THE WESTING GAME

Written by: Ellen Raskin

Back-story on the book

• This mystery, written by Ellen Raskin in 1978, has been hailed as a masterpiece of modern mystery writing.

• A Newbery Award-Winning story that has sold over half a million copies to date.

Plot Synopsis

• The Westing Game tells the story of 16 tenants of the beautiful Sunset Towers apartment complex. All strangers, brought here for one reason.

• The reading of one Samuel Westing’s will. Some have family history with Mr. Westing, others have only heard of him by chance.

Plot Synopsis Cont…

• As the reading of Sam Westing’s will commences there’s a large and shocking revelation…

• One of the heirs seated at the reading…Was Sam Westing’s murderer!

So the Westing Game Begins!

• In the will, there were instructions… The 16 tenants were to divide into 8 groups of 2 (selected by the recently deceased Mr. Westing himself).

• These groups had one goal…To solve the mystery of which one of them was Sam Westing’s murderer. Uncover the murderer, win the Westing Game! (And $200 million!) .

The Westing Game Cont…

• The 8 groups each receive $10,000 (for various expenses) and an envelope containing clues to the identity of the murderer.

• In these envelopes were jumbled, unorganized scraps of paper…Each with a certain word that would help uncover the mystery, and more about the tenants themselves.

Samuel Westing

• Samuel Westing is “the main character” of this story, even though being recently murdered.

• Throughout the book Sam Westing speaks to the group of players through various excerpts from his will. So, even without him being there, he is still the central character with the most to say.

CAST OF CHARACTERS (In their groups)

• Group 1

– Madame Sun Lin Hoo: Cook, and Jake Wexler: A Doctor

• Group 2

– Turtle Wexler: daughter, and Flora Baumbach: Dressmaker

• Group 3

– Christos Theodorakis: Birdwatcher, and Denton Deere: Intern at plastic surgery hospital

• Group 4

– Alexander McSouthers: Doorman, and J. J. Ford: Supreme Court judge

• Group 5

– Grace Windsor Wexler: Heiress, and James Shin Hoo: Restaurant Owner

• Group 6

– Berthe Erica Crow: Soup Kitchen volunteer, and Otis Amber: Paper deliverer

• Group 7

– Theo Theodorakis: Brother, and Doug Hoo: High School track star

• Group 8

– Sydelle Pulaski: Secretary, and Angela Wexler: None

More About “The Game”

• In a very interesting feature of the story…The Reader receives all the clues necessary to solving the mystery right at the start. It’s up to you to see if you can before someone else does!

• The book takes incredible amounts twists and turns…Through blizzards, bombings, and power failures, the game never stops being played! Everyone is a suspect.

• Also, the story has an twist ending that not even the smartest of the smart could predict!

About the Author…

• Ellen Raskin was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

• She attended school at the University of Wisconsin where she received her major in art.

• She is a Newbery Award and Newbery Honor award winner.

• She currently resides in New York City.