home

= We are reading The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin. =

12/6/10 I just finished chapters 1-6 of “The Westing Game.” I think that this book will keep me on my toes! The most interesting part to me was in chapter 6, when the attorney is reading the will of Samuel W. Westing. I found that interesting because the will was very strange, especially in the second paragraph when Samuel Westing states that all of the heirs are related. I couldn’t believe that all of the heirs weren’t only cousins, some of them live in Sunset Towers. Isn’t it ironic that the only people who got letters to live in Sunset Towers were cousins and Samuel W. Westing is their uncle? Now that I’m thinking about it, do you remember in the beginning of chapter 2, when Raskin said that the chosen ones (and the mistake) moved in? I think that the mistake was the person who killed Samuel W. Westing. In his will, Uncle Sam stated that he did not die of natural causes. His life was taken by one of the heirs. I find it very weird that in Uncle Sam’s will, he tells Grace Windsor Wexler to sit down and she stood up right before that part of the will was read. - Maggie S. =The Westing Game - Ellen Raskin ~12/30/10~= I also just finished chapters 1 throgh 6 of The Westing Game. I agree with everything you said Maggie! This book definetly keeps you on you're toes, and I also find the second paragraph of his will very interesting! I find it a little odd that Ellen ( the author) makes a point about Chris's arm flailing in the air, and that he moved his "accusing finger" around pointing everywhere?!? Maggie I would have never noticed or remembered about how the author said that the choosen ones had moved in and the mistake ( moved in to) in chapter two! That makes a lot of since! I think that it is a little wierd that Judge Ford doesnt open the letter when she gets it? I wonder if she was scared of what it might say?!? I also do not get how Denton Deere can think "that the medical profession is corrupt" from "The poor are crazy, the rich just eccentric,". I have also been wondering in the back of my head why would Flora Baumbach cry during a minute of silent pray, I mean she could just be really sad about him dying or it could be another reason for her tears? And why was Crow, one I least excepted to be praying, said to be the __only__ one praying?? Maggie thanks again for all your great ideas I would have never thoought about a lot of that stuff! ~ Lily G. ~

The westing game- in response to lily:
==I just finished chapters 1 through 6 as well and in my memory there was no such thing as chris flailing his arms in the air and pionting his "accusing finger" around pointing everywhere. I'm not denying that it isnt there but could you tell me where excactly it is. anyway,== ==I did eventually find it but it doesnt make sense, and i dont think it really matters wether he is flailing his arms or not.and when they started giving clues away I started to write them down. and when I did it did make sense, and start to form the song "america". but i still dont get how the book is called the westing game I mean nne of the clues make sense, and what game in the history of the world contains clues to solve a murder/death that suposedly hasnt even happened yet. i mean i love the book so far and i love mysteries but come on, it should be a lot simpler to me. but then again i dont want it to be a kiddie book. i dont know im so confused, but what about you guys?== =﻿~ALLY~ 12/31/10=

The Westing Game - Ellen Raskin
==December 31(just finished ch. 1 - 6)In my opinion the book took off to a great start with a great, well written first chapter. It really started off the book well but didn’t give too much away, which made me very curious and it made me want to keep reading. I’m well into mysteries and this book is perfect for me. It starts off great with telling you the problem or mystery that needs to be solved. Then the story continues on to introduce the characters or the problem solvers of the story. Speaking of characters, it may just be me, but when they introduced all the characters and continued on with the story it got really confusing. I never knew whose line was whose, and it was so confusing to tell apart each family, each friend, and each plain individual. I do however like the idea of a ghost or a dead guy that died inside a house, that’s now haunted. It just gives me a thrill and puts goose bumps down my spine. Then when they actually found Sam Westing it just made my day. I mean I saw it coming but their reactions to it changed the story. You would think that his own family would be sadder about his death, but they were more concerned about his 200 million dollar inheritance to even care about his death. Take his alleged niece Grace Winsor Wexler for example. She is such a spoiled heiress that gets anything she wants, well at least that is what’s think of her. I still can’t believe that Angela is engaged to some doctor named Denton Deere, which is such a fake name. Yet so far my favorite part of the story was when all of the characters were introduced to the Westing Game, it looks so fun, and interesting, and it looks kind of mysterious and spooky. Though I guess I’ll just have to wait and read on to see how well it goes. == (: ~ally s.~ :)

The Westing Game - Ellen Raskin

january 1st (i got through ch.s 7-12)---In the last letter I wrote you I last talked about how I couldn’t wait to see how well the Westing Game will go for the tenants, and now I know. The reading of the will in the beginning of chapter 6 was very interesting, and none of the tenants seemed to get the meaning of it. Yet for some they started to piece it together when they got the clues from Sam Westing. The clues didn’t even make sense; I was even starting to think along with many others that all the clues fit together like a big sentence that leads to the murderer. Although I didn’t like how they treated Sydelle Pulaski for having a limp and being somewhat handicapped, and being considered ugly next to Miss Angela who is a very pretty woman. It just seemed mean but not all people are like that, right? Turtle is a great example of that, she doesn’t see and judge people for what they are on the outside, but what they are on the inside is what she judges them on. So far she has to be my favorite character throughout this entire book. Although when I hit chapter nine, it started to get even more confusing. It just doesn’t seem that real for that many people to lose that many things, I mean a silver cross chain, a Mickey Mouse clock, a notebook, a string of pearls; just who loses that much stuff in that short amount of time, I mean really! I don’t even know how you feel about this, but I think that the party (chapter 10) and the meeting (chapter 11) were complete disasters. Yet chapter 12 has to be the most interesting because when Mrs. Thoedorakis ran out with red dripping stuff from her apron even I thought it was blood, like she just killed somebody. Now I don’t know about you but I just can’t wait to see if Judge J.J. Ford actually gets that private detective, who they are, and why she thought it may just be a coincidence. This is such a good book for anyone to read.

(: ~ally s.~ :)

1/8/11 I just finished reading chapters 7-12 of The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin. Now I know why the book is called The Westing Game. Do you understand any of the clues that Uncle Sam gave to each pair? I am on the same page with all of the characters. I mean that I really and truly do not understand any of the clues, and I know all of the clues, but they don't. I feel like we should be able to figure it out, just because we know all of the clues. However, I can’t figure it out. Did you find it strange that Theo noticed that someone had moved a white pawn on the chess board when the heirs got to the game room? It was even stranger that after Theo moved a black knight, another piece had been played when Theo checked the board again! I think that Sam Westing isn't really dead. I don't know how he did it, but I think that he is still alive. I also think that it was Sam Westing that was playing chess with Theo. It was also weird that in chapter 8, Sydelle Pulaski had slammed her door shut before she left the apartment. But, when she came back, the apartment door was wide open. It was also weird that Sydelle ran through the door with her crutch in the air, hurrying to see if the shorthand notebook had been stolen- it had. I think that Sydelle Pulaski murdered Sam Westing. I believe she did this for a number of reasons. The first one is she faked having to use a crutch. She would have done this so that no one suspected her. In chapter 8, Sydelle and her partner, Angela, barged into Chris’ family’s apartment. Sydelle said that Angela wasn’t the murderer, but she didn’t say that she wasn’t the murderer. That is why I think that Sydelle Pulaski is the murderer. ﻿Maggie S.

IN RESPONSE TO MAGGIE:

(chapters 7-12)It is really weird because i mean i understand all the clues, but i cant get to the bottom of thier meanings. its also wierd why he gave certain clues to certain people like the fact that he told people not to share with anyone and when they did some people reacted differently. like on page 55when judge JJ ford said "i had no doubt that the clues i shared with the doorman were meant for me". yet others like say angela thought at times that her clues and partner were usless. as for what you said about chris it really is amazing that he was the only one to notice the chess peices. it also seems kind of strange that all the reall wierd events that happen point dirrectly towards sam westing. i know this may sound crazy, but i think he faked his own death to get out of some finacial ruins that he had with the westing paper products because he was always telling everybody to BUY, BUY, BUY!!! it also spooked me out when she closed the dor and when she came back it was open. yet i dont think that she killed sam westing cause i dont think he is dead, yet. we will just have to read on and see what happens. ~ally~ 1/10/11

The Westing Game --- Lily Ganote - 1/17/11

( chapters 7- 12 ) I have to agree turtle is my favorite character so far! She so sweet and doesn’t judge people because of how they look she judges them on who they are on the inside and that is a very rare quality in people! I also agree that even knowing all of the clues none of them make sense alown and I cant even figure out what they mean together! I think that thinking about stocks was very smart and I would have never thought about that! I also believe that Sydelle Pulaski was very smart for writing her notes in polish! I wonder how she learned polish because that is not a normal thing to learn in school even right now! Maggie if Sam Westing wasn’t murdered then how could Sydelle Pulaski have killed him? I mean Someone could have tried to kill him but not and now he is in some hospital far away! And Sam Westing is just trying to have someone figure out who was the one that tried to kill him and he just figured that it would just be easier to have some “heirs” find it out for him instead of a detictive? Also, if Sydelle did do it why would she hirer a detective to find it out for her?? I really don’t know who would have killed him, and why would they kill him? I cant wait to read more and figure out who really killed him and see if they say why they did because, at least for me, that is the most puzzling thing because they would have to know that they were an heir and if they were a close heir then they should know about all these other people that he would say would be his heirs. They would also have to know that he put them in the will because you don’t have to put your family in your will? Maggie you do make a very good point say that she said that Sydelle said that Angela wasn’t the murder but she didn’t say that she wasn’t but it could have been that she just didn’t think about saying that or felt as though she didn’t need to say that? So far this book is really good! I cant wait to read the rest of this book!!! ~ ~ Lily G.~ 1/17/11 ~ ~

In response to lily:

(CHAPTERS 7-12)My favorite character has to be either chris, turtle, or sydelle. the reasons are they all dont really judge people for who they are on the outside but who they are on the inside. yet for some if not most people thats still not good. also what is upwith all the bombs, its like turnig into a terrorist attack, i mean come on. Yet i dont know if it is in this chapter or previous but i liked how they said who each character was, where they came from, and etc. it was all very interesting to me that way i could narrow down who could have killed sam westing and who couldnt have.i thought it was easier to get a private detective to find the murderer and/or the bomber. i mean if money was on the line for me, the first thing i would do is hire a private detective. just so i could narrow it down. yet i agree with the both of you, the book is great so far. it doesnt give anything away too fast and it has perfect twists and turns that make it the great novel that it is. ~ally~ 1/21/11

I mean that I think that Sam Westing was murdered by Syndelle Pulaski or he is still alive and made a fake will for himself. That was confusing me too until now. Now that I've read more of the book, I think that Sam Westing is still alive, and I don't know what Syndelle Pulaski is up to, but something seems fishy with her and Angela. I don't think that Syndelle hired a detective, I think that was Judge Ford who did that. I think she did that so that she could find out everything that the other heirs did. I don't think that Judge Ford did anything because she was the heir that was closest with Sam Westing. Why would she kill him if she was close with him? Also, if she did kill him, why would she hire a detective to find out who killed him? That's why I don't think Judge Ford did anything. Maggie S. 1/19/11

chapters 13-18
==i loved all the chapters before this but ch. 16 really put it over the top. when the bomb exploded it was so expected because of how ell the party was going. ive learned from this book that whenever something is going really good something is bound and determined to go wrong. anyway it was really cool and interesting that even when the bomb went off grace was still holding it when everybody else was hiding, or protecting thierselves at the least. it was interesting because they really got into good, creative detail, but that may just be me. though it did seem like grace didnt want the party at all and all she wanted were the presents, and that throughout the entire book not once did i believe that angela and denton deer were seriously in love. they just didnt seem like it., and didnt they call off the wedding. cause i really forget at this point.it also didnt make sense to me how through this entire game turtle wasnt worried once, i honestly think that she know and/or is in on the prank of sam westing faking his own death.==

The Westing Games
1/21/11 I found it interesting that Grace Windsor Wexler and Crow ( Berthe Erica Crow) are/ were related? I also don’t get why Mrs. Wexler never mentioned it or even knew about it because it doesn’t say that she did know that they were related but it also doesn’t say that she didn’t know so I wish they would clarify that. I also wonder a little bit how Ellen Raskin (the author) came up with these names; are they real last names that she just looked up, if they are names of friends of hers or if she was able to come up with these names on her own because I don’t think I could have thought of these names on my own without just typing letters and letting spell check correct it for me! Also at the end of chapter 19 it says that there was an interview with someone named “ Sybil Pulaski” what it does not say is if it is a girl or a boy in the interview so that would be nice to know as well. Maybe Sybil Pulaski and Sydelle Puaski are the same person and it is just a name that she used to go by but doesn’t any more or it is her sister. And if it is/was her sister and Sam Westing just wanted to give they’re family some money? I’m not really sure right now? I kind of want to believe that the person in the coffin wasn’t really Sam because Turtle said that it looked like it was wax and I would believe that because if I was Sam and your whole life was based on being rich and you were just getting tired of people wanting to be your friend just because of your money and after your daughter dying you just want t5 get away. He probably thought the best way to get away was to fake his own death and get rid of almost all of your money except what you would need to live your life the way you wanted and not have to worry about a company that not even your own child wanted to run?!!? I don’t think I could blame him for wanting to fake his own death, could you?? Lily G. ~ 1/21/11 ~

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;"> <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">The Westing Game

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">I also think that Syndelle was the mistake, but I don’t think that she did anything wrong. I used to, but now I don't. She just seems really mysterious. I think that Sybil Pulaski was supposed to have Syndelle Pulaski’s apartment in Sunset Towers. I agree with you, Lily. I think that Sam Westing is still alive. I think that he faked his death, but I don’t know why. He put a wax dummy that looked like him in his bed, so that Turtle would find him there. Then the wax dummy would be put into the coffin, with Sam Westing still alive. I think that Sam Westing has a double life and made his other side of him one of the heirs. I don’t really know why he would that, but I think he did. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">Maggie S. 1/23/11

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">Response; 1/23/11: ===<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">i thought that it was very funny when sydelle was known as the mistake, because somebody got the names wrong. i did agree with you in the fact that she didnt do anything wrong, i mean how was she supposed to know that she was only there because somebody got her mixed up with sombody else. it does scaree me how turtle knows so much about stocks and money and the "family business" as sam westing would have called it. and some of the bombs are just pointless. like the one in mr. hoo's resteraunt, i mean i think it was all to lead them to angela who created all the bombs. in whih they all would assume that he murdered him. yet by pointing the one bomb at herself and letting i think turtle take the blame for it she completely gave herself innocents. well thats just what i think but you all may have different opinions. ===

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">~ally~
__//**The Westing Game**//__ //**Chapters 19 – 24**// //**Lily Ganote**//
 * //At the end of chapter 19 it says that there was an interview with someone named “ Sybil Pulaski” what it does not say is if it is a girl or a boy in the interview so that would be nice to know as well. Maybe Sybil Pulaski and Sydelle Puaski are the same person and it is just a name that she used to go by but doesn’t any more or it is her sister. And if it is/was her sister and Sam Westing just wanted to give they’re family some money? I’m not really sure right now? I don’t think it was right for Angela to point the blame at Turtle. I mean she already hates her life enough I think because her mom hates her and no one in her family ever sticks up for her. I also agree that the bombs were pointless and does it ever explain why she did that because if it does I missed that?! I don’t really get if Turtle knew about stocks and stuff before the Westing Game or if she just learns really quickly?? I thought that it was suprising someone as proper as Mrs. Wexler would drink so much and the fact that she didn’t even recognize her own daughter is just shameful even when someone is drunk! And why was the judge so dressed up to come to the place where someone died! I think I would be wearing black and what about Doug and his glory he could have had a little respect. I mean he has a right to be proud but again this is not the happiest place someone “died” there and it was spooky right? It does say earlier in the story that his house was scary and spooky which is why Turtle was dared to go in there.//**
 * //response to lily; chapters 19-24://**
 * //i dont really think that thier related but thats for each of you to decide. i really think that whoever really murdered him realized the mistake, and didnt say anything about it, but thats just my opinion. and i agree with you, whats the point of having a sister when all they do is treat you with disrespect. And who's mother always hates them nomatter what they do, i mean seriously, who? I HOWEVER THINK THAT ALL THE BOMBS WERE NECCESSARY TO PROVE ANGELA'S INNOCENTS EVEN MORE. I MEAN NOBODY SUSPECTED HER BUT that wasnt enogh for her, she needed to make sure nobody would even think about it. i knew that turtle was smart but i agree with you, how would she know about the stocks so much and so quickly? its just not possible. i think it is shameful too. yet one of the sadest parts was when mrs. westin wouldnt let her daughter marry who she wanted which i forget who it was, but anyway because of that the daughter went and killed herself,sam westing was so outraged that he immediatly divorced mrs. westing and was in a deep depression the rest of his life.// i know its like nobody cares that mr. westing is DEAD but in some ways if he did fake his own death, i thik that turtle was in on the whole thing. i dont know right now it is just starting to piece stuff/clues together.**

=
<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">The old relatives chapter didnt really make any sense to me at all though, i mean all it did was go further in depth into a person that has nothing to do with the the end solution. it was sad for me though to listen to how crow spent her time in the soup kitchen because that is how much she liked to volunteer. that is just for me so sweet for a woman her age to spend thier time doing. i did like the way that sam westing wrote his clues to lead his readers and charaters to different solutions. yet when i heard each answer as the pairs went over it all, clue by clue, i had a hard time picking one answer to go with and follow. yet the hardest part of reading these chapters and others was finding out that because of his stupid ex-wife his daughter went and killed herself. that must have been so hard for him to accept, and get over. because i know if i was sam, i would be devistated because my whole life i was always determined to make my daughter happy and when she killed herslef because she couldnt be happy with the man she wanted to be happy with, that would just kill me.yet what i'm so confused about is the fact that i for sure thought that grace was the bomber but when she was in the hospital the 4th bomb went off it is just getting so confusing. also all the notes in the elevators dont make sense, i mean your in one building just tell one person, the word WILL spread.please when somebody writes me back try to explain it to me cause its confusing. =====

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">chapters 24-29, plus a few ending sent. for ch. 30:
====<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">It just made my mouth drop when all the logical answers that the pairs came up with were all wrong. at that point i was literally speechless,confused, and had no clue what was going on. yet i get now why he said in his will "oh, and happy fourth of july" he said it because all the clues put together make the song "america" which just happens to be a fourth of july song.what a coincidence. finally when they went into the game room and sandy died because of poisening, and crow had been arrested for the deed it really took a big twist in my thought process.yet i still had a very hard time understanding turtles trail, nomatter how many times i read it. but the worst part was that nobody needed to hire a detective, or exchange clues. all they needed to do was look around, and open thier eyes, and the answer would be right there. sam westing was infact julian r. eastman, windy windlekoppel, barney northrup, and sand mcsouthers.when one died they all did. ====

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">chapter 30--- wrap up:
===the book overall was one worth reading. it had all that needs to be a good, well-written novel. it also took/brought interest into my eyes, sure as well as others. it also brought up very interesting twists and turns that kept you guessing and when you read that turtle knew the entire time, it really just blows you away, and gets/puts different perspectives infront of you. some of the book was confusing, and some was well-writtten, some you couldnt understand, and at some parts you understood too much. yet overall it is a book that if it was in a series i would want to read on, and on, and on. thats how good the book was, and so i give very high props to the author of this book-ellen raskin.=== ~ally~ 1/23/11

//**~ Lily G.~**//
 * The Westing Game **
 * 30— wrap up **
 * 1/23/11 **
 * Ok so everyone in this story thinks him had some boring death but tell you the truth he had the best death! He so called died but the 3 other "hims" didn't! And how many people do you know could go down in history for such a dramatic death! No one! Well maybe Michael Jackson?!? I mean everyone made fun of him before he died and said he had too many face surgeries but who can blame him! His dad made fun of him as a kid and he was practically born into fame (well he was like 8 but close enough!). Ellen, Ellen, Ellen. So smart! Do you think you could have come up with this book because I'm positive I couldn't have! Turtle is a million times smarter then everyone thinks! Everyone else (all the other heirs) even between all of them, all knowing the same information couldn't figure it out and the youngest (I think) could! How many parents can see that about they're kids! Not many I can tell you that much! This book was so very confusing and at the same time one of the best books I think I have ever read! One minute it made perfect sense and I thought I had it all figured out and then the next another clue or something someone found out would be found out and my whole theory was completely wrong! I think that it was smart to but something happy at the end (Crow and Otis getting married) it made me smile when I read that part and it was nice after reading about people dying and an intense " court" session with all the heirs.**

Chapters 24-29 I agree with evrything that you said Ally and Lily. Ally, what did you want to be explained? I don't understand. I think it's weird that Turtle knew so much about stocks BEFORE the Westing Game. I mean what kid knows what stocks are and how they work? It blew my mind that none of the answers were right. It was really weird that Sandy McSouthers died, and then a minute later, Docter Sikes walked in to see what was wrong with him. It was almost as if he planned to be there when Sandy died. It was also strange that Dr. Sikes was an heir, but wasn't there most of the time. She only showed up when Sandy supposedly died. Wasn't it weird that Sandy had a bruise on his leg, but Turtle never kicked him? Turtle only kicked Barney Northrup. I now know that Sam Wesing is Barney Northrup, Julian R. Eastman, and Sandy McSouthers. I think that Ellen did a great job of giving hints to keep you guessing, but not to many to give away the surprise ending. I love how it all twists together, just like the Harry Potter series!!! (: Maggie S. 1/23/11

====what i really meant was that the america song was my solution to the game but when the guy said that all the answers were wrong then i was really confused and speechless. thats all i meant. it was really wierd how dr. sikes had SUCH good timing, it's almost like one of those reality tv shows that everything has a perfect timing and people wait for thier que/time. it did all peice together when the clue of the bruise appeared on his leg, the other clue that gave it away for me was that the whole time everybody was freakin out and all turtle was worried about was making sure that grace was innocent. I think that she knew mr. westing from previous times before he alledgedly died. which is why through this entire game she was calmer than any other character. and i also agree ellen gave just enough hints to keep you guessing, and kepp you reading.==== ~ally~

**Ch. 24-29**

 * I agree that the fact that Turtle knew about stocks before the westing game is very weird and kind of strange? But when you think about she's very smart and i thinks that way just because of that fact her parents (mainly her mom) didn't pay much attention to her so she was more independent then most kids (boys and girls) her age. I also agree with the fact that right after Sandy "dies" Dr. Sikes walks right in like the had totally plan for crow to try and hurt him but the couldn't have because crow could have changed or it could have just been luck, that i am not sure. And mostof the time i almost forgot that Dr. Sikes was an heir because they were never there most of the time. Not at the parties (if i remember correctly), not anywhere really except when Sandy dies?!?! This was deffinently a great book an lot of twists and turns to really make a good book! I have one finally question though. How long did it take her to write this book? With all the twists and turns and the great ways to throw everyone off the trail it would have taken me a while!**
 * ~lily g.~**