22) The Westing Game

Bibliography: Raskin, Ellen; The Westing Game; Dutton Children’s Books; New York; 1978; 182 pages; ISBN 978-0-525-47137-0.

Plot: The Sunset Towers Apartment complex has just opened.  Realtor Barney Northrup introduces each character to the perfect apartment for their family.  When it is determined that the millionaire Sam Westing has died, the tenants of Sunset Towers are asked to attend a reading of the will.  At the reading it is determined that Westing has sixteen heirs.  He breaks the heirs up into eight groups and gives them clues to find who murdered Westing.  He gives each group ten thousand dollars as an incentive to play the game.  Whoever finds the murderer will inherit all of Westing’s two hundred million dollars.

Review:  The novel begins by introducing readers to Barney Northrup and the tenants of Sunset Towers.  It doesn’t take long for the novel to get to the mystery.  Turtle becomes interested in the Westing house after Otis tells her, Theo and Doug that it is rumored that Mr Westing is dead in the house.  Turtle decides to see for herself and goes into the house to see what she can find.  Unfortunately for her, she finds the dead body of Sam Westing lying in his bed.  The next morning Westing’s obituary is in the newspaper, and Otis Amber delivers sixteen letters to the heirs of the Westing fortune.

Even though this is a mystery, the characters of the book keep things lively and entertaining.  It’s interesting to see each character go through the clues and figure out exactly who the killer is.  The situations that occur as each team is working on their clues will keep readers interested. 

The ending threw me for a loop.  I honestly was stumped throughout the entire book.  This is a great read and tweens will enjoy every minute of this novel.

Genre: Mystery/Humor

Interest Level: age 9-12

Related Books: Floors by Patrick Carmen; Holes by Louis Sachar; Millions by Frank Cottrell Boyce

Characters:

Otis Amber – the sixty two year old delivery boy of Sunset Towers.  His partner is Berthe Crow.

Flora Baumbach – a tenant of Sunset Towers, she is an elderly dressmaker.  Her partner is Turtle.

Berthe Erica Crow – the cleaning woman of Sunset Towers.  Her partner is Otis Amber.

D. Denton Deere – he is a medical intern and engaged to marry Angela Wexler.  His partner is Chris Theodorakis.

J.J. Ford – the first female African American judge in Wisconsin.  Her partner is Sandy McSouthers.

Sandy McSouthers – the door man of Sunset Towers. 

Doug Hoo – the son of James Hoo.  He is a star track athlete.  His partner is Theo Theodorakis.

James Hoo – the owner of Shin Hoo’s restaurant in Sunset Towers.  His partner is Grace Windsor Wexler.

Sun Lin Hoo – James’ wife.  She doesn’t speak much English.  Her partner is Jake Wexler.

Sydelle Pulaski – a secretary living in Sunset Towers.  Her partner is Angela Wexler.

Chris Theodorakis – he is confined to a wheelchair after a severe illness.  He likes to watch birds from the windows of Sunset Towers.

Theo Theodorakis – a high school student that likes to play chess and hopes to be a writer someday.

Angela Wexler – Turtle’s sister.  She is planning her wedding to D. Denton Deere.

Grace Windsor Wexler – a mother and a decorator.

Jake Wexler – a podiatrist.

Turtle Wexler – a smart 13 year old girl that is known for her long braid and kicking anyone that dares to touch it.

Awards:

Newberry Medal for 1979

Author Information: http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/contributor/ellen-raskin