Reviews - The Westing Game

4k reviews for:

The Westing Game

Ellen Raskin

3.99 AVERAGE

lc8558's review against another edition

4.0

This book was really cute. I loved Turtle.

stainedsouth's review against another edition

3.0

I put this on my mental 'to be read' list after Will Wheaton posted about re-reading this book. He remembered reading it as a child and re-visited the book as an adult. I, on the other hand, had never heard of it. I spent my childhood reading about the Happy Hollisters, the black stallion, houses on prairies and other things, but never The Westing Game. But, now that I read the publication date, no wonder I didn't read it. By 1978 I was entirely TOO grown to read a children's book. :P

It was an engaging read and I think holds up pretty well over time. After all, it did win the Newberry Medal! There were 16 characters of various ages, personalities and desires trying to solve a mystery in order to win a massive fortune from Sam Westing. Whoever solves the mystery of the murder, receives the fortune!

stephillips13's review against another edition

4.25

adventurous funny inspiring lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

liukis's review against another edition

2.0

lighthearted fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

It was a nice puzzle in some ways, but it gave me the same feeling as escape rooms and escape card games: It's a clever puzzle shoehorned into a story that it doesn't logically fit into. Why would the puzzle exist? The premise makes no sense. Why would 13 adults and 3 children go along with it? Why would they

believe that a dead man would leave clues to solve their own murder,in their will? Without the police involved?

Also, for non-americans, slim chances of figuring out the solution... Which cannot be counted against the book, but just felt personally dissatisfying.

elove05's review against another edition

I didn't really like this book, it was a good story that was poorly written. The rising action was pretty boring, and all the different characters and the switching POV was confusing.

hannahga's review against another edition

2.5

I read this in fifth grade and really liked it then so I wanted to read it again. It's definitely more suited for a fifth grader but I still enjoyed it for the most part! Just a fun puzzle of a mystery that has a satisfying ending. Maybe too many characters though - we just dont have time for them all