The Westing Game

I'm glad that after years and years of finding this book for kids' summer reading lists that I finally sat down and read this one myself. It's an odd book. Add in the fact that I have never been a who-dun-it fan, and well you would expect that I would not like this. Not true. I found this held my attention, the characters were all so odd that I kind of liked all of them, and I wanted to find out what the mystery was all about. The real fun is not the ridiculous main mystery (who writes a will that is a game that will name a murderer who has not murdered yet?) but all of the mini-mysteries about each character and situation that all come together like a puzzle. I am still convinced Turtle was a foundling, but that is never revealed. I give two big thumbs up for one of the best African American characters I have ever read who is super smart, super successful, and a born leader. The shame is that this gorgeous positive female role model is in a cast of a characters who are not (Doug has no value to his father unless he is winning, Mrs. Hoo is practically a kidnap victim, Sydelle is just disgusting and sad {and no one pities her, so what is the point?}, Grace and Angela exist only to be pretty flowers who marry doctors, and Flora is such a non-entity {no longer a mother, she is completely devoid of a personality}).
What is GREAT about this book is the writing. The writing is very, very smart. A reader has to work on this one, everything is not just handed to them. I see now why teachers love this book. Also, there are enough twists and turns to keep anyone's attention.
I understand there is a made for TV movie and that it is very, very bad so I will avoid that at all costs. At least I can cross another Newberry winner off my list.