The Westing Game (Hardcover)

by Ellen Raskin (Author) "THE SUN SETS in the west (just about everyone knows that), but Sunset Towers faced east..." (more)
Key Phrases: thy gold refine, purple waves, tapestry bag, Sam Westing, Otis Amber, Flora Baumbach (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
A supersharp mystery. . . . Confoundingly clever, and very funny. -- Booklist, starred review --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Review
A supersharp mystery. . . . Confoundingly clever, and very funny. (Booklist, starred review) --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Dutton Juvenile; 1st edition (June 1, 1978)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0525423206
• ISBN-13: 978-0525423201
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (731 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #805,932 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in this category: (What's this?)

  #12 in

  Books > Children's Books > Authors & Illustrators, A-Z > ( R ) > Raskin, Ellen

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

111 of 119 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The years pass, and still a must-read, May 29, 2000

By	Ilana Teitelbaum - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Westing Game (Paperback)

'The Westing Game' was my favorite book as a pre-teen, so when I returned to it years later, my expectations were low. Was I wrong! This book might be accessible to younger readers, but no one who loves a mystery with incredible characters should miss this for the world.

While the plot centers around a less than run-of-the-mill whodunit, the book mainly focuses on the characters: each unique, bizarre, and ultimately endearing. The author manages to make them quirky without making them caricatures. The developing relationships between the 'heirs' as they attempt to unravel the mystery, is, I think, far more important than the mystery itself; they also develop in their sense of identity. These are all themes any adult can appreciate, woven into the story with humor and sly understatement, yet in effect deeply moving.

The plot is complex and suspenseful, layered so impenetrably that at least one surprise at the end is inevitable. Yet even when wrapped in the most logical of puzzles, the author never loses the human touch. There are many scenes portrayed with hilarious, touching absurdity; and Raskin is dead-on with her take on human nature, even when her depiction seems exaggerated.

Read it for a good chuckle--but in the end it may be more than that.

36 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Westing Review, May 4, 2000

By A Customer

The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin is a must read book. It won the John Newbery Medal and everyone can see how it won. It is a mystery about Sam Westing who was murdered on Halloween by one of his neices or nephews. In his will he gives out clues like when he says "May God let Gold Refine" and when he says "My soul will roam relentlessly untill that one is found! " The heirs who find the murderer will inherit his millions of dollars! The author of this book can make you twist and turn. You will almost know who the murderer is then she decides to say that person is innocent in some way. She has an excellent word choice and she is an even better author. This book was good and sometimes I read one to two hours past my bed time. This is one of the best mysteries ever. I hope you also decide to read this book! Enjoy!

38 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Better than Harry Potter!!!, April 5, 2002

By	Blah (New York, New York) - See all my reviews

When I was a kid, this was one of my famous books. It contains more plot twists than a soap opera and is just as good as most Sherlock Holmes stories. (except of course the magnificent Hound of Baskervilles) Furthermore, the ending is shocking. No one I have met has been able to guess at the ending but unlike other mystery books once you know the answer it all makes sense and seems so obvious. So if your kids have just read Harry Potter and you are looking for something else or if you just enjoy a good mystery pick this one up.