Holes

Holes
Realistic Fiction
Louis Sachar
Ryan Coleman
5 out of 5 stars

Louis Sachar’s Holes is marvelous.  Maybe it isn’t the best book ever written or even the best children’s book ever written, but its perfect in that it does exactly what it sets out to do – tell an exciting children’s adventure story with profound things to say about prejudice, friendship and loyalty, and does it beautifully.

            For those who haven’t heard of it, Holes tells the story of Stanley Yelnates, a meek, overweight, hopelessly unlucky young boy.  His run of bad luck, we learn, dates back to a curse laid upon his “no-good-pig-stealing-great-great-grandfather.” The latest evidence of this curse occurs when a pair of baseball cleats belonging to Clyde Livingston, a famous ballplayer, fall from the sky one day and hit Stanley on the head.  Stanley is blamed for stealing the shoes from a local homeless shelter, which was planning to auction them off for a fundraiser, and gets arrested. 

            As Stanley faces the court, he is given the choice between jail and Camp Green Lake.  Stanley chooses Camp Green Lake.  You see, it isn’t exactly a camp.  There is no lake, and nothing is green for miles around.  It’s basically a work camp, where the coolly authoritative Warden and her helpmates, Mr. Sir and Mr. Pendanski, make the boys dig one five-foot by five foot hole every day.  They say it’s to build character, but Stanley senses something is up.

            The book’s genius is that it delicately balances so many elements, the camp, Stanley’s history, his friendship with a quiet but thoughtful boy nicknamed “Zero”, a legendary female bank robber named Kissin’ Kate Barlow and a mess of very creepy yellow spotted lizards, without making you say “what in the world is going on here?”  All the pieces of the story fit together seamlessly.  So seamlessly, in fact, that when it’s finished, you realize that it couldn’t have ended any other way.

            It’s no wonder that kids and adults alike have embraced Holes. It’s smart, funny, thrilling and moving; a treat for all ages.  Especially for those who are looking for a great adventure book!