The Westing Game

"Sunset Towers faced east and had no towers.  This glittery, glassy apartment house stood alone on the Lake Michigan shore five stories high.  Five empty stories high."

"Six letters were delivered, just six.  Six appointments were made, and one by one, family by family, talk, talk, talk, Barney Northrup led the tours around and about Sunset Towers."

"Who were these people, these specially selected tenants?  They were mothers and fathers and children.  A dressmaker, a secretary, an inventor, a doctor, a judge.  And, oh yes, one was a bookie, one was a burglar, one was a bomber, and one was a mistake."



When Sam Westing's 16 heirs, all new residents of the Sunset Towers apartment building, meet to read his will they have no idea what they are in for.  Uncle Sam has planned quite an adventure for them.  As they race to figure out which of them took the life of Mr. Westing, they learn to see each other more clearly and find hidden talents they never knew they had.

Why I Love It

This book is a fun, light mystery with a snappy third person narrator and a twist at the end.  It draws you in and gives all the thrills of a puzzle to solve, but it is never gory or rude.  The author keeps your emotions spinning as you laugh along with the funny parts, try to decipher cryptic clues along with the characters and watch the transformations in individuals as meaningful relationships develop.

You Should Know

Because it has so many characters and many sided relationships, the characters in the story can get complicated.  It may be a good idea to keep notes on each character as you go.  It is also fun to write down all of the character's clues and see if you can figure out the mystery before the characters do.  After all, you are the only one who has all the clues.  Besides Sam Westing himself, that is.

Talking Points

• Each of the Westing Heirs in the story has a partner.  Chris says that Mr. Westing gave everyone the perfect partner.  List each of the partnerships and talk about their relationships and how it changes different characters.
• Are there any of the characters that remind  you of someone you know?  Do any of the characters remind you of yourself?
• Why do you think Sam Westing set up this elaborate "game," and do you think it turned out as he hoped?
• What events or characters here did you find funny? Why do you think Ellen Raskin, the author of this book, included so many humorous details in her mystery?
• How do you feel about the decisions of TR Wexler?