Content warning*: a kiss, a drunk man tries to force a kiss from a woman, one “what the hell”, Stanley is bullied about his weight at school, campers bully each other, verbal and physical abuse (ex. one character gets slapped), racial hate crime in which a man is shot and killed, an outlaw has a reputation for kissing her victims before shooting them, talk of “god’s punishment”, a mountain is called the “thumb of god” because it looks like a thumb, one character says the sun looks like “god twirling a basketball”, two characters joke about a boat named Mary Lou saying they “bet she was pretty … [and] looked great in a bathing suit” (it is meant to be humorous as Mary Lou is actually a donkey). 

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Winner of the John Newberry Medal, Holes is a really fun and humorous book with a unique plot I’m sure many kids (and adults!) will enjoy. The novel flips between three different but interconnected stories: Stanley’s experiences at Camp Green Lake, the family curse that has plagued the Yelnats for generations, and the tale of the outlaw Kissin’ Kate Barlow, who robbed Stanley’s great-grandfather of his fortune. 

 

Stanley’s story is one of relentless bad luck; the Yelnats always seem to find themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time. But, what I admire most about Stanley is his attitude toward his unfortunate situation. Rather than wallowing in bitterness, he maintains a hopeful and accepting outlook. I loved Stanley’s character—he’s kind, respectful, thoughtful, and forgiving. He also has a good relationship with his family, in particular his mom who he often writes to while at camp so she won’t worry about him. However, what Stanley lacks is confidence in himself. He’s bullied about his weight at school which makes him shy away from conflict and confrontation. As the novel progresses, we get to see his beautiful transformation from a passive character to someone who is confident enough to stand up for himself and others. It’s a powerful reminder that we all have the potential to rise above our challenges.

 

Holes also has a really interesting cast of characters. Camp Green Lake is a juvenile correctional facility, so it’s filled with kids who have made mistakes and have been sent to the camp to pay for them. They’re misfits on the fringes of society, and nobody, not even the counselors, sees their worth or believes they can make a difference. This is especially true of the character Zero, who everybody believes has “nothing going on in his head.” But Holes beautifully illustrates that anyone can grow and find their worth if only someone believes in them and uplifts them. One objection I do have about this book, however, is that we don’t get enough information about some of the other campers’ backgrounds and what happens to them following the events of the book, even though we are curious about them. I think Sachar realized this, as he wrote another book called Small Steps focusing on two of the other campers (I haven’t read this one yet, though!).

 

I read this book when I was 11 and while I really enjoyed it, I also remember being confused by how the story switches between the three narratives. It wasn’t until I got to the end of the novel and saw how they all connected and completed each other that I was able to appreciate this format. It cleverly demonstrates just how interconnected we all are - one little decision we make can impact not only the people around us but also those far into the future. 

 

For all those kids who found this novel as fun and engaging as I did, here are a bunch of activities you can dig into!

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*Given the more sensitive content compared to other middle-grade novels I review, I recommend this book for older middle-grade readers (ages 11-12). Alternatively, kids can skip reading it altogether and just jump into the activities!