The Westing Game in Overdue Podcast

Feb 16, 2018 Courtney rated it really liked it

Shelves: favorites

I have so many things to say about this book. Like many others who are reviewing, I initially fell in love with this book through our school's enrichment program when it was required reading. I was young enough (third or fourth grade, probably) that they still had an actual curriculum with required reading that was FUN. I will go ahead and say now that part of why I love this book was the engagement with my teacher and classmates the first time I read. Having hands on clues and creating witness I have so many things to say about this book. Like many others who are reviewing, I initially fell in love with this book through our school's enrichment program when it was required reading. I was young enough (third or fourth grade, probably) that they still had an actual curriculum with required reading that was FUN. I will go ahead and say now that part of why I love this book was the engagement with my teacher and classmates the first time I read. Having hands on clues and creating witness and suspect lists and learning more and just, sleuthing with my classmates was a blast and made me look forward to reading the next chapter.

Many years later and as a grown up, I've re-read a few times and I've also gifted this book to several people (children and adults alike.)

On this particular re-read, I tried really hard to be unbiased and review the book for what it was instead of the nostalgia. Well, it was still great! A little elementary I'll admit, but HELLO, that's the target audience! The cast of characters is huge and initially, a bit difficult to keep track of. With that being said, Raskin does a good job of giving them such varied characteristics that they are a bit easier to keep apart as you read on. I don't think the author ever really intended for the reader to solve the mystery and even though I knew the ending, I still think the seeds were planted very loosely, if at all. Despite this, it is so fun! I do think the book is much better when you read it as an experience instead of just a normal book, which is something I also think about Harry Potter, Hatchet, Touching Spirit Bear, and most of those other fourth grade level chapter books.

There was a huge benefit to reading this book as an adult and with a new perspective, namely the few moments of really heartbreaking authenticity, like when Grace confronts her husband about not being a "real" doctor and how Angela grapples with her identity. Chris' new disability and his hopefully recovery with the help of Denton, and his brother's struggle to let him go with his new partner. I just really loved those moments that I certainly missed as a kid.

I think if I had to make a complaint about this book, I would have liked to see the solution to the puzzle foreshadowed a bit more and the characters developed further. Fortunately, we get more than their self-appointed "role" but not too much more. I still think they are developed an impressive amount a 200 page book with nearly twenty characters. ...more

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Apr 20, 2017 Jillian Getting rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: ebook, borrowed

First they are gathered in a single apartment complex with a few businesses to keep them isolated. Then they are called to the mansion of a rich man who has died and must play a game to earn an inheritance. Tricky territory that I thought would go darker until I realized that this was a "children's" book when it was published. With sixteen people in the mix, it's hard to see a single protagonist but the youngest participant is definitely a strong personality so I could see teenagers getting a ki ...more

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