The Westing Game Detective's Log
The Westing Game Detective's Log
The Westing Game Detective's Log
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<strong>The</strong> <strong>Westing</strong> <strong>Game</strong><br />
Detective’s <strong>Log</strong><br />
Directions: <strong>The</strong>re are 8 “suspects” in the death of Sam <strong>Westing</strong>. As you read, fill in the<br />
information for each character. Next fill in each clue you find and its details from the novel.<br />
Suspect Name Brief Description Relationship to<br />
Sam <strong>Westing</strong><br />
Possible Motive for<br />
Killing Sam <strong>Westing</strong><br />
Clue<br />
Suspects to Which Clue<br />
Might Point<br />
Prediction #1 as to What<br />
Clue Might Mean<br />
Prediction #2<br />
About Clue
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Westing</strong> <strong>Game</strong><br />
Directions: Answer each of the questions in a complete sentence.<br />
Be sure to answer all the questions asked on each number.<br />
Chapters 1-4:<br />
1. Why does Grace like the apartment? What does this how you about her? What does<br />
this show about how she regards Turtle?<br />
2. How are Doug and <strong>The</strong>o alike? How are they different? Which one would you be<br />
more likely to have as a friend?<br />
3. What are you impressions of Chris? Do you pity him? Do you think he pities himself?<br />
What is his relationship with his brother like?<br />
4. What is Turtle like? Why is Mrs. Wexler tempted to hit Turtle? How do you thin<br />
Angela feels toward Turtle?<br />
5. Why does Turtle figure that Doug, <strong>The</strong>o, Otis, and Sandy owe her $24.00? Write out<br />
the cause-effect chain of events, starting with her hearing about the kids from<br />
<strong>Westing</strong>town.<br />
_____________________________________________________________
Chapters 5-8:<br />
1. Why is Flora always smiling? How can you tell that it ISN’T because she is always<br />
happy?<br />
2. How can you tell that Sydelle craves attention? Why, do you suppose she craves<br />
attention?<br />
3. How is the <strong>Westing</strong> game played? What is the object of the game? What is the prize<br />
for the winner?<br />
4. What do each of the pairs decide their clues are about? Do you see any pattern in<br />
their decisions? What do they do with their $10,000 checks?<br />
5. Why does J.J. Ford think <strong>Westing</strong> is out for revenge? What are her motives for trying<br />
to find the victim first? What does that show you about her?
Chapters 9-12:<br />
1. Why does Turtle kick <strong>The</strong>o in the shin and say, “<strong>The</strong> braided tortoise strikes again!”<br />
2. <strong>The</strong>re are many ironic situations and comments in this story – situations where there<br />
is a contrast between what is true and what seems to be true. What is ironic about Judge<br />
Ford’s comment to Angela that “one of these tidbits might cheer you up…I hear you’ll be<br />
getting married soon…” on page 59? Why WOULDN”T the judge’s efforts cheer up<br />
Angela?<br />
3. Why is Chris watching legs?<br />
4. Why doesn’t Chris receive an answer to his question about how got kicked? Why<br />
does Mr. Hoo smile?<br />
5. Why does Angela think, “Turtle’s crutch is her braid”? Is she right? How can hair be<br />
a crutch?
Chapters 13-16:<br />
1. What do you think the bomber’s motive is? How can you tell that the bomber does not<br />
intend to hurt anyone? Who does get hurt? Why?<br />
2. How can you tell that <strong>The</strong>o likes Angela? Do you think she would be better off with<br />
him or with D. Denton Deere? Why?<br />
3. According to Sandy, why might Angela be in danger? How do the lives of Angela and<br />
<strong>The</strong>o parallel those of Violet and of <strong>The</strong>o’s father?<br />
4. When and how does Angela get hurt? How can you tell that the bomber ISN’T Otis,<br />
Mr. Hoo, Flora, Jake, Chris, Grace, or the judge? Why does Otis Amber say that “still<br />
waters run deep” on page 99?<br />
5. What does Turtle know about her father that he didn’t know she knew?
Chapters 17-20:<br />
1. Of all the information supplied by the private investigator, which piece do you think is<br />
the most interesting and relevant to the mystery? Why?<br />
2. What do Berthe Crow and Grace Wexler have in common?<br />
3. Who was the “wrong person” mistakenly invited to move into Sunset Towers? How<br />
does the judge discover the mistake?<br />
4. How does Angela find out Crow and Otis’s clues? How did the clues get into Chris’s<br />
bathrobe?<br />
5. Why does <strong>The</strong>o think that Otis is the murderer?
Chapters 21-24:<br />
1. How does <strong>The</strong>o feel after spying on Otis and Crow at the soup kitchen? How do you<br />
think that experience changed him?<br />
2. Why isn’t Judge Ford more grateful to Sam <strong>Westing</strong>? Do you think she should be?<br />
3. How does Turtle react to the picture of Rosalie? How has Turtle’s attitude changed<br />
since she first heard of Rosalie?<br />
4. How does the judge feel when Sandy suggests that all the people pool their clues?<br />
What are the results of them sharing the clues? What do you think would have happened<br />
if the clues hadn’t been shared?<br />
5. Why doesn’t anyone step up to collect the prize once all know that the answer is<br />
Crow? Why does she turn herself in? How will the winnings be divided?
Chapters 25-30:<br />
1. How does the judge figure out that Sandy was Sam <strong>Westing</strong>?<br />
2. Why did Sam <strong>Westing</strong> put “Happy Fourth of July” into the will when it is only<br />
November?<br />
3. What does Turtle finally realize about the meaning of the statement that, “the heir who<br />
wins the windfall will be the one who finds the fourth”?<br />
4. Who hired Otis? What was he hired for?<br />
5. What happens to the <strong>Westing</strong> house? What happens to Sunset Towers?
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