The Westing Game
by Ellen Raskin
The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin is assigned in US schools at grades 5–7, with a Lexile measure of 750L. It appears across 1 curriculum reference and 1 state, sourced from state DOE pages and AP/IB/Common Core syllabi. Every citation below links to the primary source.
This page shows where The Westing Game is assigned in US schools — curricula, states, grades, and the primary-source citations behind each placement. Not a summary or study guide.
- Lexile
- 750L
- Grade range
- Grades 5–7
- Difficulty for grade
- Within the grade 4–5 band (740–1010L)
- Age range
- Ages 10–13
- Pages
- 224
- Reading time
- about 4h 5m (est.)
- First published
- 1978
- Genre
- Mystery
- ISBN-13
- 9780142401200
Reading difficulty: At 750L, The Westing Game falls within the typical 740–1010L text-complexity range for 5th grade (Common Core Appendix A) — a grade-appropriate reading challenge.
Where to find this book
Other formats on Amazon: Kindle · Audiobook
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About this book
Sixteen heirs of the eccentric millionaire Samuel W. Westing are called to his mansion to solve the mystery of his death — the one who solves it inherits his fortune. Winner of the 1979 Newbery Medal and a 5th-7th grade staple for teaching logic, character, and plot structure.
Why widely assigned
This Mystery title, reads at middle-grade prose complexity, typically at grades 5–7. Written in the 1970s; pairs with curriculum units on mystery and identity; cited across 1 curriculum framework.
Where this book is assigned
Common Core State Standards (ELA)
Similar grade-level books
The OutsidersS.E. Hinton · 750L
The GiverLois Lowry · 760L
The Diary of a Young GirlAnne Frank · 1080L
To Kill a MockingbirdHarper Lee · 870L
See all books like The Westing Game→ — matched on theme + reading level.
Common questions
- What grade level is The Westing Game?
- The Westing Game is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 5–7, with a Lexile measure of 750L. Specific grade placement varies by curriculum — AP Literature and IB English Literature typically use it in grades 11-12.
- What is the Lexile level of The Westing Game?
- The Westing Game has a Lexile measure of 750L according to MetaMetrics. Lexile measures text complexity, not content maturity — check the grade range and content notes separately for age-appropriateness.
- How long does it take to read The Westing Game?
- It takes about 4h 5m to read The Westing Game (224 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 245 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.
- Is The Westing Game hard to read for 5th grade?
- At 750L, The Westing Game falls within the typical 740–1010L text-complexity range for 5th grade (Common Core Appendix A) — a grade-appropriate reading challenge. Lexile measures text complexity, not thematic maturity — check the content notes for age-appropriateness separately.
- What curricula assign The Westing Game?
- The Westing Game appears on reading lists for Common Core State Standards (ELA). Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
Why this book is on this list
Each dimension below is sourced from a public reference. The full framework is documented on the classification standard page.
- Lexile measure
- 750L — sourced from MetaMetrics’ Lexile Hub.
- Grade band
- Grades 5–7 — drawn from state ELA frameworks and AP/IB syllabi citing this book.
- Curriculum alignment
- Cited in 1 curriculum on this site (see “Where assigned” above for primary-source links).
- State-level evidence
- Cited in 1 state ELA framework or DOE list (see citations above).
- Removal / banning records
- No tracked removal or challenge records in cited sources.
- Seasonal / contextual tags
- No seasonal or program-specific tags on this book.