Westing Game by Elen Raskin

The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin

Mystery, Puzzle-Type Book, Newbery Medal Book

Age 9-13

Grades 4-8

206 pages

c. 1978

           The Westing Game is a classic mystery, puzzle type book and one of my favorite books. An eccentric billionaire, Sam Westing, has gathered his sixteen heirs for a reading of his will. The will states that he did not die of natural causes and that one of the heirs is responsible for his death. Sam Westing was an expert gamer and the will further states that the heirs must compete in his “Westing Game” and the one who wins the game will inherit his estate.

            All the heirs have been invited to live in a new, high rise apartment building, but a mistake has been made. One of the residents is not actually an heir. These heirs are a unique group of characters, each with their good points and faults. They consist of mothers and fathers and children and single people. One is a bookie, a burglar, a bomber, a dressmaker, a secretary, an inventor, a doctor, and a judge. More details about each of them and their relationship to Sam Westing are revealed as the story progresses. There are many twists and turns in the plot, fascinating and puzzling clues and many "red herrings." The author, Elen Raskin, is a lover of language and word plays.

            Raskin also has a lot of understanding of human nature and the last three chapters of the book deal with growing up and growing old, with joy and self- knowledge, sadness and grief, but all told in the most beautiful and gentle way. I highly recommend this book. I would also suggest keeping a chart of each character and the clues if you want a chance to solve all the mysteries.

Shadow Spinner by Susan Fletcher

Shadow Spinner by Susan Fletcher

Legendary Character – Shahrazad, Retelling of 101 Arabian Nights, Historical Fiction 

     Age 10-13

Grades 5-8

224 pages

c. 1999

Shadow Spinner, sent in Ancient Persia, is a retelling of the story of Shahrazad and 101 Arabian Nights. The main character is Marjan, a poor crippled orphan, living with her Aunt and Uncle. She is an accomplished storyteller herself and gets drawn into the life and drama of the harem when Shahrazad’s sister overhears her telling a story to the children of the harem while her Aunt is there selling jewelry. Shahrazad is running out of stories to tell the Sultan and the story Marjan is telling is a new one.

There are many twists and turns in the plot, especially when the Sultan recognizes Marjan’s story and wants to hear the end of it. Marjan doesn’t know how the story ends and attempts a dangerous escape from the harem to find the end of the story.

The characters, even the minor ones, are well drawn and multidimensional. Marjan grows in self-awareness through the story and experiences emotional healing as she comes to terms with the anger she feels toward her mother for the actions she took to prevent herself and Marjan from being forced to marry the Sultan and be killed.

This is a story about the power of story and there are many stories contained within it. Shahrazad exhibits a lot of psychology in the stories she tells the Sultan to help him get over the betrayal he experienced from his first wife. She explains to Marjan saying, “Marjan. I have told him tales of good women and bad women, strong women and weak women, shy women and bold women, clever women and stupid women, honest women and women who betray. I'm hoping that, by living inside their skins while he hears their stories, he'll understand over time that women are not all this way or that way. I'm hoping he'll look at women as he does at men--that you must judge each of us on her own merits, and not condemn us or exalt us only because we belong to a particular sex.” 

 It is also a story about the strength of women, about the power of love, of forgiveness, of adventure and taking risks. The tips for storytelling at the start of each chapter are also good tips for life. 

The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill

The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill

Fantasy, Magic, Witches, Friendship, Courage, Newbery Medal

Age 11-14

Grade 6-9

400 pages

c. 2016

Each year the people of the Protectorate leave the youngest baby born in the forest to appease the wicked witch who lives there. This has happened for so long that the people have become resigned to it. However as the story opens this year’s young mother is willing to fight to keep her baby. In the end she loses the fight and becomes quite distraught.

            The truth is there is a wicked witch around but she is not in the forest. Xan, who lives in the forest, is a witch but she is gentle and kind and has been rescuing these babies for many years. She brings them to families on the other side of the forest. She feeds the babies starlight as they travel, but this time she accidently feeds the baby girl moonlight which fills her with extraordinary magic. Xan has been strangely attracted to the baby and now that she had been filled with magic Xan decided she needed to keep her. She named her Luna.

            Luna’s magic is truly extraordinary so Xan decides to lock it up inside her until she reaches the age of 13. Unfortunately Xan is not around when that happens but many other things are converging to make a very dangerous situation.

            This is an extremely well written book with many unusual and well developed characters. Xan lives with a wise Swamp Monster named Glerk and a tiny Dragon named Fyrian who believes he is quite large. The characters from the Protectorate are also well drawn, some noble and good and some quite evil and wicked, but even the most wicked ones are shown to have some redeeming qualities, at least at one time in their history. There are interesting plot twist and much to think about in the different themes presented in the book. There are some potentially disquieting moments that deal with grief and death but not in a morbid or hopeless way and there is much humor sprinkled through the book as well.

            An especially interesting character is Sister Ignatia.

 Spoiler Alert: She is head of the sisterhood that spends their time learning many things but she is also the wicked witch who feeds off the sorrows of other people. She is the one who originated the story of a wicked witch in the forest who demanded the sacrifice of a newborn baby each year. She was not always this way. After losing her mother, father, sisters and brothers, her village and all her friends, all she had left was her sorrow and memories of sorrow. To cope she allowed her heart to turn hard and she became the “Sorrow Eater.” The book describes it this way, “there in the space where the Sorrow Eater’s heart should have been, was a tiny sphere, hard, shiny and cold. Over the years she had walled off her heart, again and again, making it smooth and bright and unfeeling.” …..”It was so hard and heavy and dense that it bent the light around it. It sucked everything inside, sorrow sucking sorrow. She turned hungry for it (sorrow). And the more she fed on it, the more she needed it.” Eventually she learned to turn her sorrow into magic. To keep her magic she continually needed to feed on other people’s sorrow. That is why she wanted to have a baby sacrificed each year. The people in the community lived under a fog of sorrow.

I don’t think the author intended this but it made me think about how some extremely pro-choice women may be dealing with their own pain from past abortions.

Chester and Gus by Cammie McGovern

Chester and Gus by Cammie McGovern

Realistic Fiction, Autism, Service Dogs

Age 10-12

Grade 5-7

249 pages

c. 2017

This is both an inspiring and humorous middle grade novel about the remarkable bond that forms between an aspiring service dog and an autistic boy in need of a friend. Chester has always wanted to become a service dog. When he fails his certification test, though, it seems like that dream will never come true—until a family adopts him. They want him to be a companion for their ten-year-old son, Gus, who has autism. But Gus acts so differently than anyone Chester has ever met. He never wants to pet Chester, and sometimes he doesn’t even want Chester in the room. Chester’s not sure how to help Gus since this isn’t exactly the job he trained for—but he’s determined to figure it out., because after all, Gus is now his person.

An inspiring, sad, funny story told from the dog’s perspective. Also a realistic picture of autism and the challenges and rewards it presents in a family. As Chester says, “you meet your person and you connect. You know that you’re meant to be together. Then you learn what that person needs and you do it for them. I can’t imagine anything else quite so fulfilling.”

Pax by Sara Pennypacker

Pax by Sara Pennypacker

Realistic Fiction, War and Peace, Pets, Fathers and Sons, Perserverance
Age 10-13
Grade 5-8
 288 pages
c. 2016

Peter and his pet fox, Pax, have been very close since the time Peter found him as a baby. Peter is a sensitive boy, unlike his father, who has enlisted in the war that is going on and requires Peter to move into his grandfather’s house and leave Pax behind. This is devastating news to Peter and although he goes the many miles away to his grandfather’s house, he quickly decides he must go back and rescue Pax, who doesn’t know how to survive in the wild.

            Chapters alternate between Peter’s point of view and Pax, who is learning how to survive in the wild but also hoping that Peter will return for him. Both Peter and Pax have many adventures, trials and help as Peter makes the 300 mile journey back to Pax. Much has happened to both of them during this time. Peter has grown into a confident young man and Pax has become part of a new family of foxes. Spoiler Alert: Peter decides it is better for Pax to remain where he is but takes home with him the young fox that lost his back legs from a land mine.

            The violence and ugliness of war is clearly shown but not in a graphic way. There is sadness but also hope. It is a thoughtful book that clearly shows the consequences of war but also the courage, determination, and sacrifice that can bring about peace.

Winterhouse by Ben Guterson

                                                 

          Winterhouse by Ben Guterson

                                Mystery, Fantasy, Word Puzzles, Friendship  

     Age - 9-12

         Grade - 4-7 

       365 pages

     c. 2018    

      

Elizabeth Somers is an 11 year old orphan living with her nasty aunt and uncle in a depressing town called Drere. Shortly before Christmas she finds herself locked out of the house with a note telling her to spend the holidays at an unusual hotel called Winterhouse. Once there she meets many unusual characters, some who seem quite nice but a bit mysterious, like the owner of the hotel Norbridge Falls, and some quite creepy, like the booksellers Mr. and Mrs. Hiems. She also meets Freddy, a boy her age, who like herself enjoys books, word puzzles, and exploring the many things Winterhouse has to offer.

While exploring the vast library Elizabeth comes across a strange book that she quickly discovers is magical. She also learns about the history of Winterhouse and the strange relatives’ of Norbridge Falls. She gets drawn into increasingly dangerous situations while at the same time realizing she has some connection to Winterhouse itself.

I found a lot to like in this book. The writing is excellent, bringing to life both the characters and the hotel and surroundings. The friendship that develops between Elizabeth and Freddy is refreshing in the way they respect and appreciate both the interests they have in common and the ways they are different. Even when they have a very serious disagreement they manage to sort things out. There are numerous word puzzles throughout the book and each chapter begins with a word ladder puzzle. There are also whimsical black and white drawings throughout the book.

Winterhouse is a very special place that seeks to promote the good with the hope that those who come there will experience it and hopefully bring some of it back when they return home. An inscription on the base of the bust of the founder reads:

“Some people say this world of ours is just a tumbling stone

No soul, no guide, no heart within, mere atoms all alone

But I believe there’s more to things than simply meets the eye

There’s good and bad – and so I say

Make sure the good survives."

The choice of choosing good or evil is a key element in the book.

There will eventually be three books in the series. The second book is The Secrets of Winterhouse. I plan to review it as well as the other books I have listed below. 

Similar puzzle type books that I have enjoyed are The Westing Game,The Mysterious Benedict Society Series, Chasing Vermeer, Mr. Lemoncello’s Library Series and The Century Quartet Series

Refugee by Alan Gratz

Refugee by Alan Gratz

Historical Fiction, Adventure, Immigration, Survival Story, Young Adult

 Age 11-13

 Grade - 6^th – 8^th grade

    357 pages

c. 2017

Three families, from different time periods, are fleeing their country of origin. All are experiencing many obstacles in finding a safe place to live that will welcome them. Josef is a Jewish boy living in 1930 Nazi Germany. Isabel is a Cuban girl in 1994 seeking to leave the riots and unrest in Castro’s Cuba. Mahmoud is a Syrian boy in 2015 trying to escape the violence and destruction caused by the civil war in his country.

In the end of the story there are shocking connections that tie all their stories together.

There are hard things that happen in the story, death, sacrifice, loss but also love, determination, and courage. This book puts a personal face on the current discussions about immigration. It would be a great book for discussions.

Code of Honor by Alan Gratz

                                                         

                          

                   Code of Honor by Alan Gratz

                 Adventure, Terrorism, Brothers, Loyalty, Prejudice,  

                                         Stereotypes, Young Adult

                                               

                                                       Age 11-13
                                                       Grade 6-8

  293 pages
c. 2015

Brothers Kamran and Darius Smith are very close and loyal to one another. Darius is in the army having graduated from West Point and Kamran is the star of the high school football team and dating the most popular girl at school. Their family is from Iran but they feel 100% American and Kamran hopes to follow in his brother’s footsteps.

Everything changes when Darius is accused of being a terrorist. He is shown in several videos making threats against America. Suddenly Kamran is also being accused of being a terrorist and abandoned by all his friends. He continues to believe in his brother even when the family is interrogated by Homeland Security and he is taken to be a “guest” of the government.

When they were younger Darius and Kamran created a “Code of Honor” and also made up games based on Persian mythology, books like Harry Potter and movies like star Wars. Studying the videos, Kamran believes that Darius is sending him clues about upcoming terrorist plots. He manages to convince agent Mickey Hagerty to help him escape from the government facility in hopes of finding his brother and stopping bombs going off at the Super Bowl.

An intense read that deals with death, violence, prejudice, but also love and loyalty between brothers, patriotism and the willingness to sacrifice for what you believe. Hard to put down once you start reading it. A thought provoking read on the war against terrorism. Readers who like Anthony Horowitz’s Aleck Rider books will probably like this one.

                                                           

                                                     The Code of Honor is

                                                         1. Be the strongest of the strong

                                                         2. Be the bravest of the brave

                                                         3. Help the helpless

                                                         4. Always tell the truth

                                                         5. Be loyal

                                                         6. Never give up

                                                         7. Kill all monsters

              

                                                Not a bad code to live by