Holes (Holes, #1)

by Louis Sachar

Stanley Yelnats' family has a history of bad luck going back generations, so he is not too surprised when a miscarriage of justice sends him to Camp Green Lake Juvenile Detention Centre. Nor is he very surprised when he is told that his daily labour at the camp is to dig a hole, five foot wide by five foot deep, and report anything that he finds in that hole. The warden claims that it is character building, but this is a lie and Stanley must dig up the truth. In this wonderfully inventive, compelling novel that is both serious and funny, Louis Sachar has created a masterpiece that will leave all readers amazed and delighted by the author's narrative flair and brilliantly handled plot.

• ISBN10: 074754459X
• ISBN13: 9780747544593
• Publish Date: 8 June 2006 (first published 20 August 1998)
• Publish Status: Unknown
• Out of Print: 6 June 2015
• Publish Country: GB
• Imprint: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
• Edition: New edition
• Format: Paperback
• Pages: 240
• Language: English
• URL: http://bloomsbury.com/Trade/

Reviews

[Amber (The Literary Phoenix)]

I last read this book 20 years ago, and guess what? It's still pretty good!

Holes is a hard book to classify. It's part historical fiction, part magical realism, part contemporary, and part adventure. It has romance, family, friendship, and villains. It's written for middle grade readers, but I would absolutely argue that the story can be enjoyed by any age. I just... I like it, okay? I know that it's meant for people about twenty years younger than me, but it's still a good book.

There are a couple places where this book hasn't aged well. Okay, no, not really. There are four words in this book that propagate racial stereotypes that, if the book had been published today, wouldn't be in it. In the same breath, Louis Sachar calls out racism in America's history and highlights diversity today. Every other word is perfect. It's not as good of a commentary as Small Steps, but it's a really good story.

The characters are diverse and layered, the story is well-paced and carefully threaded together. You can even be a little sympathetic with the villains. It's a book intended for kids that adults can enjoy. If you were forced to read it in school and had One of Those Teachers who likes to analyze books to pieces ("Why did the author choose onions for Sam's wares?" "Examine the use of shadows in Part 2.") then I STRONGLY recommend taking a step back and re-reading it for enjoyment. I was lucky enough that my fourth grade teacher assigned Sachar with minimal discussion, but I know how some schools can be.... It's really a great book, and something that can be enjoyed at any age. A modern MG classic.

[clementine]

I've probably read Holes at least 23,982 times, and I've seen the movie a fair few times as well. (For some reason we were shown it in school a lot when I was a kid.) However, I hadn't read it in years, since I was a kid, really, and since I decided to keep it after the great big book cull of 2012, I thought I might as well read it again and see if it was as good as I remembered it.

And, hearteningly enough, it was. I've read a lot of books that I loved as a kid but that are just okay now, so I was bracing myself for my beloved Holes to be the same way. But, no, it's marvellous. It's beautifully plotted, with interweaving storylines that culminate in one amazing ending, and just the right mixture of realistic and a little bit crazy.

God, I don't know. I can't think of anything specific to say about this book. I just love it. I remember being so delighted as a kid by the way things came together - the Sploosh, the onions, the Thumb of God, the Mary Lou. It all worked.

I think, for me, the only issue is the last chapter. It's a bit too perfect an ending for my liking, but it really doesn't take away from the rest of the book.

[celinenyx]

Amazing. Utterly brilliant. I'm promising myself right here, right now, that I will reread this book next year.