The Westing Game
I changed schools in 7th grade, and I can remember going to “Reading” class (in retrospect, how weird that we had a “reading” class!) on the first day. The teacher explained that the class was in the middle of a big project in which they had to read a book and then do all sorts of activities on it. Then she gave me the two choices: The Westing Game (which she’d described as “challenging”), and a novelization of Charles in Charge. I’M NOT EVEN KIDDING. I picked The Westing Game without knowing anything about it. (Later I discovered to my horror that I couldn’t see a single other person in the class reading it. And that will tell you a lot about the Lakeland school system.) Anyway, I LOVED the book. I thought Turtle was so cool, and I wanted to be just like her. I also developed a secret lasting desire to learn shorthand, because I was sure it would come in SUPER HANDY someday. I didn’t figure the mystery out ahead of time though, but then again I never do. I really need to re-read it one of these days…
Danielle
March 30, 2008 — 11:54 am
Oh my goodness. I read that one too, with the same comment from my elementary school librarian about it being challenging. My friend Vanessa and I sat up in my bedroom for hours with notebooks going one chapter at a time, taking notes, and discussing what was happening. It was so painstaking that I don’t remember actually finishing it, though I think of it every so often and think I ought to find another copy of it too.
Louise
March 30, 2008 — 10:20 pm
This was one of my favorites, too! I just added it to my Bookins the other day, remembering that I need to read it again. I hope it will still be cool upon re-reading.
Elizabeth
April 2, 2008 — 11:28 am
A novelization of Charles in Charge, huh? WOW. I’d love to see the associated activities for that one! My seventh grade English class didn’t have a choice, as we were all assigned The Westing Game, but I absolutely loved it. I actually read it again a couple of years ago and am happy to report that it is still awesome after all these years!