about ellen raskin

I try to say one thing with my work: A book is a wonderful place to be. A book is a package, a gift package, a surprise package -- and within the wrappings is a whole new world and beyond.
- Ellen Raskin (1977)

Ellen Raskin was a brilliant writer and illustrator/designer. She is most widely known as the author of the popular novel The Westing Game, published in 1978. But she has many more books to her credit, ranging from novels, to illustrations for other authors, to her own picture books.

When I was in elementary school, about fifth grade, I discovered The Westing Game and I became completely enchanted with Ellen Raskin's books. She remains a favorite author of mine to this day.

She has contributed so much to many young readers and older readers who remember how good her stories were when they first read them as children. And she not only had an enormous fanbase, she was critically acclaimed as well. She received several prestigious awards including a Newberry Honor for Figgs and Phantoms in 1975, and a Newberry Medal in 1979 for The Westing Game.

Ellen Raskin not only wrote stories, she designed and drew illustrations for her books as well. She designed all of her book covers and did illustrations for other authors as well. She designed the original cover of A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle.

Her death in 1984 left us with many great novels and memories to share about an amazing and talented woman. She will always be remembered and admired. I created this fanlisting to show my appreciation of what she has given me through her writing.