He broke up with her that night because he was tired of her games.īecause 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. 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. 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. 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. Jameson believed the game held answers to why Tobias had disinherited his family and left his wealth to Avery. Avery had learned that Tobias had instilled critical thinking skills in his grandsons by engaging them in a weekly challenge. Jameson believed the letters were clues to a game that his grandfather had put together. 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. 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. The only stipulation was that she had to live in Hawthorne House, with the Hawthorne family, for one year. The following day, Avery and Libby were at Hawthorne House where Avery learned she had been bequeathed the majority of Tobias’ money and possessions. Tobias had required that Avery be present when the will was read. She had not heard Tobias’ name until his grandson, Grayson Hawthorne, tracked her down at school. 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. Even though Libby was barely supporting herself, she filed for legal guardianship of Avery when Avery’s mother died. The game's purpose was to heal the wounds in his grandsons’ relationships and bring his family together.Īvery was an underprivileged high school student who lived with her half-sister, Libby. While there, she was caught up in playing a game constructed by Tobias before his death. To inherit the money, Avery had to live with the Hawthornes for one year. 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.

However, Avery never imagined a chance encounter would lead to a game worth billions. 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. Little Brown Books for Young Readers, September 1, 2020.

The following version of the novel was used to create this study guide: Barnes, Jennifer Lynn.

Inheritance games