Our ‘back to school’, August pick was “The Westing Game” by
Ellen Raskin. This little story was a fun choice. It was published originally
in 1978 and is a skillfully written mystery that pulls in a fun and eclectic
group of characters who try to play a game directed by a wealthy man who has
passed away. Each player is specifically chosen, and for the reader, it is
loaded with hints and twists as the characters try and solve the clues to win
the prize.
Though there are a few things that you can tell the story
was written 40 years ago, most of it is
clever and just as fun to read as if it was written in 2018. Interestingly,
some of the characters are strong and dynamic in ways that maybe would not have
really been seen as much in literature of 1978, and yet are as vulnerable and
challenged by similar problems as today.
We enjoyed this read and though it is targeted at grades
5-7, it is clever and full of wordplay and sly humor. As the mystery unfolds,
there are surprises and insights in both plot and motivation. Some members of
our group had read it in childhood and for many it was the first time reading
it. It was a fun choice!
“Life, too, is senseless unless you know who you are, what
you want, and which way the wind blows.”
― Ellen Raskin, The Westing Game
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