The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin- Book Review

The Westing Game is a short and quick puzzle mystery novel by Ellen Raskin. The back-cover summary goes thus:  

"A bizarre chain of events begins when sixteen unlikely people gather for the reading of Samuel W. Westing's will. And though no one knows why the eccentric, game-loving millionaire has chosen a virtual stranger—and a possible murderer—to inherit his vast fortune, on things for sure: Sam Westing may be dead…but that won't stop him from playing one last game! "

This Newbery Medal-winning book is written from a third-person omniscient narrator who immediately introduces that Barney Northrup isn't a real person. The story has a large cast of sixteen main characters who are just about all the characters in the story (there are very few side characters).

**This book review contains spoilers for this book. If you still want to read the review, go ahead. However, I strongly recommend you to read this book before reading my review.**

I first read this book all the way back in sixth grade, when our school librarian had this Newbery Medal book reading challenge, where you were reading all the books that were awarded the Newbery medal from 1970 to 2018. The Westing Game was awarded the Medal in 1979. I remember being so excited by the suspense and the mystery and the puzzle that I finished the book in a day.

This book contains a great diverse lineup of characters, all of whom play a role in the story- Turtle Wexler, Grace Wexler, Jake Wexler, Angela Wexler, Theo Theodorakis, Chris Theodorakis, Otis Amber, Berthe Erica Crow, James Hoo, Mrs. Hoo, Sandy McSouthers, JJ Ford, Denton Deere, Sydelle Pulaski, Flora Baumbach, and a few others.

Looking back at my memories of first reading this book, I remember I was most amazed at Turtle for being the only one to figure out that Sandy was actually Sam Westing's alias.

However, as I reread the book, I was impressed at Judge Ford's intelligence and logic as she figured out who Sandy really was and the heirs' connection to Westing. She even found out that Sydelle Pulaski was the mistake- Sybil Pulaski should have been the actual player. Judge Ford is my favorite character in the book, as she is very observant and is a good judge of character.

For example, there's this line about Grace Wexler at Judge Ford's party:

"The judge left the prattling pretender. Father's brother or father's father's brother, if the relationship was on the paternal side her maiden name her would be Westing".  (p.58)

This is an astute observation, however she did not consider the possibility that both people have changed their names from Windkloppel to something else (Westing and Windsor). Judge Ford is also one of the few people (aside from Turtle and the readers) to realize that Barney Northrup is actually an alias of Sam Westing. 

“ Barney Northrup, was that Westing's disguise: false buckteeth, slick black wig, pasted-on mustache? ” (p.138)

That's not all though- she also comes to the conclusion that Crow is Sam Westing's ex-wife, and that she is the target- and the answer- of the Westing game. Through research she figures out that Westing made this game because he was angry at his ex-wife when she forced their daughter Violet to marry a man that she did not want to, and Violet ended up killing herself because she loved George Theodorakis (that's right , Theo and Chris's father) more than the politician the ex-wife was forcing Violet to marry. The judge sees it as her her mission her to protect Sam Westing's ex-wife Crow. 

This also connects well with her character- the path to being a black female judge in the 1970s (the book was published in 1978) was long and hard, and so she has had to deal with racism her entire life. She takes Grace's racist reaction from the section of the will about Grace being cousins ​​with Judge Ford seriously 

"' If it's any comfort to you, Mrs. Wexler,' Judge Ford remarked with biting dignity, 'I am just as appalled by our purported relationship.' "(p. 28), and remembers Sam Westing's ex-wife as being 'very white' (p. 93). 

But enough about Judge Ford- let's get back to the story. 

One of my favorite things about this book was the way that the puzzle was structured- so many elements symbolized some of Sam Westing's iconic moves, such as the Queen's Sacrifice, and sections of the will were like ciphers that had a deeper meaning such as the line ' The heir who wins the windfall will be the one who finds the fourth '. The fourth meant the fourth identity of Windy Windkloppel, after he took on the roles of Sam WESTing, Barney NORTHrup, and Sandy McSOUTHers- it was a name with the word 'east' in it, and that's exactly who the newly appointed CEO of Westing Paper Products is: Julian R. Eastman. Turtle alone figures this out and visits Eastman, and is the sole winner of the Westing game.Out of all the people in the book, Turtle is the only one who beat Westing in chess.

Speaking of chess, the brain-stretching game is also emphasized in the Westing game, as Theo, Judge Ford, and Turtle all play against Sam Westing at some point in the book. Westing's signature move is the queen's sacrifice, and both Theo and Judge Ford fall for it. 

About the ending of the book, I loved (i think i use the word i loved too much but well i did love it) the final few chapters where Turtle held the court, perfectly fit all the clues to their answers, and everything ended happily Ever after. 

I understand that some people don't like happily ever afters because they are so unrealistic, and I generally don't like them too, but somehow I had no aversion to the happy ending of this book. All throughout the book I was rooting for all the characters (except Grace Wexler, she's way too presumptuous and pompous and condescending), and was genuinely glad when everybody turned out happy. I wasn't expecting Hoo's On First to be such a big hit, though, and I certainly didn't think Theo and Turtle would get married! (I forgot most of the plot, that's why many things came as a surprise again.) 

I was especially glad when Chris was using the newly discovered medication to stabilize his limbs and normalize his speech- I couldn't help but feel bad for him when he couldn't express his ideas freely due to his stuttering. Now that Chris can talk freely, he is able to fully utilize his kind manner and smart mind his to express them as he can.  

All in all, The Westing Game was a gripping, fast read (reread, technically) with every clue perfectly fitting together. I especially loved the ending where Turtle figures out the truth, and the last scene where everything that happened after the Westing Game is explained.

I would recommend this book for grade 4~5 and up. (language may be a bit difficult, but nothing foul)

Rating: I would give this book 4.8/5.