Sachar, Louis. Holes. Farrar, Straus and Giroux (2008). ISBN-10: 0374332665

Plot Summary

Stanley Yelnats is a regular kid with an interesting family. His father is an unsuccessful inventor, and the Yelnats family is cursed with bad luck (“thanks to Stanley’s dirty-rotten-pig-stealing-great-great-grandfather who supposedly stole a pig from a one-legged gypsy who put a curse on him and his family”). Although Stanley’s parents don’t really believe this story, they are devastated by their bad luck when Stanley gets accused of a crime he did not commit and is sent to serve his time at Camp Green Lake. Camp Green Lake, however, is not as fun as it sounds; it’s really a dried up lake where campers spend their days digging holes! Stanley quickly learns to watch his back because if the poisonous lizards don’t get him, the other campers will!

Critical Evaluation

In this book, we are introduced to an exciting array of characters, including Armpit, X-Ray and Zero. They quickly become Stanley’s friends and help make his time digging holes a little more bearable. The more time Stanley spends at Camp Green Lake, the more we understand the mystery that surrounds the lake and Stanley’s connection to it. The story is definitely quirky, but absolutely enjoyable!

Reader's Annotation

The main character is called Stanley Yelnats - spelled the same front wards and backwards. How will he ever survive Camp Green Lake?

About the Author

Louis Sachar was born in East Meadow, New York, on March 20, 1954. When he was nine years old he moved to Tustin, California. Growing up, he was a typical kid and enjoyed math, little league and playing in the orange groves near his house. When he entered high school, he discovered a love of reading. Because of the sudden death of his father, Sachar withdrew from college in Antioch, and transferred to Berkley to be closer to his mother. While attending Berkley, he became a teachers’ aide, and he loved being around the children at the school. His experience would later become the inspiration for the book Sideways Stories from Wayside School. Today, his works include the Marvin Redpost series, Wayside School is Falling Down, The Boy Who Lost His Face, and Holes.

Genre

Fantasy Fiction
Science Ficiton

Curriculum Ties

Language Arts, Science, Social Studies

Booktalking Ideas

Meet Stanley Yelnats, the child of a cursed family! When he is accused of a crime he did not commit, he is sent to live at Camp Green Lake (not green and no lake). While he is serving his time, he eventually makes friends, and he learns of the weird connection between his family, his friend, and the warden. You won’t be disappointed! Check out Holes by Louis Sachar.

Reading Level/Interest Age

Ages 9-12, Grades 4-6

Reason for Book Selection

I first read this book a few years ago AFTER I had seen the movie. I was so surprised that the movie remained so true to the book. This, of course, is not always the case.