The Westing Game
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| The Westing Game | |
|---|---|
 The 1992 Puffin edition. |
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| Author(s) | Ellen Raskin |
| Illustrator | Nathan Althoff |
| Country | USA |
| Language | English |
| Series | NA |
| Genre(s) | Mystery |
| Publisher | E. P. Dutton |
| Publication date | 1978 |
| Media type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) |
| Pages | 185 pages |
| ISBN | ISBN 0-525-47137-5 ISBN 0-14-240120-X ISBN 0-14-038664-5 |
| OCLC Number | 53292898 |
| LC Classification | PZ7.R1817 We 2003 |
The Westing Game is a 1979 Newbery Medal winning novel by Ellen Raskin.[1] It has been adapted into a movie, released under both the names The Westing Game and Get a Clue. This book centers around the adventures of Sam Westing's sixteen heirs after they are challenged by him to unravel the secret behind his death.
Contents |
[edit] Plot
Sixteen individuals who are mysteriously chosen to live in the Sunset Towers apartment building on the shore of Lake Michigan, somewhere in Wisconsin come together to hear the will of the self-made millionaire, Samuel W. Westing. The will takes the form of a puzzle, dividing the sixteen heirs into eight pairs, giving each pair a different set of clues, and challenging them to solve the mystery of who killed Sam Westing. As an incentive, each heir is given $10,000 to play the game. Whoever solves the mystery will inherit Sam Westing's $200 million fortune,and his company Westing Paper Products.
[edit] Clues by team
The clues in each case are listed in the order they were first listed in the book. In seven cases, they were capitalized and formed a separate paragraph; the capitalization is followed in this article.
- Table 1 (Madame Hoo and Jake)—
OF AMERICA AND GOD ABOVE
- Table 2 (Turtle and Flora Baumbach) —
SEA MOUNTAIN AM O
- Table 3 (Chris and Denton Deere)—
FOR PLAIN GRAIN SHED
- Table 4 (Sandy and Judge Ford)—
SKIES AM SHINING BROTHER
- Table 5 (Grace and Mr. Hoo)—
FRUITED PURPLE WAVES FOR SEA
- Table 6 (Crow and Otis Amber)—
WITH THY BEAUTIFUL MAJESTIES
- Table 7 (Theo and Doug)—
HIS N ON TO THEE FOR
- Table 8 (Angela and Sydelle)—
GOOD GRACE FROM HOOD SPACIOUS
These clues constituted almost all of the lyrics from "America The Beautiful." Sam Westing's will included words from the song as well.
[edit] Solution
The clues provided to the heirs are mostly words from the song "America the Beautiful", taken out of order. When rearranged, it becomes clear that several words or parts of words are missing; these spell out one of the heir's name Berthe Erica Crow. Crow names herself as the solution. However, this is not the 'true' solution of the game. Judge J. J. Ford later recognizes this move as the "queen's sacrifice", a move that Sam Westing would always use to defeat her in chess. So this proves that Sam Westing is not dead.
The will does not state that Samuel Westing was murdered but rather that his "life was taken." The will is broken down in sections of FIRST, SECOND, etc., totaling nineteen, and in the THIRD stated that "the one who wins the windfall will be the one who finds the..." and is interrupted by an outburst from Sandy McSouthers before continuing "FOURTH. Hail to thee..." Turtle realizes that there was no missing word after and that finding "the Fourth" was to find "the fourth" identity of Sam Westing. At this point, Turtle makes the connection that of the "four winds" mentioned in the will (North, East, South, and West), and that Windy WINDkloppel (the name Sam Westing was born with), Sam WESTing, Barney NORTHrup, Sandy McSOUTHers, and Julian R. EASTman are all the same person. Julian R. Eastman was the fourth identity that the heirs were truly instructed to find. Turtle confronts Eastman, confirming his identity as Sandy/Westing, and becomes his protege and heir.
[edit] References
- ^ "Newbery Medal & Honor Books, 1922-Present". Association for Library Service to Children. http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/newberymedal/newberyhonors/newberymedal.cfm#70s. Retrieved 11 January 2011.
[edit] Other media
The Westing Game, adapted by Darian Lindle and directed by Terry Brino-Dean, was first produced at Prime Stage Theatre in Pittsburgh in 2009. The script is published by Dramatic Publishing.
Get A Clue, adapted by Dylan Kelsey Hadley and directed by Terence H. Winkless was produced for television in 1997.
[edit] External links
- The Westing Game manuscript online at UW Madison
- The Westing Game at the Internet Movie Database
- The Game learning guide, analysis, quotes, & teacher resources
| Awards | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Bridge to Terabithia |
Newbery Medal recipient 1979 |
Succeeded by A Gathering of Days: A New England Girl's Journal |
