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Ellen Raskin - Author
A clue-heavy ensemble mystery for readers who enjoy solving puzzles alongside characters. Its appeal lies in twists, red herrings, humour and changing partnerships, while its many characters and social tensions may require patient attention.
More about this book
Sixteen people were invited to the reading of the very strange will of the very rich Samuel W. Westing. They could become millionaires, depending on how they played the game. The not-quite-perfect heirs were paired, and each pair was given $10,000 and a set of clues (no two sets of clues were alike). All they had to do was find the answer, but the answer to what? The Westing game was tricky and dangerous, but the heirs played on, through blizzards and burglaries and bombs bursting in air. And one of them won! With her own special blend of intricacy, humor, and upside-down perceptions, Ellen Raskin has entangled a remarkable cast of characters in a puzzle-knotted, word-twisting plot. She then deftly unravels it again in a surprising (but fair) and highly satisfying ending. - Back cover. The mysterious death of an eccentric millionaire brings together an unlikely assortment of heirs who must uncover the circumstances of his death before they can claim their inheritance.
SolidarityThe available evidence does not establish the book's treatment of this theme. See Confidence & Basis for the evidence gap.IndividualismThe available evidence does not establish the book's treatment of this theme. See Confidence & Basis for the evidence gap.CompetitionThe available evidence does not establish the book's treatment of this theme. See Confidence & Basis for the evidence gap.
Consider
Fear and suspenseDiscrimination or prejudiceSocial conflict
Personalised Fit
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Sixteen strangers are paired and challenged to compete for an inheritance, with the game presenting cooperation and individual gain as opposing pressures.AmbiguousAmbiguous: the book leaves its position open to more than one reasonable reading.Ambiguous: the book leaves its position open to more than one reasonable reading.
How the book presents it: The book leaves its stance open to more than one reading.
Talk about: Does the game ultimately make cooperation, independence or a balance between them seem most valuable?
Prejudice and social difference
The ensemble includes minority and disabled characters whose differences are used as grounds for judgement and discrimination.CriticalCritical: the book challenges or disapproves of this theme.Critical: the book challenges or disapproves of this theme.
How the book presents it: The thematic account says the story exposes prejudices and stereotypes, presenting social targeting as a problem rather than an ideal.
Talk about: How do characters recognise, resist or reproduce the assumptions made about them?
Wealth, inheritance and greed
A wealthy figure uses an inheritance and a competitive game to bring strangers together, making money and power central to their decisions.AmbiguousAmbiguous: the book leaves its position open to more than one reasonable reading.Ambiguous: the book leaves its position open to more than one reasonable reading.
How the book presents it: The book leaves its stance open to more than one reading.
Talk about: If wealth changes the players’ behaviour, what does the story suggest they value beyond winning?
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Why It May Be Worth Reading
The book offers opportunities to discuss how teamwork competes with individual ambition, and how wealth, inheritance and social prejudice can shape people’s choices. Its portrayal is presented as exposing unfair judgement rather than simply celebrating difference.
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What Deserves Attention
Be aware of a murder-mystery frame involving a supposedly deceased millionaire, an alleged murderer and a fortune at stake. The story also includes racial and class prejudice, stereotyping and unfair treatment of minority and disabled characters.
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A Conversation Worth Having
How does the game change the way characters judge one another? Ask whether solving the puzzle rewards cooperation, cleverness, competition or something less predictable, without assuming the ending’s meaning in advance.
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Reading Approach
Keep a simple character-and-clue list, noting each pair, clue and alliance. Pause after major revelations to test theories, and discuss unfamiliar social attitudes in context rather than treating every character’s view as the book’s own.
Confidence & Basis
Theme indicators describe how the book presents a topic; they are not a verdict on the whole book or your family's values. Confidence reflects how much book-specific material was checked. Only part of the book information was available, so some details remain unconfirmed.
What remains unconfirmed
Teamwork and individual ambition: Some details of this treatment remain unclear.
Prejudice and social difference: Some details of this treatment remain unclear.
Wealth, inheritance and greed: Some details of this treatment remain unclear.
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