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Holes Special Edition trailerPenguin Random House LLC
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Audible sampleSampleHoles (Holes Series)Paperback – May 9, 2000
by
Louis Sachar
(Author),
Vladimir Radunsky
(Illustrator),
Bagram Ibatoulline
(Illustrator)
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Purchase options and add-ons
This groundbreaking classic is now available in a special anniversary edition with bonus content. Winner of the Newbery Medal as well as the National Book Award, HOLES is aNew York Timesbestseller and one of the strongest-selling middle-grade books to ever hit shelves!
Stanley Yelnats is under a curse. A curse that began with his no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing-great-great-grandfather and has since followed generations of Yelnatses. Now Stanley has been unjustly sent to a boys' detention center, Camp Green Lake, where the boys build character by spending all day, every day digging holes exactly five feet wide and five feet deep. There is no lake at Camp Green Lake. But there are an awful lot of holes.
It doesn't take long for Stanley to realize there's more than character improvement going on at Camp Green Lake. The boys are digging holes because the warden is looking for something. But what could be buried under a dried-up lake? Stanley tries to dig up the truth in this inventive and darkly humorous tale of crime and punishment
—and redemption.
Special anniversary edition bonus content includes: A New Note From the Author!; "Ten Things You May Not Know AboutHOLES "by Louis Sachar; and more!
.
Stanley Yelnats is under a curse. A curse that began with his no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing-great-great-grandfather and has since followed generations of Yelnatses. Now Stanley has been unjustly sent to a boys' detention center, Camp Green Lake, where the boys build character by spending all day, every day digging holes exactly five feet wide and five feet deep. There is no lake at Camp Green Lake. But there are an awful lot of holes.
It doesn't take long for Stanley to realize there's more than character improvement going on at Camp Green Lake. The boys are digging holes because the warden is looking for something. But what could be buried under a dried-up lake? Stanley tries to dig up the truth in this inventive and darkly humorous tale of crime and punishment
—and redemption.
Special anniversary edition bonus content includes: A New Note From the Author!; "Ten Things You May Not Know AboutHOLES "by Louis Sachar; and more!
.
- Print length233 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- Grade level5 - 6
- Lexile measure660L
- Dimensions5.25 x 0.7 x 7.63 inches
- PublisherYearling
- Publication dateMay 9, 2000
- ISBN-100440414806
- ISBN-13978-0440414803
 |
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Get to know this book
What's it about?
A boy is unjustly sent to a detention center where he digs holes as character improvement but discovers a deeper mystery.
Popular highlight
“I’m not saying it’s going to be easy. Nothing in life is easy. But that’s no reason to give up. You’ll be surprised what you can accomplish if you set your mind to it. After all, you only have one life, so you should try to make the most of it.”4,057 Kindle readers highlighted thisPopular highlight
If you take a bad boy and make him dig a hole every day in the hot sun, it will turn him into a good boy.2,848 Kindle readers highlighted thisPopular highlight
Madame Zeroni warned that if he failed to do this, he and his descendants would be doomed for all of eternity.2,477 Kindle readers highlighted this
From the Publisher
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
PW's starred review of the 1999 Newbery Medal winner described it as a "dazzling blend of social commentary, tall tale and magic realism." Ages 10-up. (May)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Review
Winner of the Newbery Medal
Winner of the National Book Award
#1 New York Times Bestseller
A New York Public Library's 100 Great Children's Books 100 Years Selection
"Adazzlingblend of social commentary, tall tale and magic realism. "—Publishers Weekly, Starred Review
"There is no question,kids will loveHoles."—School Library Journal, Starred Review
"[A] rugged,engrossing adventure."—Kirkus Reviews
"Thisdelightfully clever storyis well-crafted and thought-provoking. "—VOYA
"[Sachar] comes fully, brilliantly into his own voice.This is a can't-put-it-down read."—The Bulletin
Winner of the National Book Award
#1 New York Times Bestseller
A New York Public Library's 100 Great Children's Books 100 Years Selection
"Adazzlingblend of social commentary, tall tale and magic realism. "—Publishers Weekly, Starred Review
"There is no question,kids will loveHoles."—School Library Journal, Starred Review
"[A] rugged,engrossing adventure."—Kirkus Reviews
"Thisdelightfully clever storyis well-crafted and thought-provoking. "—VOYA
"[Sachar] comes fully, brilliantly into his own voice.This is a can't-put-it-down read."—The Bulletin
From the Inside Flap
Stanley Yelnats is under a curse. A curse that began with his no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing-great-great-grandfather and has since followed generations of Yelnats. Now Stanley has been unjustly sent to a boys' detention center, Camp Green Lake, where the warden makes the boys "build character" by spending all day, every day, digging holes: five feet wide and five feet deep. It doesn't take long for Stanley to realize there's more than character improvement going on at Camp Green Lake. The boys are digging holes because the warden is looking for something. Stanley tries to dig up the truth in this inventive and darkly humorous tale of crime and punishment--and redemption.
From the Back Cover
Stanley Yelnats tries to dig up the truth in this inventive and darkly humorous tale of crime and punishment-and redemption.
About the Author
Louis Sachar is the author of the #1New York TimesbestsellerHoles,which won the Newbery Medal, the National Book Award, and the Christopher Award, as well asStanley Yelnats' Survival to Camp Green Lake;Small Steps,winner of the Schneider Family Book Award; andThe Cardturner,aPublishers WeeklyBest Book, a Parents' Choice Gold Award recipient, and an ALA-YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults Book. His books for younger readers includeThere's a Boy in the Girls' Bathroom, The Boy Who Lost His Face, Dogs Don't Tell Jokes,and the Marvin Redpost series, among many others.
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
Stanley Yelnats was the only passenger on the bus, not counting the driver or the guard. The guard sat next to the driver with his seat turned around facing Stanley. A rifle lay across his lap.
Stanley was sitting about ten rows back, handcuffed to his armrest. His backpack lay on the seat next to him. It contained his toothbrush, toothpaste, and a box of stationary his mother had given him. He’d promised to write to her at least once a week.
He looked out the window, although there wasn’t much to see—mostly fields of hay and cotton. He was on a long bus ride to nowhere. The bus wasn’t air-conditioned, and the hot heavy air was almost as stifling as the handcuffs.
Stanley and his parents had tried to pretend that he was just going away to camp for a while, just like rich kids do. When Stanley was younger he used to play with stuffed animals, and pretend the animals were at camp. Camp Fun and Games he called it. Sometimes he’d have them play soccer with a marble. Other times they’d run an obstacle course, or go bungee jumping off a table, tied to broken rubber bands. Now Stanley tried to pretend he was going to Camp Fun and Games. Maybe he’ d make some friends, he thought. At least he’d get to swim in the lake.
He didn’ t have any friends at home. He was overweight and the kids at his middle school often teased him about his size. Even his teachers sometimes made cruel comments without realizing it. On his last day of school, his math teacher, Mrs. Bell, taught ratios. As an example, she chose the heaviest kid in the class and the lightest kid in the class, and had them weigh themselves. Stanley weighed three times as much as the other boy. Mrs. Bell wrote the ratio on the board, 3:1, unaware of how much embarrassment she had caused both of them.
Stanley was arrested later that day.
He looked at the guard who sat slumped in his seat and wondered of he had fallen asleep. The guard was wearing sunglasses, so Stanley couldn’t see his eyes.
Stanley was not a bad kid. He was innocent of the crime for which he was convicted. He’d just been in the wrong place at the wrong time.
It was all because of his no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing-great-great-grandfather!
He smiled. It was a family joke. Whenever anything went wrong, they always blamed Stanley’s no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing-great-great-grandfather!
Supposedly, he had a great-great-grandfather who had stolen a pig from one-legged Gypsy, and she put a curse on him and all his descendants. Stanley and his parents didn’t believe in curses, of course, but whenever anything went wrong, it felt good to be able to blame someone.
Things went wrong a lot. They always seemed to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.
He looked out the window at the vast emptiness. He watched the rise and fall of a telephone wire. In his mind he could hear his father’s gruff voice softly singing to him.
“If only, if only,” the woodpecker sighs,
“The bark on the tree was just a little bit softer.”
“While the wolf waits below, hungry and lonely,
He cries to the moo–oo–oon,
“If only, if only.”
It was a song his father used to sing to him. The melody was sweet and sad, but Stanley’s favorite part was when his father would howl the word “moon”.
The bus hit a small bump and the guard sat up, instantly alert.
Stanley’s father was an inventor. To be a successful inventor you need three things: intelligence, perseverance, and just a little bit of luck.
Stanley’s father was smart and had a lot of perseverance. Once he started a project he would work on it for years, often going days without sleep. He just never had any luck.
Every time an experiment failed, Stanley could hear him cursing his dirty-rotten-pig-stealing-great-great-grandfather.
Stanley’s father was also named Stanley Yelnats. Stanley’s father’s full name was Stanley Yelnats III. Our Stanley is Stanley Yelnats IV.
Everyone in his family had always liked the fact that “Stanley Yelnats” was spelled the same frontward and backward. So they kept naming their sons Stanley. Stanley was an only child, as was every other Stanley Yelnats before him.
All of them had something else in common. Despite their awful luck, they always remained hopeful. As Stanley’s father liked to say, “I learned from failure.”
But perhaps that was part of the curse as well. If Stanley and his father weren’t always hopeful, then it wouldn’t hurt so much every time their hopes were crushed.
“Not every Stanley Yelnats has been a failure,” Stanley’s mother often pointed out, whenever Stanley or his father became so discouraged that they actually started to believe in the curse. The first Stanley Yelnats, Stanley’ s great-grandfather, had made a fortune in the stock market. “He couldn’t have been too unlucky.”
At such times she neglected to mention the bad luck that befell the first Stanley Yelnats. He lost his entire fortune when he was moving from New York to California. His stagecoach was robbed by the outlaw Kissin' Kate Barlow.
If it weren’t for that, Stanley’s family would now be living in a mansion on a beach in California. Instead, they were crammed in a tiny apartment that smelled of burning rubber and foot odor.
“If only, if only….
The apartment smelled the way it did because Stanley’s father was trying to invent a way to recycle old sneakers. “The first person who finds a use for old sneakers, “he said, “will be a very rich man.”
It was this lastest project that led to Stanley’s arrest.
The bus ride became increasingly bumpy because the road was no longer paved.
Actually, Stanley had been impressed when he first found out that is great-grandfather was robbed by Kissin’ Kate Barlow. True, he would have preferred living on the beach in California, but it was still kind of cool to have someone in your family robbed by a famous outlaw.
Kate Barlow didn’t actually kiss Stanley’s great-grandfather. That would have been really cool, but she only kissed the men she killed. Instead, she robbed him and left him stranded in the middle of the desert.
“He wasluckyto have survived,” Stanley’s mother was quick to point out.
The bus was slowing down. The guard grunted as he stretched out his arms.
“Welcome Camp Green Lake,” said the driver.
Stanley looked out the dirty window. He couldn’t see a lake.
And hardly anything was green.
Stanley was sitting about ten rows back, handcuffed to his armrest. His backpack lay on the seat next to him. It contained his toothbrush, toothpaste, and a box of stationary his mother had given him. He’d promised to write to her at least once a week.
He looked out the window, although there wasn’t much to see—mostly fields of hay and cotton. He was on a long bus ride to nowhere. The bus wasn’t air-conditioned, and the hot heavy air was almost as stifling as the handcuffs.
Stanley and his parents had tried to pretend that he was just going away to camp for a while, just like rich kids do. When Stanley was younger he used to play with stuffed animals, and pretend the animals were at camp. Camp Fun and Games he called it. Sometimes he’d have them play soccer with a marble. Other times they’d run an obstacle course, or go bungee jumping off a table, tied to broken rubber bands. Now Stanley tried to pretend he was going to Camp Fun and Games. Maybe he’ d make some friends, he thought. At least he’d get to swim in the lake.
He didn’ t have any friends at home. He was overweight and the kids at his middle school often teased him about his size. Even his teachers sometimes made cruel comments without realizing it. On his last day of school, his math teacher, Mrs. Bell, taught ratios. As an example, she chose the heaviest kid in the class and the lightest kid in the class, and had them weigh themselves. Stanley weighed three times as much as the other boy. Mrs. Bell wrote the ratio on the board, 3:1, unaware of how much embarrassment she had caused both of them.
Stanley was arrested later that day.
He looked at the guard who sat slumped in his seat and wondered of he had fallen asleep. The guard was wearing sunglasses, so Stanley couldn’t see his eyes.
Stanley was not a bad kid. He was innocent of the crime for which he was convicted. He’d just been in the wrong place at the wrong time.
It was all because of his no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing-great-great-grandfather!
He smiled. It was a family joke. Whenever anything went wrong, they always blamed Stanley’s no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing-great-great-grandfather!
Supposedly, he had a great-great-grandfather who had stolen a pig from one-legged Gypsy, and she put a curse on him and all his descendants. Stanley and his parents didn’t believe in curses, of course, but whenever anything went wrong, it felt good to be able to blame someone.
Things went wrong a lot. They always seemed to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.
He looked out the window at the vast emptiness. He watched the rise and fall of a telephone wire. In his mind he could hear his father’s gruff voice softly singing to him.
“If only, if only,” the woodpecker sighs,
“The bark on the tree was just a little bit softer.”
“While the wolf waits below, hungry and lonely,
He cries to the moo–oo–oon,
“If only, if only.”
It was a song his father used to sing to him. The melody was sweet and sad, but Stanley’s favorite part was when his father would howl the word “moon”.
The bus hit a small bump and the guard sat up, instantly alert.
Stanley’s father was an inventor. To be a successful inventor you need three things: intelligence, perseverance, and just a little bit of luck.
Stanley’s father was smart and had a lot of perseverance. Once he started a project he would work on it for years, often going days without sleep. He just never had any luck.
Every time an experiment failed, Stanley could hear him cursing his dirty-rotten-pig-stealing-great-great-grandfather.
Stanley’s father was also named Stanley Yelnats. Stanley’s father’s full name was Stanley Yelnats III. Our Stanley is Stanley Yelnats IV.
Everyone in his family had always liked the fact that “Stanley Yelnats” was spelled the same frontward and backward. So they kept naming their sons Stanley. Stanley was an only child, as was every other Stanley Yelnats before him.
All of them had something else in common. Despite their awful luck, they always remained hopeful. As Stanley’s father liked to say, “I learned from failure.”
But perhaps that was part of the curse as well. If Stanley and his father weren’t always hopeful, then it wouldn’t hurt so much every time their hopes were crushed.
“Not every Stanley Yelnats has been a failure,” Stanley’s mother often pointed out, whenever Stanley or his father became so discouraged that they actually started to believe in the curse. The first Stanley Yelnats, Stanley’ s great-grandfather, had made a fortune in the stock market. “He couldn’t have been too unlucky.”
At such times she neglected to mention the bad luck that befell the first Stanley Yelnats. He lost his entire fortune when he was moving from New York to California. His stagecoach was robbed by the outlaw Kissin' Kate Barlow.
If it weren’t for that, Stanley’s family would now be living in a mansion on a beach in California. Instead, they were crammed in a tiny apartment that smelled of burning rubber and foot odor.
“If only, if only….
The apartment smelled the way it did because Stanley’s father was trying to invent a way to recycle old sneakers. “The first person who finds a use for old sneakers, “he said, “will be a very rich man.”
It was this lastest project that led to Stanley’s arrest.
The bus ride became increasingly bumpy because the road was no longer paved.
Actually, Stanley had been impressed when he first found out that is great-grandfather was robbed by Kissin’ Kate Barlow. True, he would have preferred living on the beach in California, but it was still kind of cool to have someone in your family robbed by a famous outlaw.
Kate Barlow didn’t actually kiss Stanley’s great-grandfather. That would have been really cool, but she only kissed the men she killed. Instead, she robbed him and left him stranded in the middle of the desert.
“He wasluckyto have survived,” Stanley’s mother was quick to point out.
The bus was slowing down. The guard grunted as he stretched out his arms.
“Welcome Camp Green Lake,” said the driver.
Stanley looked out the dirty window. He couldn’t see a lake.
And hardly anything was green.
Product details
- Publisher : Yearling (May 9, 2000)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 233 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0440414806
- ISBN-13 : 978-0440414803
- Reading age : 9+ years, from customers
- Lexile measure : 660L
- Grade level : 5 - 6
- Item Weight : 2.31 pounds
- Dimensions : 5.25 x 0.7 x 7.63 inches
- Best Sellers Rank:#207 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- Customer Reviews:
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About the author
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Louis Sachar was born in New York. He was inspired to write children's books after working as a teacher's aide to gain extra credit. After graduation he worked in a sweater warehouse in Connecticut and wrote at night. He was soon fired from that job and moved onto law school where in his first week of study Sideways Stories From Wayside School was published. In 2000 Louis Sacher wrote Holes which became both an instant classic and a film starring Sigourney Weaver. Holes was his first book to be published in the UK and continues to prove popular among younger readers. Once Louis Sachar begins writing a new book he refuses to talk to anyone until it is finished and entry to his office is barred apart from his two dogs. The Cardturner is his new book which publishes in 2010.
Customer reviews
4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
32,618 global ratings
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Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the storyline great and good. They also describe the book as an engaging, fun read that's great for upper elementary and junior high students. Readers describe the writing as deceptively easy to read, imaginative, and well-written. They find the characters great and the themes clever, wholesome, and multi-generational.
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656 customers mention "Storyline"656 positive0 negative
Customers find the storyline great, enjoyable, and detailed. They also say it's geared for youthful readers and a great first choice.
"...to relate to amidst the oddball humor, vivid imagery, andsuspenseful plot.... "Read more
"The character development. Theplotline intrigue.The drama and suspense. The paralell stories and timelines. Excellent and captivating all around! "Read more
"This was honestlyone of the best booksI’ve ever read! great job to the author, you did a commendable job making this absolute masterpiece. "Read more
"We read this book and watched the movie for homeschool andit was fantastic!! Highly recommend "Read more
284 customers mention "Entertainment value"270 positive14 negative
Customers find the book entertaining, fun, and fascinating. They also say it's an excellent book for boys, moms, and grandmothers. Readers also mention that the book has good morals and is a great confidence builder.
"...and every reader should find something to relate to amidst theoddball humor,vivid imagery, and suspenseful plot.... "Read more
"...The paralell stories and timelines. Excellent andcaptivating all around!"Read more
"...Holes” is a light-hearted story with some mystery,humorand attention getting scenes.... "Read more
"...I would give this book a try and honestly this book ismore interesting than the movie.... "Read more
181 customers mention "Writing and content"181 positive0 negative
Customers find the writing and content of the book deceptively easy to read, intriguing, and a page turner. They also say the author is really good, imaginative, and well-written. Readers also mention the book is not too hard and not too easy, with vivid imagery and suspenseful plot.
"...should find something to relate to amidst the oddball humor,vivid imagery,and suspenseful plot.... "Read more
"This was honestly one of the best books I’ve ever read!great job to the author,you did a commendable job making this absolute masterpiece. "Read more
"...It iswell writtenand moves seamlessly from the past to the present in a way of explaining the relationship of events as the story moves along.... "Read more
"My son loved this book.Well writtenand a good read for a preteen! "Read more
42 customers mention "Characters"42 positive0 negative
Customers find the characters in the book great, intriguing, and memorable. They also mention that the novel is filled with thrilling mysteries and evil villains.
"Just flipping brilliant. Masterful plotting withwonderful charactersand a cracking adventure. "Read more
"...Stanley's adventures at Camp Greenlake and thought themain character was fantastic.... "Read more
"...The book is not lengthy and easy to read.Good characters well described.Well written. Not boring. Recommended for all teenagers. Adults can enjoy.... "Read more
"Is a summer reading assignment.Enjoyed the characters and story."Read more
39 customers mention "Themes"39 positive0 negative
Customers find the themes in the book interesting, with lots of detail and interest. They say it's a great story about diversity and friendship, that led to good father-son conversations. They also mention that the book is funny, sweet, engaging, and filled with mouth-dropping surprises. Customers also mention the book has relevant issues and sparkles with humor.
"...Ithas a lot of details and partsthat they left out in the movies. Even from the first three pages, my boys were sucked in into reading it.... "Read more
"...There is alot of interesting coincidencesthat occur within the story in order to facilitate the story line.... "Read more
"It was avery sweet story of two friendsbut it had a very good twist in the end From a person who loves books "Read more
"Amazing book! Itreveals so much at the end!It is so good to read eeeeeeeee e e e e "Read more
19 customers mention "Holes"19 positive0 negative
Customers find the holes in the book amazing.
"...Holes was a wholesome bookand showed how one person, Stanley, can change his fellow delinquents lives.... "Read more
"good delivery andinteresting book about holes"Read more
"Holes is very intriguingand quite a page turner.... "Read more
"Holes is clever,quirky, gritty, funny and immensely entertaining.... "Read more
17 customers mention "Pacing"14 positive3 negative
Customers find the pacing of the book fast, easy to read, and seamless. They also say the chapters fly by.
"...It is well written andmoves seamlessly from the pastto the present in a way of explaining the relationship of events as the story moves along.... "Read more
"...Thestory moves quickly enoughto maintain high interest in the lessons. Students relate to many of the chapters with personal connections.... "Read more
"...If you want a book that is a fun and afast,read plus is really easy to write an A+ book report on, then choose this book. "Read more
"Really good, fantastic, cool,read it in 3 days,drags you in, a book that can be read more than once. "Read more
29 customers mention "Plot"19 positive10 negative
Customers are mixed about the plot. Some mention that it has a good ending, runs very close to the movie, and has masterful plotting. Others say that it lacks a little in the end, is unrealistic, and disjointed.
"Just flipping brilliant.Masterful plottingwith wonderful characters and a cracking adventure. "Read more
"...the outcome not at all creative (not one bit), butit isn't even presented very convincingly,either, not to mention that it is all just suddenly SO... "Read more
"...The movie based on it isone of the best book to movie adaptationsI've ever seen and after seeing it I just had to read this book again!... "Read more
"...Thebook has a good endingbut you need to read the book to find out what happens. You won’t be disappointed.... "Read more
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Top reviews from the United States
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Reviewed in the United States on April 21, 2024
In this engaging tale, an isolated, chubby victim of bullying faces compelling adventures that strengthen him, deepen his own self awareness and resilience, and increase his empathy for others. Louis Sachar’s deft hand accomplishes this without a shred of moralizing or pontificating and every reader should find something to relate to amidst the oddball humor, vivid imagery, and suspenseful plot. As a child I lived in a relatively safe world where English teachers foisted dark and tragic literature on us to ‘broaden our minds’. In today’s more dark and dangerous world of active shooter drills, I am so glad to know that inspirational tales like Holes exist to reassure children that perseverance through difficult struggles can lead to better times.
Reviewed in the United States on June 14, 2024
The character development. The plotline intrigue. The drama and suspense. The paralell stories and timelines. Excellent and captivating all around!
Reviewed in the United States on June 5, 2024
This was honestly one of the best books I’ve ever read! great job to the author, you did a commendable job making this absolute masterpiece.
Reviewed in the United States on June 20, 2024
We read this book and watched the movie for homeschool and it was fantastic!! Highly recommend
Reviewed in the United States on September 18, 2014
Louis Sachar is an American writer of children's books. He is best known for the series Sideways Stories from Wayside School and for the novels Pig City, in the UK, and Holes, which he has followed with two sequels.
Camp Green Lake is neither a camp nor a lake; it is however a place for the detention of “bad boys” that have run amok of the law. Stanley Yelnats is one of the new “campers” sent to Camp Green Lake for stealing a pair of donated sneakers that once belonged to a famous ball player – he swears he didn’t steal them; they just fell from the sky and hit him on the head. So the judge gave Stanley a choice, he could go to jail or to Camp Green Lake. Being from a poor family, Stanley had never been to camp before. Thus begins the story of Stanley Yelnats, now known as ‘Caveman’ by the likes of ‘Zero’, ‘Armpit’, ‘X-ray’, ‘Magnet’ and ‘Zigzag’ as they head out each morning from camp to each dig a hole exactly five feet wide by five feet long by five feet deep in an old lake bed.
“Holes” is a light-hearted story with some mystery, humor and attention getting scenes. It is well written and moves seamlessly from the past to the present in a way of explaining the relationship of events as the story moves along. It was a fun read and certainly should appeal to young adult readers as well. If you are thinking of taking a break I highly suggest you try “Holes”, you shouldn’t be disappointed.
Camp Green Lake is neither a camp nor a lake; it is however a place for the detention of “bad boys” that have run amok of the law. Stanley Yelnats is one of the new “campers” sent to Camp Green Lake for stealing a pair of donated sneakers that once belonged to a famous ball player – he swears he didn’t steal them; they just fell from the sky and hit him on the head. So the judge gave Stanley a choice, he could go to jail or to Camp Green Lake. Being from a poor family, Stanley had never been to camp before. Thus begins the story of Stanley Yelnats, now known as ‘Caveman’ by the likes of ‘Zero’, ‘Armpit’, ‘X-ray’, ‘Magnet’ and ‘Zigzag’ as they head out each morning from camp to each dig a hole exactly five feet wide by five feet long by five feet deep in an old lake bed.
“Holes” is a light-hearted story with some mystery, humor and attention getting scenes. It is well written and moves seamlessly from the past to the present in a way of explaining the relationship of events as the story moves along. It was a fun read and certainly should appeal to young adult readers as well. If you are thinking of taking a break I highly suggest you try “Holes”, you shouldn’t be disappointed.
Reviewed in the United States on February 9, 2024
It’s been a struggle to get my kids to read. They watched this movie several years ago I figure I would give this book a try and honestly this book is more interesting than the movie. It has a lot of details and parts that they left out It’s been a struggle to get my kids to read. They watched this movie several years ago I figure I would give this book a try and honestly this book is more interesting than the movie. It has a lot of details and parts that they left out in the movies. Even from the first three pages, my boys were sucked in into reading it. I highly recommend this book to any kids who are not interested in reading by far. This has been my best choice of books for them. The only complaint I have is the font is fairly small. 10 out of 10.
Reviewed in the United States on June 12, 2022
“If only, if only,” the woodpecker sighs,
The bark on the tree was a soft as the skies... "
You know, I really dig this book.
So, I do confess that I have watched the 2003 film countless times (hard to believe it is almost 20 years old…time flies) and so hearing that the film follows the book fairly closely there were no big surprises here. That still didn’t lessen the experience of a fantastic book. In fact, I would definitely say the book is a notch above for me and easily on of my favorites.
I have sort of a love/hate relationship with young adult type novels. Oftentimes, they are either way too over the top schmaltzy and dripping with too much sentimentalism and not enough meat on their bones, or they are the opposite: filled with pretentious, unlikable “too cool for school” characters who get on a reader’s nerves, or there is too much in the way of unnecessary language, violence, etc. to be labelled a “young adult.” There is none of this in Holes.
I’m sure everyone knows the basis of the story. Stanley Yelnuts inadvertently and mistakenly is sentenced to Camp Green Lake (ironic name) for his sentence. The boys at the facility are forced to give holes as a part of their “rehabilitation” and “character building.” But it seems clear that something is going on here.
To me this is the definitive young adult novel in that it is breaks from the tropes of many young adult fare. It is everything that is fantastic about a novel. It has not only an exceptional story line, but also has two other alternating stories interweaved brilliantly within the plot that tie into Stanley’s story, among one of a family curse from years ago because of Stanley’s “no good, rotten, pig-stealing” great grandfather.
Holes is heartfelt and inspiring and feels as much about overcoming, as friendship, importance of family, and coming to terms with tricky life situations. In a way it is a coming of age as well. There’s an innocent, naive quality to Stanley (who is our narrator) that is so refreshing and rewarding, and he’s easily someone you want to root for as you read about each upcoming predicament.
Fabulous book, and it has become an instant favorite for me!
The bark on the tree was a soft as the skies... "
You know, I really dig this book.
So, I do confess that I have watched the 2003 film countless times (hard to believe it is almost 20 years old…time flies) and so hearing that the film follows the book fairly closely there were no big surprises here. That still didn’t lessen the experience of a fantastic book. In fact, I would definitely say the book is a notch above for me and easily on of my favorites.
I have sort of a love/hate relationship with young adult type novels. Oftentimes, they are either way too over the top schmaltzy and dripping with too much sentimentalism and not enough meat on their bones, or they are the opposite: filled with pretentious, unlikable “too cool for school” characters who get on a reader’s nerves, or there is too much in the way of unnecessary language, violence, etc. to be labelled a “young adult.” There is none of this in Holes.
I’m sure everyone knows the basis of the story. Stanley Yelnuts inadvertently and mistakenly is sentenced to Camp Green Lake (ironic name) for his sentence. The boys at the facility are forced to give holes as a part of their “rehabilitation” and “character building.” But it seems clear that something is going on here.
To me this is the definitive young adult novel in that it is breaks from the tropes of many young adult fare. It is everything that is fantastic about a novel. It has not only an exceptional story line, but also has two other alternating stories interweaved brilliantly within the plot that tie into Stanley’s story, among one of a family curse from years ago because of Stanley’s “no good, rotten, pig-stealing” great grandfather.
Holes is heartfelt and inspiring and feels as much about overcoming, as friendship, importance of family, and coming to terms with tricky life situations. In a way it is a coming of age as well. There’s an innocent, naive quality to Stanley (who is our narrator) that is so refreshing and rewarding, and he’s easily someone you want to root for as you read about each upcoming predicament.
Fabulous book, and it has become an instant favorite for me!
Reviewed in the United States on April 29, 2024
Just flipping brilliant. Masterful plotting with wonderful characters and a cracking adventure.
Top reviews from other countries
Stephanie R
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great for pre teens
Reviewed in Canada on January 31, 2024
My son isn’t a huge novel reader but he really enjoyed this book and was really engaged. This is a great book for kids 10-12.
Alejandro Glez Ponce
5.0 out of 5 stars
House i really nice noble written clear and basic English for us non native english speakers
Reviewed in Mexico on July 21, 2023
This is a very nice novel with an very to resting Main Carter and he's mate Zero. I like how the outsour explored the life and the story behind each of three 2 characters. The story is full of adventures making it very enjoy able.
Rui
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Timeless Tale of Friendship and Perseverance
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 26, 2024
Louis Sachar's Holes is a beloved classic in children's literature, and for good reason. This novel is a masterclass in storytelling, combining elements of adventure, mystery, and social commentary to create an engaging and memorable narrative that appeals to readers of all ages.
Initially recommended to me by an author of a writing tutorial book, Holes quickly struck a chord with its familiar yet fresh storytelling. I soon realized that I had seen the movie adaptation of Holes, which only deepened my appreciation for Sachar's original work. As the writing tutorial author suggested, this book is a treasure trove of writing techniques, making it an excellent study for aspiring writers.
The story follows Stanley Yelnats, a boy who is wrongfully sent to a labor camp where he and other boys are forced to dig holes in the desert. The plot masterfully weaves together multiple storylines, including the history of Stanley's family curse and the mysterious outlaw Kissing Kate Barlow. Through these interwoven tales, Sachar explores themes of fate, justice, and redemption.
What makes Holes particularly remarkable is its accessibility. The language is straightforward and clear, making it easy for younger readers to follow, while the depth of the narrative ensures that older readers remain engaged. The characters are well-developed and relatable, each with their unique quirks and backstories that add richness to the plot.
Initially recommended to me by an author of a writing tutorial book, Holes quickly struck a chord with its familiar yet fresh storytelling. I soon realized that I had seen the movie adaptation of Holes, which only deepened my appreciation for Sachar's original work. As the writing tutorial author suggested, this book is a treasure trove of writing techniques, making it an excellent study for aspiring writers.
The story follows Stanley Yelnats, a boy who is wrongfully sent to a labor camp where he and other boys are forced to dig holes in the desert. The plot masterfully weaves together multiple storylines, including the history of Stanley's family curse and the mysterious outlaw Kissing Kate Barlow. Through these interwoven tales, Sachar explores themes of fate, justice, and redemption.
What makes Holes particularly remarkable is its accessibility. The language is straightforward and clear, making it easy for younger readers to follow, while the depth of the narrative ensures that older readers remain engaged. The characters are well-developed and relatable, each with their unique quirks and backstories that add richness to the plot.
Patricia Tarrant Brown
5.0 out of 5 stars
Dangerously good
Reviewed in Spain on April 24, 2024
As the title suggests, 'Holes' is full of empty spaces and the reader is required to fill them. It's a puzzle, rampant with clues and connections which the reader is challenged to re-assemble in the right order. With constant flashbacks and larger than life characters to requite the imagination this is a great story for both teenagers and adults alike.
Margarita
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fast delivery
Reviewed in Belgium on April 2, 2024
Right product and very fast! Thank You
