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
Audible: new members only · many assigned titles are included with the membership.
Other formats on Amazon: Kindle · Audiobook
As an Amazon Associate, ReadingList earns from qualifying purchases and membership trials at no extra cost to you. Pricing, Prime, and trial terms shown on Amazon.
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
Similar grade-level books
The Diary of a Young GirlAnne Frank · 1080L
The GiverLois Lowry · 760L
The OutsidersS.E. Hinton · 750L
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.