Holes (Holes, #1)

by Louis Sachar

[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.