The Westing Game

This standalone novel by Ellen Raskin is a complex murder mystery, following 16 tenants of a luxury apartment owned by recently deceased wealthy recluse Sam Westing. Westing’s will states that he was murdered by one of the tenants, and that for the true heir to receive his wealth, they must solve the murder. This book can be difficult to follow, since readers have to keep track of 16 different characters at once, but Raskin balances each character arc perfectly, including humor and foreshadowing cleverly without detracting from the intricate story. This is a wonderful read for kids able to keep track of different plot lines as well as seeing the big picture. Even though the premise might seem complicated, Raskin writes in an approachable manner and uses comprehensible vocabulary, making this book a definite must-read. Kids who loved "The Westing Game" might enjoy Agatha Christie novels where they’re a little older!