Holes

Louis Sachar

“His parents couldn’t afford a lawyer. “You don’t need a lawyer,” his mother had said. “Just tell the truth.” Stanley told the truth, but perhaps it would have been better if he had lied a little.”

Holes is on Time’s 100 Best YA lsit. I was able to borrow a digital copy from my local library using Overdrive. Guys if you are not a member of your local library join and start using Overdrive/Hoopla!!

If you are looking for a majority male cast in a YA book, read Holes. If you are looking for a fun story where two timelines overlap, read Holes.  If you are a reluctant reader, read Holes I think you’d enjoy it.

Stanley Yelnats is a good kid who was in the wrong place at the wrong time. He knows better than to blame his no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing-great-great-grandfather who has cursed the family, but he can’t help wondering if they really are cursed after he finds himself guilty of a crime he didn’t commit.

The judge gives Stanley two choices by the: go to jail or Camp Green Lake. At Camp Green Lake the boys are sent out into a dry lake bed to dig 5 foot wide and 5 foot deep holes in the blazing Texas sun. The boys are told the holes will “build character.” Stanley quickly notices that there is more to their character building than meets the eye.

I loved a few things about Holes. 

• It is 20sih years old, yet reads like a contemporary YA
• The nicknames the boys gave each other
•  Mr. Pendanski, nicknamed “Mom”

For years, years, I have been told to read Holes, “it is amazing”. Is it amazing? No, but it is a solid YA/middle-grade read. If you haven’t read Holes and are interested in YA, check it out. If you have a young reader in your life who hasn’t read Holes, I highly recommend they do so. If you don’t see yourself reading Holes, watch the movie at least.

PS: Holes is book one of three.

 

Have you read Holes? Did you know there are two more books?