Reviews From Our Customers
Book Review and Summary
The first sentence of Louis Sachar's novel, Holes, informs the reader that, "There is no lake at Camp Green Lake." With that, the reader is introduced to a world where very few things are what they might seem upon first glance and absolutely nothing is ordinary. Not unlike the story it tells, Holes is not your ordinary young adult novel. Louis Sachar has succeeded in telling a thrilling story with a strong social conscience that will entertain and educate both young and old. The story opens with Stanley Yelnats being sentenced to a juvenile correctional camp known as Camp Green Lake for a crime he didn't commit. Though Stanley is accustomed to such rotten luck, thanks to a curse that has followed his family since the days of his great-great-grandfather, he is not prepared for life at Camp Green Lake. The camp, a dried up lake where "campers" spend each day digging a hole that measures five feet deep and five feet wide, is filled with characters that are as interesting and sometimes dangerous as the scorpions, rattlesnakes, and yellow lizards that search for shade in this desert wasteland. Stanley quickly finds that there is less hope in Camp Green Lake than there is shade. That is until Stanley befriends a mysterious boy nicknamed Zero and begins to uncover buried clues to a secret that could change Camp Green Lake forever. As the mystery unfolds, the boys find themselves running from a Warden who paints her nails with rattlesnake venom and trying to dig up the one thing that might save them both. Louis Sachar seamlessly blends flashbacks into the story that help unfold the mystery and reveal the intertwined fates of the two young boys and the place that threatens not only their friendship but their lives. Parents will love this story because of the lessons it teaches. Kids will love the story because of the plot that is every bit as relevant as it is exciting. As future teachers, we can't wait to share the Newberry Award winning Holes with our classes. It is truly a novel that invites the reader to dig a little deeper with each and every turn of the page.
Holes is about a boy accused of stealing shoes.
It all started when Stanley Yelnats was accused of stealing Clyde Livingston's shoes. "Go to jail or camp," the judge had said. Stanley picked camp, Camp Green Lake. When my class read Holes by Louis Sachar, I felt as if I were there. In the hot, barren desert area of Camp Green Lake,Texas, where the story takes place,Stanley was sent to dig holes. He had claimed that his rotten, pig stealing great grandfather had been cursed, and that the whole Yelnats family had been cursed too,cursed with bad luck. That's why he was here at Camp Green Lake. Every day, Stanley has to dig one hole, five feet wide and five feet deep. While digging one day, Stanley uncovers a golden tube with K.B. inscribed on the bottom. "If you find anything interesting report it to me, if I like it I'll show it to the Warden. If the Warden likes it, you'll get the day off," Mr. Sir, (Stanley's counselor)had said. Stanley suspects that he is digging more that "to build character," they might be looking for treasure! I liked Holes because I thought the setting went well with the plot. The book was written so it made you want to keep going and going and never stopping. The characters were well drawn, and seemed so real that they came alive. The only thing I didn't like was the ending. It left you in the air with questions that weren't answered. Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone, and I can clearly see that they would enjoy it.
One Of The Best Books Ever
Louis Sachar is known for books such as WAYSIDE SCHOOL series, THERE'S A BOY IN THE GIRLS BATHROOM, and the MARVIN REDPOST series. His most fine book is HOLES, an excellent novel, with humor, irony, excitement, and fate. The book is a winner of the prestigous Newbery Medal, and it is well deserved.
This is perhaps my favorite children's book. It weaves so many morals into 240 pages including friendship, fate, destiny, hardships, and bravery. The book starts with Stanley Yelnats, an overweight kid who was sentenced to a correctional facility Camp Green Lake for a crime he did not commit. Camp Green Lake is run by the Warden, who is a REAL mean woman. He meets grumpy Mr.Sir and Mr.Sir assigns Stanely to Group D run by friendly Mr.Pendanski. He meets fellow juvenilles who go by nicknames: X-Ray, Armpit, Zigzag, Squid, Magnet, and Zero. Stanley must dig a hole everday 5 feet deep and 5 feet wide. Camp Green Lake is located on a dried up lake in the middle of the desert that reaches scorching temperatures. While the heat and labor take on Stanley, it becomes apparent that the Warden is making them dig to find something. Throughout this mystery, Stanley makes friends, gets in adventures, and it is ultimetly a tale of a boy finding himself.
It is one of the best novels, and is a certain good read. I reccomend it to everyone over age 10 who want to read a good book. This book would be a good book for an assignment as most kids will be delighted by this book. Altogether an excellent book, and great for all ages
