| Plot Summary of The Westing Game |
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"Young Turtle Wexler is involved in the most intriguing contest ever thought of. An old man, Sam Westing, is murdered. He owns most of the town. His will points to sixteen people as his heirs. Westing invented an elaborate game to find his murderer and the winner gets $1,000,000. Turtle finds herself caught up in all the mystery and intrigue."
Laura J. Miller, Resident Scholar
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"Old Sam Westing has died, and left behind him an odd will. He's invited his 16 heirs to play a game, and the winner takes - or inherits - all. The clues? Words typed on pieces of paper towels. The players? The residents of a new apartment building. The solution? Read it and see. This is technically a YA book, but it's so unusual and interesting that I can't imagine anyone not liking it. "
Ivy, Resident Scholar
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"This is a murder mystery revolving around the death of Samuel W. Westing, a mysterious man who lived in the mansion off of Lake Michigan. Sixteen people move into the six new "Sunset Towers" apartments all on the same day. All become players in a game to discover who is the murderer. Whoever uncovers the mystery inherits Mr. Westing's inheritance. Of the sixteen, one is a doctor, one is an inventor, one is a dressmaker, one is a burglar, one is a bookie and one is a mistake!"
J.R., Resident Scholar
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"It arrives in a clean white envelope from the sixty-two year old delivery boy. Strange!? The main character opens the envolope and remove and single sheet of paper saing he are one of sixteen heirs. Not just an heir but and heir to the entire fourtune of Samuel Westing's factory.
This is not a normal legal battle. This is a game, the Westing Game. The main character's task is simple, to find the murder. Once the character wins then he splits a cool two-hundred million dollars.
Everyone is trying to get a sneaky glance at others clues. Now no one trust each other, especially the murderer. But soon a snowstorm hits and a bomer is on the loose, and no one at Sunset Towers is safe.
With clues unravaling fast everyone is trying to stay one step ahead of Sam Westing. "
Meghan Wotring, Resident Scholar
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| Review Analysis of The Westing Game |
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Our unique search engine provides a wealth of detail about books by breaking them down into many different literary elements, all of which are searchable (click here).
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Composition of Book
descript. of violence and chases - 10%
Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 30%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 40%
How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) - 20%
Tone of story
- Dry-cynical
- very upbeat
How difficult to spot villain?
- Difficult, but some clues given
- Challenging
Time/era of story:
- 1980's-1999
What % of story relates directly
to the mystery, not the subplot?
- 50%
- 70%
Misc. Murder Plotlets
- cooped up in spooky house
Kid or adult book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Crime Thriller
Yes
Crime plotlets:
- search for gems/treasure/money
Murder Mystery (killer unknown)
Yes
Main Character
Gender
- Female
Profession/status:
- student
Age:
- a kid
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events?
Yes
How much violence does he/she use?
- none
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- average physique
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
Age:
- 60's-90's
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- an above average amount
The antagonists are:
- big business leader(s)
Physique
- average physique
Setting
United States
Yes
Small town?
Yes
Small town people:
- nice, like Andy/Opie/Aunt Bee
Misc setting
- fancy mansion
Style
Person
- mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death?
- no torture/death
- generic/vague references to death/punishment
How many deaths?
- 1
Amount of dialog
- roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
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