Christopher was born and raised in Flint, Michigan, USA, where Bud, Not Buddy is set. After graduating from High School, Christopher enrolled at Flint's University of Michigan and applied for a job at a General Motors car assembly plant to earn some money.
Besides reading novels (one his great passions), Christopher began writing to overcome the monotony the assembly line. Some of the writings were letters; others were sketches of stories that, like his character Bud Caldwell (Bud, Not Buddy) began the colorful sojourn which led him to become one of America's leading authors of children's literature.
Christopher currently lives in Detroit, Michigan and in his free time still enjoys reading, playing basketball and collecting music.