HOLES

HOLES

Louis Sachar

Yearling an imprint of Random House Children's

1998

                      Louis Sachar has written over 21 fictional and educational books for children including: Small Steps, Sideways Stories from Wayside School, There's a Boy in the Girl's Bathroom, and many others. He was born in New York in March of 1954. When he was 9 he moved to California and has lived there ever since. Many of his books have been inspired from experiences he has had.

                    This book is about a young boy named Stanley Yelnats IV, and his unfortunate luck. Stanley is accused of stealing Clyde Sweetfeet shoes, and is sent to Camp Green Lake as punishment. While at Camp Green Lake he digs holes to build character, but truthfully they are digging holes to find treasure. Towards the end of the book Stanley's luck turns around because he does what his great-great-grandfather, Elya Yelnats, did not.

                     I really enjoyed reading this book. I especially like the song, "If only, if only, the woodpecker sighs, the bark on the trees was as soft as the skies, while the wolf waits below hungry and lonely he cries to the moon, if only, if only." I this book could be used in the 8th grade... one could use it to talk about self-worth, or why we act in certain ways, and why some things weren't acceptable at certain dates in history. I give great thanks to my 8th grade English teacher Mrs. Tara Matthews for being the first to introduce me to this book and having us read it in her class. When I was a sophomore in high school a movie came out about the book. Surprisingly the book and movie go along with each other very well, but please... read the book before watching the movie!