 "Great! A very nice book" | 2009-11-15 |
| - Reviewed By Anonymous |
| Every page gives a new clue, new information, and a nice surprising ending you would never expect. Read it! |
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 "It was better when I was a kid, but the climax is still pretty impressive" | 2009-10-18 |
| - Reviewed By dkevans |
Millionaire Sam Westing dies and leaves a will inviting 16 potential heirs to play a game to find the murderer. I remember loving this book as a youth, and after being reminded of it in an episode of Veronica Mars*, I revisited it. My first complaint is that it never lets you forget that it's Young Adult fiction. The characters feel a bit too caricatured sometimes, perhaps, something of which younger readers are often more forgiving. (I was.) This stands in contrast to some young adult fiction, notably Harry Potter books, in which I managed to forget that I was reading a book for a younger audience. My second complaint is that the ending is too indulgent. Hitchcock supposedly said, Always give the audience what it wants. And normally I'm a fan of epilogues that tell me how everything has played out, but with two epilogues and endings that are - to my liking - just a bit too clean (I won't say more in case you haven't read it), it just felt like too much dessert, leaving me uncomfortably full.
BUT although I think I missed some clues, I was truly drawn in as we neared the climax, and I was genuinely (and pleasantly) surprised by the way the puzzle played itself out.
I would definitely recommend this to a young adult. If you're an adult, there are probably better puzzle books. (Or read this awesome science fiction novel I finished yesterday - The Day of the Triffids. It was exceptional!)
Note on content: The book is about the solving of a murder, and there is some talk about a corpse with maggots crawling out of its sockets.
* Season 1: The one where Deb from Napolean Dynamite finds her biological mom. Her younger sister is reading The Westing Game. The episode is called Silence of the Lamb.
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| "STILL a favorite 25 years later" | 2009-08-11 |
| - Reviewed By User: A2DG1NQM08X1EI |
I first read this book when I was in my early teens. I've read it at least half a dozen times and have given it to many kids for their birthdays or Christmas (one poor cousin received it three Christmases in a row).
I got it again this time for my nephew or niece, and re-read it (again) before passing it on. It is just as fabulous as ever. It's a great puzzle mystery and has all the best parts of an Agatha Christie novel for young adults - scheming victim, neglected daughter, perfect daughter, not-quite-good-enough husband, social climbing wife, jock, physically challenged brother, taken-for-granted brother, tired parents, wistful mother, cranky father, narcissistic wall flower, rags to riches success story, supercilious fiancé, people who are not who they say.
It is close to the perfect puzzle story and with great characters (not necessarily well developed, but real enough for plausibility) and a perfect set up, with enough happy endings to go around.
There is nothing in the book that a parent would need to feel concerned with - no violence, no sex, no swearing, and there is a positive "be who you want to be not who people tell you to be" message that should resonate well with young people.
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| "amazing!" | 2009-08-07 |
| - Reviewed By User: A3P0KJO6KFNEBH |
This book is great! I started reading it about a week ago and finished 2 days later.
It is a very addicting book. I suggest it for anyone 10 and up.(i am ten and i love it) It is such a great mystery and i am so happy i read it. In the back of the book the description makes the book either seem thrilling or boring. I thought it sounded boring but when I read it i couldnt stop. My mother is currently reading it and thinks so far its great! One of the best books ever! |
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| "A Clever Mystery For Lighthearted Reading" | 2009-07-31 |
| - Reviewed By shanna_estigoy |
The Westing Game is a sophisticated mystery with a lively plot and many funny moments. The multimillionare Sam Westing names sixteen heirs in his will, which turns out to be a complex riddle, and the one who solves it inherits his estate. Among the heirs are Shin Hoo, a domineering Chinese restauranteur with an underappreciated athlete son and a homesick young wife; J.J. Ford, a bootstrapping African-American judge; Grace Wexler, a pretentious housewife with a podiatrist husband; Angela, a beautiful, browbeaten future bride; and her sister, the neglected but spirited Turtle. All the heirs live in Sunset Towers, and three of the building staff are also heirs: Sandy Northrup, the doorman; Otis Amber, delivery man; and Bertha Crow, cleaning woman, a grimly pious former alcoholic.
The story is well conceived, an enjoyable read not only for the riddle but for many sly digs at human foibles, as secrets are revealed at every turn. However, it lacks any transcendent meaning, and a discerning parent may need to help younger readers interpret it. The players are motivated by the desire to win the inheritance, not to solve a crime allegedly committed. There is little sense of moral justice, and the winner gains the inheritance through cleverness rather than virtue.
By necessity, the sixteen characters are thinly drawn, and they are caricatured enough that their many faults (which include lying, drunkenness, arson, and terrible parenting) may be interpreted comedically. For Christian families, the primary concern may be Bertha Crow's religion. She wears black, prays with pinched lips, and regularly limps to the Good Salvation Soup Kitchen, presenting an impression of joyless, painful religion. Hers is the only portrayal of spirituality, and it falls far short of the joyful, grace-filled faith in Christ's work that characterizes genuine Christianity.
The Westing Game is a good yarn -- a page-turning, entertaining read with a satisfying conclusion. The plot, characters, and riddle are perfectly suited to its 8-12 reading level, but its cynical portrayal of religion and its temporal focus on status and money may unduly influence immature readers. If you're looking for a story with an ultimate theme, better look elsewhere. |
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| "Great Little Book for Youth." | 2009-02-23 |
| - Reviewed By User: AWQZHWKKJZ4ZB |
This book has entertained young people for years. I used it in my classroom as a class set reading project and recently purchased it for my youngest son to read.
It's easy to read, has wonderful characters, and keeps the mind thinking. |
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