The Westing Game

The Westing Game by, Ellen Raskin ISBN-10:0-525-42320-6

Full of mystery, intrigue and suspense, The Westing Game by, Ellen Raskin, is a thrilling book that will leave readers completely satisfied. This 1979 Newberry winner will draw readers in from the very first page. They will be led along with the books' characters through a bizarre game created by a man named Sam Westing. The catch? The characters only learn about the game during the reading of Westing's will, in which he claims that one of the other sixteen heirs has murdered him! The winner of the game stands to inherit the enormous Westing fortune. Unlikely friendships develop between characters with little in common-- reminding readers that people are not always who we initially expect them to be. In fact, most of the characters in this book are hiding secrets that only a dead man seems to be able to bring to light. This well-crafted story is enjoyable on many levels. Besides, murder, secret lives, and multiple bombings, the book also contains clues for bright readers to ponder as they flip back through the book trying to tie the pieces together. The ending is the perfect culmination of an absolute masterpiece. Readers who enjoy mysteries, such as The Postcard by Tony Abbott, will quickly become absorbed into this captivating work of genius.