Ellen Raskin (March 13, 1928 – August 8, 1984) was an American writer, illustrator, and designer. She was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and grew up during the Great Depression. She primarily wrote for children. She received the 1979 Newbery Medal for her 1978 book, The Westing Game. Ms. Raskin was also an accomplished graphic artist. She designed dozens of dust jackets for books including the first edition of Madeleine L'Engle's classic A Wrinkle in Time.
She married Dennis Flanagan, editor of Scientific American, in 1965.
Raskin died at the age of 56 on August 8, 1984 in New York City due to complications with connective tissue disease.
More information can be found about Ellen Raskin at Wisconsin Authors and Illustrators including copies of the original manuscript of The Westing Game and audio commentary by Ellen Raskin herself.
Books by Ellen Raskin
- Nothing Ever Happens on My Block, 1966
- Silly Songs and Sad, 1967
- Spectacles, 1968
- Ghost in a Four Room Apartment, 1969
- And it Rained, 1969
- , 1970
- The Mysterious Disappearance of Leon (I Mean Noel), 1971
- The World's Greatest Freak Show, 1971
- Franklin Stein, 1972
- Moe Q. McGlutch, He Smoked Too Much, 1973
- Who, Said Sue, Said Whoo?, 1973
- Figgs & phantoms, 1974
- The Tattooed Potato and Other Clues, 1974
- Moose, Goose, and Little Nobody, 1974
- Twenty-Two, Twenty-Three, 1976
- The Westing Game, 1978
