Holes

 

Sachar, L. (1998).  Holes.  New York: Frances Foster Books.

Holes has numerous awards including the Newberry Medal and National Book Award for Young People's Literature.  It is suggested for readers ages 9-12.  

I am not sure how a hard copy of Holes ended up on my book shelf.  More importantly, I do not know why it took me so long to read it.  This book, written in third person is not only the story of Stanley Yelnats, but his family's past as well.  As the story begins with a description of Camp Green Lake, readers are introduced to Stanley Yelnats.  Stanley is sent away to "camp" after being convicted for a crime he did not commit.  Readers immediately learn of Stanley's "no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing-great-great-grandfather" who seems to get blamed for anything and everything bad that happens to Stanley's family.  

At the camp, Stanley is forced with the other boys to dig 5 X 5 feet holes as a sort of penance for whatever they have done to be at Camp Green Lake.  This book takes you from present to distant past and creates the stage in the narrative for the irony in the book.  One example of irony is that the curse of Stanley's great-great-grandfather is his failure to carry Madame Zeroni up the hill and sing the pig lullaby only to be lifted when Stanley carries Zero up the mountain and sings the same lullaby to him.  Another example is that Stanley's great grandfather is robbed by Kissin' Kate and this is why Stanley and the other boys at Camp Green Lake are forced to dig holes.

As a realistic fiction book, we see acceptance by peers throughout the book.  Stanley is relieved to be called "Caveman" because the group has accepted him and doesn't mind the name, just that he has one is good enough for him.  Sachar also develops close friendships in the book with Stanley and Hector (Zero).  When Stanley is on top of the onion hill with Zero, he experiences the happiest time because he has a friend.

When reading this book, you will enjoy the flashbacks into the past, the characters, and how they shape the present day characters of the book.  This book is a great way to discuss many topics with your students: 

perseverance - How did Stanley's "no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing-great-great-grandfather", Eyla have perseverance? How did Stanley's father have perseverance, What other characters showed perseverance? 

fate - Do you believe in fate?  What are some examples of fate in this book?

bullying - What is bullying?  How were the boys at Camp Green Lake bullied?  Who bullied them, how?  How was Stanley bullied at school?  Where else in the book does bullying occur?  How would you handle these situation?  Was Mr. Sir bullied?

Whether you read Holes with your class or just for fun, you will never look at holes the same again!