The only character I really clicked with was Doc, the "sleepwalker" who has a crush on the girl who is crushing on Christopher Goodman. I thought that the use of multiple perspectives (which I usually love) didn't do anything for the book. I think Doc's and the killer's should have been the only ones.
OVERALL: I liked it, but wanted more of a mystery (I mean, the title is a bit misleading in that regard, no??). I thought the idea of the story could have worked, but the writing sort of held it back. A few more drafts of this book may have been needed.
My Blog:
May 16, 2022
Very easy to read and interesting it was based off of a true story.
January 13, 2021
kort bok
October 15, 2022
Quite an easy read. I’d call it a fictional memoir? This story builds up to a death and the events leading up to it and the effect it has on those left behind. At times it was difficult to keep up due to there being so many characters/perspectives.
March 21, 2017
I'm not sure what to make of this book. The premise sounded good, and I was intrigued that it was based on a true crime. However, it was a rather pointless story. Like, I got nothing from it whatsoever. The viewpoints of several different voices was confusing. It was hard to keep everyone straight. I did not see why Hazel was even a part of this story. She was mundane and her viewpoint didn't add anything to the story at all.
I think I was also turned off by the whole taxidermy aspect. ::shudder:: That truly has nothing to do with the overall story, but taxidermy grosses me out, so I think it just added to my dislike for this story.
It just seemed like a whole lot of fluff to build up to a rather anti-climactic murder. The story had no meaning at all. I didn't feel connected to any of the characters.
I think I was also turned off by the whole taxidermy aspect. ::shudder:: That truly has nothing to do with the overall story, but taxidermy grosses me out, so I think it just added to my dislike for this story.
It just seemed like a whole lot of fluff to build up to a rather anti-climactic murder. The story had no meaning at all. I didn't feel connected to any of the characters.
October 1, 2018
Give me a book with multi-voiced narrative and throw in a good mystery, based on a true crime and you have my attention. The voice of 6 teenagers, including the shooter, wind around each other as the reader gets to know them and Christopher Goodman. The intertwining mix of prose and poetry begins after the death and works backwards. And then the voices come together on one final piece tying in a knot with the death of Christopher. Extra bonus: author notes about the inspiration for the book.
BOOK TALK: If you didn't guess it from the title, let me tell you this book begins with a death. 6 teenagers tell the story of the events before and after the murder of Christopher. One of those voices is the killer.
BOOK TALK: If you didn't guess it from the title, let me tell you this book begins with a death. 6 teenagers tell the story of the events before and after the murder of Christopher. One of those voices is the killer.
April 7, 2017
Who Killed Christopher Goodman? by Allan Wolf
Set in 1979 this is the story of (a teenage) boy named Christopher Goodman. A young man who was a bit different, yet very likable, friendly and kind. When Christopher is found murdered the whole school is shaken up, and left to wonder why.
A fast paced story told through alternating voices of those who knew Christopher. Details of the days leading up to this senseless crime. I got to feel what each person was thinking and feeling which drew (me) in more. I highly recommend Who Killed Christopher Goodman? to all.
Set in 1979 this is the story of (a teenage) boy named Christopher Goodman. A young man who was a bit different, yet very likable, friendly and kind. When Christopher is found murdered the whole school is shaken up, and left to wonder why.
A fast paced story told through alternating voices of those who knew Christopher. Details of the days leading up to this senseless crime. I got to feel what each person was thinking and feeling which drew (me) in more. I highly recommend Who Killed Christopher Goodman? to all.
May 25, 2023
I really liked the format of this book and the various types of writing that were used. The use of space on the pages was interesting to me. I liked that the narratives connected but were told differently as it was through different people. It made it a more unique and very easy read.
The writing itself was mediocre to me and I wish the characters had been developed better. Sometimes is felt overworked and like the author was trying too hard to include every aspect of the time period. But I cried at the end for some reason. I didn’t even feel like I knew the characters that well but something about the poems made me sad. It wasn’t the greatest book ever but interesting enough for me to finish it.
The writing itself was mediocre to me and I wish the characters had been developed better. Sometimes is felt overworked and like the author was trying too hard to include every aspect of the time period. But I cried at the end for some reason. I didn’t even feel like I knew the characters that well but something about the poems made me sad. It wasn’t the greatest book ever but interesting enough for me to finish it.
August 6, 2022
I was excited when I saw this at the library but maybe I had the wrong expectations because this did not play out how I thought. Christopher doesn't get killed until the very end of the book so everything in the plot takes place before it happened which is very different than most murder mysteries I have read. It made the story really drag for me however when the death did happen, it hit me harder because of all the character development which is why I'm being generous and rating this 3 stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 22, 2022
A really good read, especially for a YA novel which is normally not my cup of meat. The author explores the questions everyone struggled with after a friend of theirs was killed for no good reason, telling us the story through the kids who were there in one role or another. The author really has a good ear; every character is distinct and memorable. Very lightly fictionalized true crime, suitable for middle schoolers and up.
January 26, 2018
This book has shown up on several "best" lists lately. I really liked it; funny and sad with multiple voices and multiple formats. It is based on a true story, set in 1979 and reminded me of being in high school. I do think that it would be fine for 8th graders.
January 11, 2018
A little difficult to follow all the different voices at first. But a good story raising interesting questions about responsibility.
June 22, 2021
3.5 starts*
I really liked the style of how this was written. This might be a new record for me because I solved it basically before even starting the book!
Shop Your Shelves 2021 Challenge!
I really liked the style of how this was written. This might be a new record for me because I solved it basically before even starting the book!
Shop Your Shelves 2021 Challenge!
September 29, 2017
Rating: 3.5
March 18, 2017
2.5 stars full review to come
August 29, 2019
The end of the book was good and it made me think about it. It took a while to get into the plot.
December 23, 2016
A haunting story told in vignettes, short-story-episodes and script-like scenes, Who Killed Christopher Goodman? evokes the both the time period of the late 70s and the emotional highs and lows of that time in high school when friendship is everything. "Doc" and "Squib" have been long-time friends in the small Virginia town of Goldsburg, but their closeness is tested in the summer of 1979 in the weeks leading up to the town's annual Deadwood Days festival and their discovery of the body of Christopher Goodman, a likeable somewhat goofy kid at their school. The two boys' lives intersect with fellow teens Hazel, Hunger, Mildred and Leonard in ways they never could have anticipated and they can later never forget. The bittersweet mix of emotions and inventive storytelling style make this a story you won't forget, either!
June 21, 2021
I loved this book. Absolutely loved it (extra emphasis on ‘loved’)! I don’t even know where to begin because this book has still left me reeling. I am currently gathering my thoughts to verbally express how much I loved this book. I mean, what’s not to love? Seven super amazing, super interesting, and super compelling main characters? Check. One suspenseful murder based on a true crime? Check. Amazing, hilarious, and ingenious narratives from six relatable teenage characters? Check. One heck of a story that will leave you on the edge of your seat? Check. Now the only thing left for the reader to determine is Who Killed Christopher Goodman?
Now this story isn’t your conventional murder tale, not in the slightest. I have seen authors who have approached this genre similarly, yet none were able to compare to Wolf’s stylistic finesse. His execution of this genre was both eloquent and successful- and absolutely spectacular in general! I was never bored, I was never confused, and I was enthralled and entranced by his narrative skills 100% of the time. Wolf truly understands the brain of a teenager (or multiple teenagers, since Wolf was able to accurately embody and portray the mindsets of six different juveniles!) For once, I felt myself connecting to the teenage characters in the novel. There were no needlessly edgy or angsty one-dimensional emotional overtones, even for the mentally troubled characters. I must applaud Wolf’s portrayal of characters with disabilities and trauma. Wolf didn’t let their differences define their entire personality and truly developed amazing characters. Each teenager was truly complex, lovable, and relatable (to a certain extent of course).
What I especially love is how the reader never discovers a conclusive answer to the omnipresent question (a.k.a the title). That’s up for you (the reader) to decide for yourself. This book really makes you think about the world, the butterfly effect, and your everyday actions. Who truly is to blame for Christopher Goodman’s death? The answer is far more complex than the obvious. In the hypothetical, is there really one ‘killer’ that deserves the blame? Yes, there is always someone who pulls the trigger, but what about the individuals who never stopped that trigger from being pulled? This book does an excellent job acknowledging all these possibilities and I truly love it. Many authors fail to consider or recognize the implications of all potential outcomes, and Wolf clearly, boldly, and expressively addresses them all. Dear Wolf, Kudos to you!
Allan Wolf’s incredible writing style, relatable tone, lovable characters, beautiful storyline, and brilliantly executed plot have left a lasting impression on me that I will cherish forever. Five years from now I will still be wondering, Who Killed Christopher Goodman?
I loved this book. Absolutely loved it (extra emphasis on ‘loved’)! I don’t even know where to begin because this book has still left me reeling. I am currently gathering my thoughts to verbally express how much I loved this book. I mean, what’s not to love? Seven super amazing, super interesting, and super compelling main characters? Check. One suspenseful murder based on a true crime? Check. Amazing, hilarious, and ingenious narratives from six relatable teenage characters? Check. One heck of a story that will leave you on the edge of your seat? Check. Now the only thing left for the reader to determine is Who Killed Christopher Goodman?
Now this story isn’t your conventional murder tale, not in the slightest. I have seen authors who have approached this genre similarly, yet none were able to compare to Wolf’s stylistic finesse. His execution of this genre was both eloquent and successful- and absolutely spectacular in general! I was never bored, I was never confused, and I was enthralled and entranced by his narrative skills 100% of the time. Wolf truly understands the brain of a teenager (or multiple teenagers, since Wolf was able to accurately embody and portray the mindsets of six different juveniles!) For once, I felt myself connecting to the teenage characters in the novel. There were no needlessly edgy or angsty one-dimensional emotional overtones, even for the mentally troubled characters. I must applaud Wolf’s portrayal of characters with disabilities and trauma. Wolf didn’t let their differences define their entire personality and truly developed amazing characters. Each teenager was truly complex, lovable, and relatable (to a certain extent of course).
What I especially love is how the reader never discovers a conclusive answer to the omnipresent question (a.k.a the title). That’s up for you (the reader) to decide for yourself. This book really makes you think about the world, the butterfly effect, and your everyday actions. Who truly is to blame for Christopher Goodman’s death? The answer is far more complex than the obvious. In the hypothetical, is there really one ‘killer’ that deserves the blame? Yes, there is always someone who pulls the trigger, but what about the individuals who never stopped that trigger from being pulled? This book does an excellent job acknowledging all these possibilities and I truly love it. Many authors fail to consider or recognize the implications of all potential outcomes, and Wolf clearly, boldly, and expressively addresses them all. Dear Wolf, Kudos to you!
Allan Wolf’s incredible writing style, relatable tone, lovable characters, beautiful storyline, and brilliantly executed plot have left a lasting impression on me that I will cherish forever. Five years from now I will still be wondering, Who Killed Christopher Goodman?
Reviewed by Roksanna K., age 16, Broward County Mensa
Now this story isn’t your conventional murder tale, not in the slightest. I have seen authors who have approached this genre similarly, yet none were able to compare to Wolf’s stylistic finesse. His execution of this genre was both eloquent and successful- and absolutely spectacular in general! I was never bored, I was never confused, and I was enthralled and entranced by his narrative skills 100% of the time. Wolf truly understands the brain of a teenager (or multiple teenagers, since Wolf was able to accurately embody and portray the mindsets of six different juveniles!) For once, I felt myself connecting to the teenage characters in the novel. There were no needlessly edgy or angsty one-dimensional emotional overtones, even for the mentally troubled characters. I must applaud Wolf’s portrayal of characters with disabilities and trauma. Wolf didn’t let their differences define their entire personality and truly developed amazing characters. Each teenager was truly complex, lovable, and relatable (to a certain extent of course).
What I especially love is how the reader never discovers a conclusive answer to the omnipresent question (a.k.a the title). That’s up for you (the reader) to decide for yourself. This book really makes you think about the world, the butterfly effect, and your everyday actions. Who truly is to blame for Christopher Goodman’s death? The answer is far more complex than the obvious. In the hypothetical, is there really one ‘killer’ that deserves the blame? Yes, there is always someone who pulls the trigger, but what about the individuals who never stopped that trigger from being pulled? This book does an excellent job acknowledging all these possibilities and I truly love it. Many authors fail to consider or recognize the implications of all potential outcomes, and Wolf clearly, boldly, and expressively addresses them all. Dear Wolf, Kudos to you!
Allan Wolf’s incredible writing style, relatable tone, lovable characters, beautiful storyline, and brilliantly executed plot have left a lasting impression on me that I will cherish forever. Five years from now I will still be wondering, Who Killed Christopher Goodman?
I loved this book. Absolutely loved it (extra emphasis on ‘loved’)! I don’t even know where to begin because this book has still left me reeling. I am currently gathering my thoughts to verbally express how much I loved this book. I mean, what’s not to love? Seven super amazing, super interesting, and super compelling main characters? Check. One suspenseful murder based on a true crime? Check. Amazing, hilarious, and ingenious narratives from six relatable teenage characters? Check. One heck of a story that will leave you on the edge of your seat? Check. Now the only thing left for the reader to determine is Who Killed Christopher Goodman?
Now this story isn’t your conventional murder tale, not in the slightest. I have seen authors who have approached this genre similarly, yet none were able to compare to Wolf’s stylistic finesse. His execution of this genre was both eloquent and successful- and absolutely spectacular in general! I was never bored, I was never confused, and I was enthralled and entranced by his narrative skills 100% of the time. Wolf truly understands the brain of a teenager (or multiple teenagers, since Wolf was able to accurately embody and portray the mindsets of six different juveniles!) For once, I felt myself connecting to the teenage characters in the novel. There were no needlessly edgy or angsty one-dimensional emotional overtones, even for the mentally troubled characters. I must applaud Wolf’s portrayal of characters with disabilities and trauma. Wolf didn’t let their differences define their entire personality and truly developed amazing characters. Each teenager was truly complex, lovable, and relatable (to a certain extent of course).
What I especially love is how the reader never discovers a conclusive answer to the omnipresent question (a.k.a the title). That’s up for you (the reader) to decide for yourself. This book really makes you think about the world, the butterfly effect, and your everyday actions. Who truly is to blame for Christopher Goodman’s death? The answer is far more complex than the obvious. In the hypothetical, is there really one ‘killer’ that deserves the blame? Yes, there is always someone who pulls the trigger, but what about the individuals who never stopped that trigger from being pulled? This book does an excellent job acknowledging all these possibilities and I truly love it. Many authors fail to consider or recognize the implications of all potential outcomes, and Wolf clearly, boldly, and expressively addresses them all. Dear Wolf, Kudos to you!
Allan Wolf’s incredible writing style, relatable tone, lovable characters, beautiful storyline, and brilliantly executed plot have left a lasting impression on me that I will cherish forever. Five years from now I will still be wondering, Who Killed Christopher Goodman?
Reviewed by Roksanna K., age 16, Broward County Mensa
June 3, 2017
FIRST THOUGHTS
I bought this before I even thought to read it for Mystery Month. The title caught my eye and when I read the summary, I was sold.
PLOT
This book follows multiple first-person points of view of a group of six high school kids. We see how they interact with each other (who’s friends with who) and how they all meet Christopher Goodman. We don’t see through the eye of Christopher, but one of the points-of-view we see is the killer.
Upon reading the title and then reading the summary, I thought this book was going to more so about finding who killed Christopher Goodman, hence what the title suggests. Needless to say, it was pretty misleading.
The story is mainly about the shock of how someone can be there one minute and the next, they’re gone; whether it’s murder or freak accidents. The majority of the book took place before the murder happened so that we would get to know Christopher Goodman and the other characters. However, it focused more so on the other characters’ problems.
And while Christopher Goodman touched each of their lives in a certain way, they were all connected somehow, there was no mystery to this. We’re not on an investigation to find his killer, but we’re on a journey to see why Christopher Goodman was the victim.
Not a bad plot, especially since it’s based off a true story, but the title and summary definitely threw me off.
CHARACTERS
I enjoyed all the characters. There’s Doc, Hazel, Mildred, Squib, Hunger, Leonard, and of course, Christopher Goodman. Some are friends, some are acquaintances who become friends, but they all seem connected to one another. They’re stories intertwine, which I found to be clever and well done.
They each had their own unique personality and quirk or hobby (such as stamp collecting or sleepwalking) and they all fit in and got along fairly well with one another. While I found them enjoyable to follow, I’ll admit that I didn’t get close to any of the characters.
I didn’t feel as though I could relate to any of them and that included Christopher Goodman. So, while his death was shocking, I didn’t feel for him as much as I probably should have.
WRITING STYLE
I think Allan Wolf’s writing style was my favorite part of this book. Each chapter switched POVs, but the heading at the top said which character we were following. Also, each character had a different writing style. Some were written as a narrative, some as poetry, some as block text. When two or more characters were having a conversation, it was written like a script.
It sounds confusing, but the varied writing styles made the book flow smoothly with each character change. I ended up reading this book (about 269 pages) in one sitting. It took me about two hours because it was so easy to read and the different styles kept me engaged.
OVERALL
This book was a good read with quirky characters and an interesting storyline. However, I do wish there was more mystery to it and I wish there was a little more tension. It was a good calming read as I felt like the characters could be sitting in a coffee shop together relaying the story. Still, I wished the title and summary wasn’t so misleading. It made it feel anti-clamactic in a way.
It’s still a good book to pick up, if you’re interested. And, if you do read it, I recommend reading the author’s note at the end. He explains what’s fiction and what the true crime was in real life that this book is based off of. It’s interesting.
Favorite Quote:
“If you want me to do it as a friend, all you have to do is ask. I’d at least consider it.” –Allan Wolf, Who Killed Christopher Goodman?
*This review was originally published on RachelPoli.com
I bought this before I even thought to read it for Mystery Month. The title caught my eye and when I read the summary, I was sold.
PLOT
This book follows multiple first-person points of view of a group of six high school kids. We see how they interact with each other (who’s friends with who) and how they all meet Christopher Goodman. We don’t see through the eye of Christopher, but one of the points-of-view we see is the killer.
Upon reading the title and then reading the summary, I thought this book was going to more so about finding who killed Christopher Goodman, hence what the title suggests. Needless to say, it was pretty misleading.
The story is mainly about the shock of how someone can be there one minute and the next, they’re gone; whether it’s murder or freak accidents. The majority of the book took place before the murder happened so that we would get to know Christopher Goodman and the other characters. However, it focused more so on the other characters’ problems.
And while Christopher Goodman touched each of their lives in a certain way, they were all connected somehow, there was no mystery to this. We’re not on an investigation to find his killer, but we’re on a journey to see why Christopher Goodman was the victim.
Not a bad plot, especially since it’s based off a true story, but the title and summary definitely threw me off.
CHARACTERS
I enjoyed all the characters. There’s Doc, Hazel, Mildred, Squib, Hunger, Leonard, and of course, Christopher Goodman. Some are friends, some are acquaintances who become friends, but they all seem connected to one another. They’re stories intertwine, which I found to be clever and well done.
They each had their own unique personality and quirk or hobby (such as stamp collecting or sleepwalking) and they all fit in and got along fairly well with one another. While I found them enjoyable to follow, I’ll admit that I didn’t get close to any of the characters.
I didn’t feel as though I could relate to any of them and that included Christopher Goodman. So, while his death was shocking, I didn’t feel for him as much as I probably should have.
WRITING STYLE
I think Allan Wolf’s writing style was my favorite part of this book. Each chapter switched POVs, but the heading at the top said which character we were following. Also, each character had a different writing style. Some were written as a narrative, some as poetry, some as block text. When two or more characters were having a conversation, it was written like a script.
It sounds confusing, but the varied writing styles made the book flow smoothly with each character change. I ended up reading this book (about 269 pages) in one sitting. It took me about two hours because it was so easy to read and the different styles kept me engaged.
OVERALL
This book was a good read with quirky characters and an interesting storyline. However, I do wish there was more mystery to it and I wish there was a little more tension. It was a good calming read as I felt like the characters could be sitting in a coffee shop together relaying the story. Still, I wished the title and summary wasn’t so misleading. It made it feel anti-clamactic in a way.
It’s still a good book to pick up, if you’re interested. And, if you do read it, I recommend reading the author’s note at the end. He explains what’s fiction and what the true crime was in real life that this book is based off of. It’s interesting.
Favorite Quote:
“If you want me to do it as a friend, all you have to do is ask. I’d at least consider it.” –Allan Wolf, Who Killed Christopher Goodman?
*This review was originally published on RachelPoli.com
May 4, 2017
This is one of those books I'll probably forget about completely about before very long. It was an impulse pick up at the library, mostly due to that little note at the bottom "based on a true crime". That's one of my biggest buzzphrases. I freaking love true crime nonfiction (and fiction based off true crime too). I mean, I suppose this is a mystery novel- and it's advertised as such- but it seemed more like a contemporary than a straight-up mystery novel, since it's fairly obvious whodunit.
I suppose the mystery part of it is more how the night unfolded as opposed to who actually killed him. The problem is, though, it's such a quick read (though it took me like 3 days because I just had no real motivation to actually read anything) that there's no time for suspense, a key aspect in any good mystery novel. I do suppose that is preferable to too much suspense, something that's one of my biggest bitch points in mystery novels. It's hard for beginning mystery authors to find sweet spot between too much and too little, and most lean towards too much, bogging down the book. Wolf, on the other hand, went for too little, proving that also isn't that great either. I'm not saying that this book should have been dragged out to over 400 pages, but it would have helped the novel feel more like a mystery.
Another issue I had was the characters. There's some glimmers of interesting characters, and traits I haven't seen before, but overall I just didn't get enough of them. It's sad, too, because they sound like really cool characters that I would like. A genius with Tourette's Syndrome, done tastefully. A football-playing good ol' boy shown in a positive light. A petite and pretty stamp-collector. These are the types of characters I want to see more in novels, and the small traces we got of their home and family lives didn't seem like it was enough. Even Christopher Goodman (really, Goodman, you actually went with that) seemed like a pretty cool, Ferris Bueller-kinda guy but there wasn't enough to make me actually care about him. And the whole yawn-wee thing was straight up stupid. As was Operation Petting-Zoo Poo. Both of them made me roll my eyes.
Continue reading this review on my blog here: http://bookwormbasics.blogspot.com/20...
I suppose the mystery part of it is more how the night unfolded as opposed to who actually killed him. The problem is, though, it's such a quick read (though it took me like 3 days because I just had no real motivation to actually read anything) that there's no time for suspense, a key aspect in any good mystery novel. I do suppose that is preferable to too much suspense, something that's one of my biggest bitch points in mystery novels. It's hard for beginning mystery authors to find sweet spot between too much and too little, and most lean towards too much, bogging down the book. Wolf, on the other hand, went for too little, proving that also isn't that great either. I'm not saying that this book should have been dragged out to over 400 pages, but it would have helped the novel feel more like a mystery.
Another issue I had was the characters. There's some glimmers of interesting characters, and traits I haven't seen before, but overall I just didn't get enough of them. It's sad, too, because they sound like really cool characters that I would like. A genius with Tourette's Syndrome, done tastefully. A football-playing good ol' boy shown in a positive light. A petite and pretty stamp-collector. These are the types of characters I want to see more in novels, and the small traces we got of their home and family lives didn't seem like it was enough. Even Christopher Goodman (really, Goodman, you actually went with that) seemed like a pretty cool, Ferris Bueller-kinda guy but there wasn't enough to make me actually care about him. And the whole yawn-wee thing was straight up stupid. As was Operation Petting-Zoo Poo. Both of them made me roll my eyes.
Continue reading this review on my blog here: http://bookwormbasics.blogspot.com/20...
February 19, 2021
I didn’t find this book bad at all, I just think it suffered a bit from bad marketing.
From the title and the way the cover looks you’re bound to expect something dark, tense and suspenseful. I basically picked it up on a whim expecting a crime novel, but this is not what it is.
It’s more of a study of growing up in an American small town setting and of the sudden unexpected loss of one out of their midst, the events that led up to that loss and the gnawing question if the change of any of their thoughtless random actions that day could have changed anything about its terrible conclusion.
That, the book did very well. It was a quick and thought provoking read.
One personal pet peeve that made me subtract one more star, was the way the text was formatted. The story is told from multiple perspectives and for whatever reason certain characters get a different text formatting. One character’s sections are visually formatted as if in form of a poem without there really being and rhyme scheme or specific special rhythm to the text to really warrant it. Dialogues are spaced out in a manner that a text that would fit on half a page suddenly stretches over two to four pages.
I know that modern creative writing does such things sometimes for literary effect but except for the dialogue appearing maybe a tad more urgent and in the moment that way, the intend behind the poem form of that one character went completely past me. To me this could just have been normally formatted text without losing any of its effect.
The way it was done it came more across like a desperate attempt to fluff up the page count of the book a bit.
That’s really just my personal preference though. It’s definitely not a red flag for the book.
So yeah, 3 stars for approaching its topic in a relatable and thought provoking manner. 2 stars off for misleading marketing and in parts slightly pretentious formatting.
From the title and the way the cover looks you’re bound to expect something dark, tense and suspenseful. I basically picked it up on a whim expecting a crime novel, but this is not what it is.
It’s more of a study of growing up in an American small town setting and of the sudden unexpected loss of one out of their midst, the events that led up to that loss and the gnawing question if the change of any of their thoughtless random actions that day could have changed anything about its terrible conclusion.
That, the book did very well. It was a quick and thought provoking read.
One personal pet peeve that made me subtract one more star, was the way the text was formatted. The story is told from multiple perspectives and for whatever reason certain characters get a different text formatting. One character’s sections are visually formatted as if in form of a poem without there really being and rhyme scheme or specific special rhythm to the text to really warrant it. Dialogues are spaced out in a manner that a text that would fit on half a page suddenly stretches over two to four pages.
I know that modern creative writing does such things sometimes for literary effect but except for the dialogue appearing maybe a tad more urgent and in the moment that way, the intend behind the poem form of that one character went completely past me. To me this could just have been normally formatted text without losing any of its effect.
The way it was done it came more across like a desperate attempt to fluff up the page count of the book a bit.
That’s really just my personal preference though. It’s definitely not a red flag for the book.
So yeah, 3 stars for approaching its topic in a relatable and thought provoking manner. 2 stars off for misleading marketing and in parts slightly pretentious formatting.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 23, 2020
I rated Who Killed Christopher Goodman by Allen Wolf five starts. I rated this book five stars because it was an entertaining, adventurous, and engaging book. The book had a lot of mysterious and violent things that made the book more interesting and more engaging. The story line was strong and very entertaining. Wolf put a lot of good descriptions describing the senses and made the reader feel like they were actually in the story.
The three main points I connected with Who Killed Christopher Goodman and How To Read Literature Like A Professor by Thomas C. Foster, was More Than It’s Gonna Hurt You; Concerning Violence, Is That A Symbol?, and Nice To Eat With You: Acts Of Communion. These three main points connected with my choice book because my book was about a murder and different meanings behind violence, and then lastly what sitting down and eating with people actually means behind the scenes. My strongest example is “Violence is one of the most personal and even intimate acts between human beings, but it can also be cultural and societal in its implications” (Foster 95). This quote was my best example because it explains that violence is a terrible thing that is in our world currently today and that there's more to the person who killed, hurt or did something violent towards someone and Foster explains that in chapter More Than It’s Gonna Hurt You; Concerning Violence. In Who Killed Christopher Goodman, the person who killed an innocent man has a lot of mental background that explains why he has so much violence.
Who Killed Christopher Goodman is a book for readers who love mysteries and thrillers with a twist to the book. The age is meant for teenagers but any age could read this book and be engaged. Allen Wolf’s book is related to the genres, crime and thriller. Some books that are similar are In Cold Blood by Truman Capote and I’ll Be Gone In The Dark by Michelle McNamara.
The three main points I connected with Who Killed Christopher Goodman and How To Read Literature Like A Professor by Thomas C. Foster, was More Than It’s Gonna Hurt You; Concerning Violence, Is That A Symbol?, and Nice To Eat With You: Acts Of Communion. These three main points connected with my choice book because my book was about a murder and different meanings behind violence, and then lastly what sitting down and eating with people actually means behind the scenes. My strongest example is “Violence is one of the most personal and even intimate acts between human beings, but it can also be cultural and societal in its implications” (Foster 95). This quote was my best example because it explains that violence is a terrible thing that is in our world currently today and that there's more to the person who killed, hurt or did something violent towards someone and Foster explains that in chapter More Than It’s Gonna Hurt You; Concerning Violence. In Who Killed Christopher Goodman, the person who killed an innocent man has a lot of mental background that explains why he has so much violence.
Who Killed Christopher Goodman is a book for readers who love mysteries and thrillers with a twist to the book. The age is meant for teenagers but any age could read this book and be engaged. Allen Wolf’s book is related to the genres, crime and thriller. Some books that are similar are In Cold Blood by Truman Capote and I’ll Be Gone In The Dark by Michelle McNamara.
August 22, 2022
Excellent teen mystery thriller! Although the whodunnit is not as much of the focus of the story as you would think, since it's almost a rhetorical question. The story is as much about people's reactions to a murder as it is about how that murder happened. Great historical fiction--it's set in summer 1979, with nary a cell phone in sight, during a small town's Wild West-themed festival. The first thing we learn about Christopher is that he wears "elephant bell" bellbottom pants! Sooooo seventies! The multiple POV narrators are all of the suspects, including the actual killer, and are easy to keep track of because each change in narration is prefaced with the character's name and nickname ("The Runaway," "The Sleepwalker," "The Genius," etc.) There are best friends "Doc" and "Squib" (who has Tourette's and drives an ice cream truck--he's very memorable!), new friends Mildred ("The Stamp Collector") and Hazel ("The Farm Girl"), who work at the local diner, Hunger McCoy "The Good Ol' Boy" (who does taxidermy for a hobby!), Leonard who is recovering from the foster care system (and loves a dog named Scrabbles), and so on. All of them have a connection to nice dude Christopher Goodman; who could have killed him? And why? There is a lot of goofy humor, pranks gone awry, and relationships beginning or changing. The story is full of sweetness and heart, as well as a sense of sinister foreboding, as the flashbacks lead up to the murder and we learn more and more about all of the connections between the characters. The author's note reveals just how much was invented and how much was based on a real incident from his teen years; I think this really adds to the sincerity of the book. I would recommend for 8th grade and up; mild language, but some drinking and drug use, period-appropriate.
November 16, 2018
The spine-chilling non-fiction novel, who killed Christopher Goodman by Allan Wolf was something like a have never read before. I was in shock because the body of the poor young man Christopher Goodman was found in the mud.
The story is told by many different angles. The main protagonist in this book is Doc chestnut-the sleepwalker. He got this name for obvious reasons. (he sleepwalks) Doc chestnut-the sleepwalker and his best friend, squib Kaplan-the genius found the body of Christopher Goodman on almost the second page of reading. I like how the author did not care about what he put in his book, for example, in one part of the book it describes a van of people running over a mother cat for no reason. Any other author would have taken this out but Allan Wolf really put his mind to the words.
The plot of the story was kind of confusing because everyone in the community knew him and he loved everyone. People everywhere didn’t know why on earth anyone wanted to kill him, but that’s what we had to figure out.
I had many dislikes in this novel for many reasons. The novel by itself is one of the most confusing things I have read because the writing style is very different and every page usually meant a new person is talking. At the beginning of the book this was manageable. Then as the book went on lots of information is being thrown at you, it becomes hard to keep track what is going on. This made my fun reading experience into a chore. If you are a reader that likes to think about what's happening and put the peace together yourself then this might be the book for you. I like the book because of its many layers of suspense and writing style. It become a bit confused in some parts but overall it was a great book.
The story is told by many different angles. The main protagonist in this book is Doc chestnut-the sleepwalker. He got this name for obvious reasons. (he sleepwalks) Doc chestnut-the sleepwalker and his best friend, squib Kaplan-the genius found the body of Christopher Goodman on almost the second page of reading. I like how the author did not care about what he put in his book, for example, in one part of the book it describes a van of people running over a mother cat for no reason. Any other author would have taken this out but Allan Wolf really put his mind to the words.
The plot of the story was kind of confusing because everyone in the community knew him and he loved everyone. People everywhere didn’t know why on earth anyone wanted to kill him, but that’s what we had to figure out.
I had many dislikes in this novel for many reasons. The novel by itself is one of the most confusing things I have read because the writing style is very different and every page usually meant a new person is talking. At the beginning of the book this was manageable. Then as the book went on lots of information is being thrown at you, it becomes hard to keep track what is going on. This made my fun reading experience into a chore. If you are a reader that likes to think about what's happening and put the peace together yourself then this might be the book for you. I like the book because of its many layers of suspense and writing style. It become a bit confused in some parts but overall it was a great book.
April 4, 2022
"Who Killed Christopher Goodman?" is based on a true crime story from the author's past. Christopher Goodman was a boy whom everybody liked. He was a little odd, but he was well-liked by the kids that surrounded him. This is because he would do anything for anyone. So why was he killed? This story works to examine the ways in which Christopher Goodman worked to positively impact the lives of others. The author worked to communicate this through writing his book from multiple different perspectives. He even chose to write from the killer's point of view. It is through their examination of the events leading up to his death that a group of kids are brought together.
Because this book has a lot of heavy concepts, I would recommend this book to anyone above the age of fourteen. This is because the story deals with the murder of a young boy. This violence could work to make readers uncomfortable. There is a scene where one of the characters find Goodman's body on the track field. Not only is this a bit of a heavy topic, but it is also based on true events, which works to add to the feelings that this book works to inspire within us.
One of the most interesting aspects of this book is the fact that it was based on a true story. This works to add another layer of intrigue to this novel. I also really liked the poem that could be found at the end of the book. I found it extremely touching. You never know how much you can impact another person's life. It's important to be the best that we can.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes to read mystery books. While this book wasn't entirely a mystery, it still worked to captivate the audience in a way that was gripping. It was a good read, and I encourage others to read it.
Reading Level: 660L
Because this book has a lot of heavy concepts, I would recommend this book to anyone above the age of fourteen. This is because the story deals with the murder of a young boy. This violence could work to make readers uncomfortable. There is a scene where one of the characters find Goodman's body on the track field. Not only is this a bit of a heavy topic, but it is also based on true events, which works to add to the feelings that this book works to inspire within us.
One of the most interesting aspects of this book is the fact that it was based on a true story. This works to add another layer of intrigue to this novel. I also really liked the poem that could be found at the end of the book. I found it extremely touching. You never know how much you can impact another person's life. It's important to be the best that we can.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes to read mystery books. While this book wasn't entirely a mystery, it still worked to captivate the audience in a way that was gripping. It was a good read, and I encourage others to read it.
Reading Level: 660L
June 12, 2017
I'm torn on this book. For the first 90% or so I really disliked it- the format was weird and inconsistent, the story didn't seem to be going anywhere, none of the characters were fleshed out beyond a few archetypical traits, and the dialogue was unnatural and unconvincing (no one really talks like that).
However, the ending of the novel was decent, and brought in a small shred of meaning to the story. This novel is not a thrilling story of murder, it is at its core a story about guilt, and reads as almost a cathartic undertaking for the author, who was involved in the murder upon which this book was based. As I read the last section of the book and the author's note, I found myself enjoying the book for the first time throughout my reading experience, as I realized how much of it is based on fact- not only the events that actually happened, but also on the emotions the author and his community felt.
Ultimately this book was disappointing. I thought it would have a mystery element or at least an element of an investigation or details of the trial. It doesn't have any of those things, and I think it was brought down by the fact that it's mainly exposition to when the actual murder happens. All things considered, it was a really quick and easy read, and it was relatively enjoyable.
However, the ending of the novel was decent, and brought in a small shred of meaning to the story. This novel is not a thrilling story of murder, it is at its core a story about guilt, and reads as almost a cathartic undertaking for the author, who was involved in the murder upon which this book was based. As I read the last section of the book and the author's note, I found myself enjoying the book for the first time throughout my reading experience, as I realized how much of it is based on fact- not only the events that actually happened, but also on the emotions the author and his community felt.
Ultimately this book was disappointing. I thought it would have a mystery element or at least an element of an investigation or details of the trial. It doesn't have any of those things, and I think it was brought down by the fact that it's mainly exposition to when the actual murder happens. All things considered, it was a really quick and easy read, and it was relatively enjoyable.
June 13, 2018
I thought this book was really good I loved the way it was written and the style it was written in. I thought this was one of the best reads I've ever read and I would highly recommend this to any one who asked. This book was funny, scary, and interesting all at the same time. If I was stranded on an island and I could only pick 3 books I can now say this would be one of them. I will admit the beginning of the book was a little boring and slow but about 60 pages into the book things got really good and a lot more intense than I expected them to. This book really clicked with me for some reason it just really caught my attention I really like the way that they would read the letters and stuff I just loved the way they told the story. And some of the guys who were friends with Chris ran Cross Country so that caught my attention to like when they would go for runs and talk about Chris I thought that was cool and something I could relate with. Almost everything in this book clicked with me in some way. And I would even consider reading this book a second time, that's how much I liked this book. So if you hear of someone who is looking for a book tell them that I very strongley recommend Who Killed Christopher Goodman. Especially if they like good interesting intense scary books that really get you thinking and get you scared to see what happens next.
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