Holes Book Review | Louis Sachar Children’s Book Review

Holes by Louis Sachar is a very well known children’s book. Many readers know it because it’s a fun and memorable story. Others know it because it was made into a movie starring Shia Labeouff back in the early 2000’s.

Holes is one of those movies where even though it has it’s differences from the book, it’s still a fantastic film. And I stand by that. But today, we’re going to be focusing solely on the book, which won a national book award in 1998.

Keep reading for my complete Holes book review. And if you enjoyed this book review, make sure you check out some of my other book reviews here.

What is Holes by Louis Sachar about?

Holes tells the story of a young adult named Stanley Yelnats, who is falsely accused of stealing a pair of old sneakers from an auction at a homeless shelter. The sneakers belonged to Clyde Livingston, a famous athlete, so they could have made the shelter quite a bit of money.

He is given the choice of either going to jail or going to Camp Greenlake. Stanley chooses camp, thinking he’ll get to swim and make friends and participate in activities. But Camp Greenlake is located in the middle of the Texas desert and has very little in common with an actual summer camp.

Stanley’s experience at camp is interspersed with stories from the past, featuring members of his family, like his dirty rotten pig stealing grandfather and the woman who robbed him.

There’s a reason why the daily task at Camp Greenlake is to dig a large hole (five feet deep and five feet wide). Although the camp staff claim that digging holes is solely for building character, Stanley knows that there must be something buried down there. And it’s up to him and his fellow campers to find out.

Who is Louis Sachar?

Louis Sachar is the prolific writer of many children’s books. He was one of my favorite authors growing up because he writes interesting stories with humorous characters and situations. Some of my favorites are Sixth Grade Secrets, The Boy who Lost His Face, and the Wayside School series.

His signature writing style is writing enjoyable stories that make you laugh, but also make you think. Oh! I just remembered. Another great book by Sachar is There’s a Boy in the Girls’ Bathroom.

What age is the Holes book appropriate for?

I’ve always considered Holes to be a middle grade book that is good for younger readers. The first time I read Holes when I was in 5th grade. Our class broke up into reading groups so that we could read stories together and then have small group discussions.

But Holes is a banned book at some schools due to the content, so if you’re picking up this book for your child or classroom, do you research first.

What is the main problem in the book Holes?

The main problem in holes is that Stanley is falsely accused of a crime, and must repay his debt to society by attending Camp Greenlake, a boys’ detention center. But it’s not his fault. It’s the fault of his dirty rotten pig stealing great great grandfather. If his grandfather and just followed directions, the Yelnats wouldn’t be stuck with a family curse and Stanley wouldn’t always find himself in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Why is Holes a banned book?

Holes is a banned book in some schools due to the content. As I mentioned, the story tells Stanley’s story of getting arrested and going to Camp Greenlake. But there are also stories from the past interspersed which contain some violent scenes.

Some controversial elements in Holes are:

Scenes of violence – There are multiple mentions of killing and death. Nothing is discussed in great detail but it may be shocking to some kids.

Scenes of racism – In the past, a town threatens to kill a black man for kissing a white woman. They are clearly uncomfortable with interracial relationships.

Now to be fair, I wouldn’t say that any of these controversial elements are glorified in any way. They are simply just part of the story. I only mention them because this story is geared toward a younger audience, and this way you can make an informed decision about allowing your child to read this book.

Why is Holes a good book for kids to read?

Now that we’ve discussed why Holes was banned, let’s talk about why it’s a good story for kids to read! I mean, it did win a Newberry Medal in 1999. Plus Sachar was even inspired to write a spin off novel called Small Steps that was published in 2006.

Most of this story takes place at a correctional facility. And although he didn’t actually commit the crime that he was accused of, Stanley’s bad luck landed him there never the less. Stanley doesn’t cry or complain. He accepts his fate and decides to make the most of things. And I think that’s an admirable attitude to have.

Stanley is a nice guy, which is demonstrated by his friendship with Zero. At first the two are awkward together but eventually Stanley considers Zero his best friend. I liked how they helped each other out, with Zero helping Stanley to dig his holes and Stanley teaching Zero how to read. Holes is a humorous tale of crime and punishment, but it also relays the important of friendship and helping others and doing what is right.

Everybody makes mistakes, and the character improvement in this novel can be inspiring for young readers.

What are some of the funny elements of this story?

As I mentioned, Louis Sachar books are always good for a laugh because he creates stories that are unique and interesting. The characters are always a little quirky. For instant, take Stanley’s father. He is an aspiring inventor who is trying to figure out how to recycle old shoes. The family’s apartment smells awful from all the old shoes lying around but Stanley and his Mom are supportive. But is his lack of finding a solution because of their family’s history of bad luck? Probably.

And then there’s Camp Greenlake. Stanley agrees to go to the camp because he thinks it will be nice and cool and way better than jail. But when he steps off the bus and sees the dried-up lake he has the rug pulled out from under him.

All of the guys that Stanley meets at Camp Green Lake have different stories. I loved all their nicknames for each other.

In Conclusion

Holes is an interesting book that will make kids laugh and think. It’s the perfect book for a reluctant reader, and I would say the same for many of Louis Sachar’s books. The story is humorous with Stanley’s family history and the interesting cast of characters that Stanley meets at Camp Green Lake.

xo Marian

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