Who Killed Mr. Chippendale?

Who killed Mr. Chippendale--and why? These two questions drive the narrative in Mel Glenn's Who Killed Mr. Chippendale?: A Mystery in Poems (1999). Told from the perspectives of various characters reacting to the murder of Mr. Chippendale, Who Killed Mr. Chippendale? is developed through a series of interlocking free-verse poems. Many characters are introduced, the majority of whose voices are heard once and help to create a nuanced portrait of Mr. Chippendale, whose life was very much a mystery to his colleagues despite his twenty years of teaching English at Tower High.

This book is best appreciated not so much as a mystery but as a character study. The mystery simply lacked the tension needed to make it an engrossing whodunit. Still, the story is relevant, for it explores a variety of current issues, e.g. generational conflicts, immigration and the pursuit of the American Dream, media and teen violence, and offers a realistic portrayal of modern high school life. One problematic aspect of the story is the seemingly rushed and abrupt ending and the flash forward to thirteen years later in a "Where Are They Now?" -type epilogue.

A quick read and an effective resource for teaching writer's craft (characterization, poetic elements, juxtaposition, etc.), Who Killed Mr. Chippendale is engaging and therefore recommended.

Crossposted at CBR9