Holes

For our July 2018 book choice we read “Holes” by Louis Sachar. This short novel was the basis for the Disney movie of the same name that was released in 2003. The book is a Newberry Award Winner and is cleverly written, telling the story of Stanley Yelnats a boy unjustly sent to a juvenile detention center in the middle of Texas. His tale, being arrested for possessing stolen shoes (that landed on him from an overpass) intertwines with the stories of other kids at the center, his own great-great grandfather’s past, and the legendary tale of Kissin’ Kate Barlow.

While Stanley labors at digging holes in the dry lake bed of Camp Green Lake, he grows stronger, learns about himself, others and what he is willing to do for friends, for safety and for his family. He becomes friends with another boy called Zero, who is quiet but incredibly good at digging holes. The story shines a light on bullying at a teenage level, as well as bullying from unscrupulous adults.

Stanley soon learns that digging holes is not just to ‘build character’ but it is clearly the method the warden uses to find something long lost. As the tale moves along, we learn more about the character of Stanley, his new friend, and the history of his family ‘curse’ that seems to parallel his own tale.

The movie is a very close adaptation of the book and worth watching, but the book is more detailed and very tightly written. Our discussion was fun and the book was a delightful, and refreshingly uplifting read.

"If only, if only," the woodpecker sighs,

"The bark on the tree was as soft as the skies."

While the wolf waits below, hungry and lonely,

Crying to the moo-oo-oon,

"If only, If only."

— Louis Sachar, Holes

"When you spend your whole life living in a hole, the only way you can go is up. (Zero/Hector Zeroni)"

— Louis Sachar, Holes