THE WESTING GAME Written by Ellen Raskin Backstory

THE WESTING GAME Written by: Ellen Raskin

Back-story on the book • This mystery, written by Ellen Raskin in 1978, has been hailed as a masterpiece of modern mystery writing. • A Newbery Award. Winning story that has sold over half a million copies to date.

Plot Synopsis • The Westing Game • The reading of one tells the story of 16 Samuel Westing’s tenants of the will. Some have beautiful Sunset family history with Towers apartment Mr. Westing, others complex. All have only heard of strangers, brought him by chance. here for one reason.

Plot Synopsis Cont… • As the reading of • One of the heirs Sam Westing’s seated at the will commences reading…Was there’s a large Sam Westing’s and shocking murderer! revelation…

So the Westing Game Begins! • These groups had one • In the will, there goal…To solve the were instructions… mystery of which one The 16 tenants were of them was Sam to divide into 8 Westing’s murderer. groups of 2 Uncover the murderer, (selected by the win the Westing recently deceased Game! (And $200 Mr. Westing million!). himself).

The Westing Game Cont… • The 8 groups each receive $10, 000 (for various expenses) and an envelope containing clues to the identity of the murderer. • In these envelopes were jumbled, unorganized scraps of paper…Each with a certain word that would help uncover the mystery, and more about the tenants themselves.

Samuel Westing • Samuel Westing is “the main character” of this story, even though being recently murdered. • Throughout the book Sam Westing speaks to the group of players through various excerpts from his will. So, even without him being there, he is still the central character with the most to say.

CAST OF CHARACTERS (In their groups) • • Group 1 – Madame Sun Lin Hoo: Cook, and Jake Wexler: A Doctor Group 2 – Turtle Wexler: daughter, and Flora Baumbach: Dressmaker Group 3 – Christos Theodorakis: Birdwatcher, and Denton Deere: Intern at plastic surgery hospital Group 4 – Alexander Mc. Southers: Doorman, and J. J. Ford: Supreme Court judge • • Group 5 – Grace Windsor Wexler: Heiress, and James Shin Hoo: Restaurant Owner Group 6 – Berthe Erica Crow: Soup Kitchen volunteer, and Otis Amber: Paper deliverer Group 7 – Theodorakis: Brother, and Doug Hoo: High School track star Group 8 – Sydelle Pulaski: Secretary, and Angela Wexler: None

More About “The Game” • The book takes incredible • In a very interesting amounts twists and feature of the turns…Through blizzards, story…The Reader bombings, and power receives all the clues failures, the game never necessary to solving stops being played! the mystery right at the Everyone is a suspect. start. It’s up to you to • Also, the story has an twist ending that not even the see if you can before smartest of the smart could someone else does! predict!

About the Author… • Ellen Raskin was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. • She attended school at the University of Wisconsin where she received her major in art. • She is a Newbery Award and Newbery Honor award winner. • She currently resides in New York City.