Rating: 
Summary: A nicely done young adult mystery
Review: Dan Price suggested this title to me after reading earlier comments on children's books and my penchant for games. An excellent suggestion it was, too, and one I shall pass on. This is a "young adult" book, which I gather means that it has no pretensions of New York Times Book Review status, because if we judge it on its merits, it is quite sophisticated and well-written. Ostensibly a mystery, it centers around the tenants of one high-rise apartment complex and the death of the town's paper products entrepreneur, Samual W. Westing, who has selected those tenants as his heirs--with a catch. First, they must play the last Westing game.Like The Egypt Game (commented on here recently), the book concerns the game of its title, but is actually about the players. While one can read The Westing Game for the puzzle, it is much more rewarding as a study of what happens to people joined together in a strange situation. Interesting for adults as well as children, I can't see why you shouldn't try it.
Rating:
Summary: Twists and turns, curves and corners. It'll keep ya guessing
Review: I'm an adult and I didn't read this willingly. My group of book club friends each suggested a book and this one popped up. I am so very glad I gave in and said yes. Being that it was written as juvenile fiction there wasn't any swearing, blood/gore or sex. What a refreshing idea that you can have a genuinely compelling mystery without all that. Sam Westing loved puzzles all his life so why shouldn't he after his death. He mysteriously gathers a seemingly unrelated group of people together to solve the ultimate puzzle, "Who killed me?" The group is divided into teams, given clues and paid. Yes, that's right paid and they'll get much more if they solve the crime. The winner becomes the heir to Westing's incredible fortune! The writer leads you in one direction making you think you've figured it out and then wham! she throws you a curve and you're back to square one. It is a fun mystery for all ages but for the juvenile readers it was designed for I highly recommend it. It is unusual for a writer to take into consideration that younger readers can follow a tricky story line with many plot twists. When I was younger I was. Unfortunately I was usually disappointed in the books put before me and ended up opting for adult mysteries with content I really wasn't ready for. (The above swearing, blood/gore and sex) I highly recommend this book to younger readers and for the older reader out there like myself. Give it a try you might be as pleasantly surprised as I was.
Rating: 
Summary: A real page-turner!
Review: My husband and I read this book one after the other and all I can say was that we spent a consecutive two days not speaking to each other while reading it. Even a polite "Darling, could you..." was met with a hostile "SSSHH! I'M READING!". At one point my husband (who read the book first) threatened to reveal the ending of the book to me if I coninuted...he will not forget the beating he received for that! If you want your relationship with your family to be placed in such jeopardy as ours was...READ THIS BOOK! Deterioration in family relationships due to excessive aborbment in the plot of this superb whodunnit is fully excusable!
Rating:
Summary: The Westing Game
Review: Newbery Medal Award winner The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin, was a great book for young adult readers who are interested in the detective and mystery genre of books. The excitement lasted throughout the whole book and never let up.It started with a great idea for a game and ended with an even better ending. An unexpected hero arises and shows off their wit. Sam Westing was a very famous owner of a wealthy paper product company who was killed on Halloween night by one of his 16 heirs. The game was to find Sam's murderer, and whoever found the murderer was rewarded $200 million. The Westing Game was a great book because it got the reader involved with the storyline. I was able to get involved with the book by trying to find who the murderer was myself. The book would give me clues but not too many clues so I couldn't find out the truth until the end of the book. This book had many strong points to it like the very fun plot, the great description of certain scenes and places, and great characters. My favorite character was the young genius Turtle Wexler who was very active in the stock market. The reason I liked her so much was because she was very smart and very real as a kid. For example her petpeave was when people would pull her braids, she would kick them in the shin and run away just like a typical 9 year old would do. Another thing I liked about the book was the plot to it. You thought it was kind of confusing at the start and then at the end everything tied in so anyone can understand it. Something that could have been more exciting in the book would be more detail in the action scenes. For instance, when Sam gets murdered the scene is maybe a page long and it doesn't go into enough detail as I hoped it would. The book had a little action in it and it was cool but it would have been better with more. Also The Westing Game included a lot more thinking to it then other books I have read. But that is also what makes the book all the more better because it gets you more involved. Overall I would rate this 4 stars because the interaction with the book makes it great and also the characters. The reason I didn't give it a 5 star grade was because there could have been a little more action or more detail in the action. The Westing Game was a great book and I would recommend it for pre-teen to young adult readers who like mystery, interaction, and thought involved with their books.
Rating: 
Summary: The Westing Game: a Weird Book
Review: The annual announcement of the Newbery winner sometimes elicits surprise (particularly when the medal is bestowed on a mediocre book) but the committee members were right on target the year they honored Raskin's clever, captivating novel. Even those seldom drawn to mysteries will likely find this one hard to resist. Don your sleuth's cap and enjoy trying to solve the puzzle.
Rating:
Summary: A perfect mystery
Review: The Westing Game is one of those books that you will return to time and time again. It's not just an amazing mystery, it's an acute study of human nature, all wrapped up in wonderful writing. Somehow, knowing the ending doesn't change your pleasure in re-reading this completely original book. In fact, it will certainly enhance it once you know how everything fits so precisely, perfectly together. The premise is that Sam Westing's multimillion-dollar fortune is up for grabs among 16 heirs - if one of them will find out who murdered him! The will divides the quirky heirs (including Chinese restaurant owners, a socialite, a dressmaker, a judge, a podiatrist, an engaged couple, a shin-kicking teen, and a private investigator) into unusual pairs. With all the heirs working or living in the same remote apartment complex, suspicions are rife and feelings are high. In the midst of all this tension, there is also a bomber, a thief, and a mistake when a snowstorm isolates them. Then the accidents begin... The heirs are finely portrayed, and each is subtly revealed without giving away the plot. Ellen Raskin creates a sense of history and personality for each of the characters. She shows us their inner thoughts and actions in random, episodic scenes. As a result, the action moves quickly and memorably, which is good because there is a lot to take in. This isn't one of those mysteries you can figure out, so don't bother trying to remember it all. Just sit back and let Raskin work her magic. The Westing Game is deliciously clever, wildly funny, tightly organized, and delightfully captivating. Raskin was a marvel and there aren't many of her books, so treasure this one. The story has a few shivers and plenty of suspense, but nothing truly frightening or gruesome. Every child deserves to experience this book, as do any adults who missed out as a kid. Cannot recommend this enough!
Rating:
Summary: You'd Never Guess It
Review: The Westing Game starts out when a whole group of people are invited to move into a new apartment complex together. They don't know it in the beginning, but there is a reason that these certain people were selected. One day they receive an invitation to go up to the reading of the will of a man, Sam Westing, who has died. The will turns into a game and the tenants of the apartment building are split into pairs. They work together to solve the puzzle and try to win the 200 million dollars that is Sam Westing's inheritance. One of the tenants keeps setting off bombs throughout the apartment building. One of them has many different disguises. One person has an amazing motive to want to kill Sam Westing. The pairs are supposed to figure out who killed Sam Westing and who that person is going to attack next. The end of the book is a twisted turn of events that nobody will be able to figure out before they actually read it. I enjoyed The Westing Game tremendously and anybody would. It is just the right length to get the whole story in and not be boring. All the characters act just like normal people would and have the same reasoning. I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone, hope you enjoy it!
Rating:
Summary: Amazing!
Review: This book is about 16 "heirs" who, if they solve The Westing Game, will recieve a large sum of money. The characters are sorted into eight groups of two and are given a small list of clues. The 'Game' is full of mystery and alias'. You'll never guess it! Go ahead and try. Read this book.
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Summary: MY ALL TIME FAVORITE CHILDHOOD BOOK
Review: This book was absolutely amazing. For a children's book, it can capture even the adult imagination. The book starts off with the careful manipulation of eighteen people into moving into an apartment complex. Of the eighteen there is a doctor, a restauranteur, a judge, a runner, and a birdwatcher. But there is a also a bookie, a bomber, and, quite possibly, a killer. On a dare, Turtle Wexler agrees to spend the night in the Westing Manor. However, that night is shortlived as the body of the deceased (and possibly murdered) Mr. Westing is found in the house sending Turtle running in fear. But surprise of all surprises, the eighteen residents of the apartment complex have all been named as potential heirs to the Westing fortune -- but first they have to play The Westing Game. Paired off the group goes on their merry way searching for clues. However, when the secretary's transcribed copy of the will goes missing and a mad bomber starts to terrorize the players the game takes a wild twist. At the same time, though, you come to realize that there is a bizarre method to the madness behind the game. People are being paired off for a reason. From people learning to bond with others, learning about differences, learning to love, and learning to be loved, each pair brings its own special allure to the game. Now, I am not going to spoil the ending, however, I do urge you to read carefully if you want to figure out the big "whodunit." Just when you think the answer is there, there's a REALLY BIG monkey wrench thrown just to send you for a loop. Although it's a mystery and there is talk of death, dying, bombs exploding, and you might have to explain what a bookie is to your child, this book really and truly captures the imagination of anyone who reads it and is truly a wonderful book.
Rating:
Summary: LOVED IT!!!!!
Review: This book was great! I really loved the story and all of it's twists and turns. Although it was a little confusing with all the people, I think anyone my age would love this book. If you like mystery, comedy, and just about any kind of book, buy this one!!!!:) :) :b
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