Content Warning: This section of the guide contains discussion of ableism, death, self-harm, and gender discrimination.

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. What did you think of the novel’s twist ending that Westing is alive? Were you surprised, or did you already suspect the truth? If the latter, what clues helped you reach this conclusion?

2. Are you familiar with The Swifts: A Dictionary of Scoundrels, another middle-grade mystery novel about a girl attempting to claim a fortune? If so, compare and contrast how Beth Lincoln and Ellen Ruskin employ mystery conventions. If not, compare and contrast the novel to other mysteries you’ve read or watched.

3. Why do you think The Westing Game (1979) was selected for the prestigious Newbery Award? Have you read any more recent Newbery Award-winners, such as Dave Eggers’s The Eyes and the Impossible (2024) or Donna Barba Higuera’s The Last Cuentista (2022)? Can you identify any striking similarities or differences between these stories?