The Westing Game

The questions inside

One per chapter, across all 30 chapters — every question is editable before you print.

1. In Chapter 1, what makes Sunset Towers seem unusual or mysterious? Use details from the chapter to explain why the setting feels important.
2. After Turtle goes near the Westing house in Chapter 2, what do you predict will happen next? Explain what clues or events helped you make that prediction.
3. In Chapter 3, many different tenants are introduced. Which character seems most interesting to you so far, and what details make that person stand out?
4. In Chapter 4, how does the news of Sam Westing's death affect the people at Sunset Towers? What does their reaction tell you about the mystery?
5. In Chapter 5, the heirs gather for the reading of the will. What do their reactions show about their personalities or their hopes?
6. In Chapter 6, how does Sam Westing's will turn his death into a game? What part of the will seems most surprising or strange to you?
7. In Chapter 7, which pair of heirs do you think has a good chance of solving the clues? Explain your thinking using what you know about the characters.
8. In Chapter 8, how do the pairings create teamwork, conflict, or both? Choose one pair and explain how they work together.
9. In Chapter 9, Sydelle's notebook becomes important. What does the stolen notebook show about trust among the heirs?
10. In Chapter 10, the party brings many characters together. What do we learn about the tenants when they are all in the same place?
11. In Chapter 11, why is it hard for the heirs to share information honestly? Explain how secrets and suspicion affect the meeting.
12. In Chapter 12, how does the first bombing change the way people act? What does it show about the danger of the Westing game?
13. After the second bombing in Chapter 13, which character seems more suspicious to you, and which character seems less suspicious? Explain your reasons.
14. In Chapter 14, how are some of the pairs or partnerships repaired? What changes in the way the heirs work together?
15. The Chapter 15 title uses the words fact and gossip. What is the difference between a fact and gossip, and how do both affect the mystery?
16. In Chapter 16, how does the third bombing affect Angela and the other characters? What feelings or fears does it bring out?
17. In Chapter 17, several heirs come up with possible solutions. What shows that guessing is not enough to solve the Westing game?
18. In Chapter 18, some characters follow or track others. What do the trackers learn, and does following people help the mystery or make it more confusing?
19. In Chapter 19, what odd family connections or past relationships are revealed? How do these discoveries change the way you understand the game?
20. In Chapter 20, some characters confess or reveal hidden truths. Why might a character hide the truth, and why might they finally decide to tell it?
21. In Chapter 21, how does the fourth bombing make the danger feel more personal? What does Turtle do, and what might her actions show about her?
22. The Chapter 22 title is Losers, Winners. Which character seems like a loser but may actually be a winner in some way? Explain your choice.
23. In Chapter 23, the heirs give strange answers to the mystery. What do their answers show about how they understand the clues?
24. In Chapter 24, the answers are wrong and Sandy collapses. How does this change the mystery, and what new questions do you have?
25. In Chapter 25, the characters react to Sandy's death and think about Westing. How do their feelings change, and what clues seem important now?
26. In Chapter 26, how does Turtle's trial help explain Sam Westing's different identities? Why was his plan so clever?
27. In Chapter 27, why might the chapter be called A Happy Fourth? How are celebration, freedom, or new beginnings connected to what happens?
28. In Chapter 28, after the main game ends, how has one character changed? Choose one person and explain an important change you noticed.
29. In Chapter 29, five years have passed. Which character's future surprised you the most, and how does it fit or not fit that character?
30. At the end of the book, Turtle keeps an important secret and says goodbye to Julian Eastman. What does this show about winning, friendship, or the meaning of the game?

Example answers

Printed at the front of the booklet, so your reader can see what a strong answer looks like.

The Chapter 15 title uses the words fact and gossip. What is the difference between a fact and gossip, and how do both affect the mystery?

I think a fact is something that can be proved, but gossip is something people say that might not be true. In this chapter, facts help the characters learn real information about the heirs and Sam Westing. Gossip makes the mystery more confusing because people start judging each other without proof. This shows that solving the game takes careful thinking, not just listening to rumors.

In Chapter 28, after the main game ends, how has one character changed? Choose one person and explain an important change you noticed.

I think Angela changes a lot. At first, she seems like she is mostly doing what other people expect, especially about her wedding and her future. By this point, she seems more ready to make choices for herself. That is important because she is learning who she wants to be, not just who her family wants her to be.

At the end of the book, Turtle keeps an important secret and says goodbye to Julian Eastman. What does this show about winning, friendship, or the meaning of the game?

I think Turtle wins because she understands the truth, but she also shows kindness by keeping the secret. She does not brag or use the secret to hurt anyone. Her friendship with Julian Eastman matters more than just getting money or being right. To me, the game was really about learning to see people clearly and care about them.