The following version of the novel was used to create this study guide: Barnes, Jennifer Lynn. The Inheritance Games. Little Brown Books for Young Readers, September 1, 2020. Kindle.

In the young adult mystery The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes, Avery Grambs grew up with a mother who loved the value of a good game. However, Avery never imagined a chance encounter would lead to a game worth billions. Avery was still consumed with grief after her mother’s death when she learned she had been named the primary beneficiary for the late Tobias Hawthorne, a billionaire, with two living daughters and four grandsons. To inherit the money, Avery had to live with the Hawthornes for one year. While there, she was caught up in playing a game constructed by Tobias before his death. The game's purpose was to heal the wounds in his grandsons’ relationships and bring his family together.

Avery was an underprivileged high school student who lived with her half-sister, Libby. Even though Libby was barely supporting herself, she filed for legal guardianship of Avery when Avery’s mother died. Avery studied hard enough in school to get A’s, but spent most of her time working extra shifts at a diner to help Libby pay the rent. She had not heard Tobias’ name until his grandson, Grayson Hawthorne, tracked her down at school. Tobias had required that Avery be present when the will was read.

The following day, Avery and Libby were at Hawthorne House where Avery learned she had been bequeathed the majority of Tobias’ money and possessions. The only stipulation was that she had to live in Hawthorne House, with the Hawthorne family, for one year. She feared the angry family members would kill her, especially after she learned from Thea, a girl who attended the same private school in which Avery had been enrolled, that a girl who had spent a good deal of time at Hawthorne House had died.

Meanwhile, Avery joined Jameson Hawthorne in his attempt to determine the meaning of the strange letters that he and his brothers had been given when the will was read. Jameson believed the letters were clues to a game that his grandfather had put together. Avery had learned that Tobias had instilled critical thinking skills in his grandsons by engaging them in a weekly challenge. Jameson believed the game held answers to why Tobias had disinherited his family and left his wealth to Avery.

In this case, both Jameson and Grayson were upset when they realized the clues pointed toward the death of Emily Laughlin, a girl both of them had dated. Emily used the dating relationships as a contest between the brothers to see which one could win her love by giving her the experiences she wanted or doing things for her. The game divided the brothers. One night when Emily, who had a heart transplant to correct a congenital heart defect, asked Jameson to take her to jump off the cliffs at Devil’s Gate, Jameson refused because he believed it was too dangerous for her. He broke up with her that night because he was tired of her games.

Because Jameson would not take her to the cliffs, Emily convinced Grayson to take her by telling him that she loved him and had chosen him over Jameson. She wanted to jump from the cliffs to celebrate. Grayson went along with her even though he believed it was too dangerous for her. He told Avery that they both survived the jump, but when he returned from getting their towels, Emily was laying on the beach, dead. He believed his grandfather had disinherited them because they had allowed a girl to come between them.

Jameson later told Avery that he had gone to spy on Grayson and Emily as they jumped. Emily had seen him and called to him after Grayson left for the towels. Jameson turned away from Emily even though he heard her calling, and then a few minutes later heard her choking and gasping for breath. Jameson believed she was pretending and did not offer her any assistance. Later, his grandfather confronted him about what happened and asked if he felt culpable in Emily’s death. He warned the boys to never allow another girl to come between them.

As Avery and the boys completed the challenge together, Avery tried to deal with the attraction she had been feeling for both Jameson and Grayson. Grayson told her that they could not have a relationship because he had seen the way Jameson looked at Avery. Their grandfather’s challenge has helped to repair the relationship between the brothers and taught them to value family above all others.

When Avery and the brothers unlocked the final box in their grandfather’s challenge, there was an envelope inside with Avery’s name on it. It contained a single packet of sugar. Avery remembered a man who had spoken to her and her mother in a diner when Avery was building a castle out of sugar packets. Avery’s mother had challenged her to build the castle at least five levels high.