I absolutely loved the book Holes written by Louis Sachar, and even though I really enjoyed the movie, I thought that the book blew the movie out of the water in story quality. I felt that a lot of really key elements were left out of the movie and that even the messages seemed different. The book moved me, and I am really glad that I read it.

Quick plot summary: Stanley Yelnats, our main character, comes from a long, long line of luckless males. The story opens as Stanley finds himself in custody for a crime he did not commit, and he is sent to a correctional camp for boys as punishment. With each hole he digs, he comes closer to unraveling the truth of his past, but will that help him at all?

This tale creatively weaves the past and present times together in an interesting and clear way. I would love to imitate the concise sentences, clean story, and the complicated yet clear plot. I also thought that the dialogue was beautiful.

I don’t really have anything against this book, and I would certainly recommend this book to everyone.

Enjoyment Level: 5/5 stars
Beginning: 5/5 stars — “There is no lake at Camp Green Lake.” — perfect!
Middle: 4/5 stars
End: 5/5 stars — I love that the bad guys get everything they deserve.
Awards: Newbery Medal Award Winner

“Stanley could hear his heart beat. Each beat told him he was still alive, at least for one more second.”

Kate

Holes by Louis Sachar
(c) 1998, Farra, Straus, Girroux,
Publisher Reading Level: Young Adult
ISBN: 0-374-33265-7
233 Pages