Holes is about a kid named Stanley who mistakenly gets accused of a crime and ends up at a reformative camp for delinquent youth. A camp in the middle of a dried- up desert lake. Where the boys have to dig five-foot deep holes every day. It's supposed to be character-building. Even though he's not guilty, Stanley doesn't protest much when he's sent to the camp, because his family has suffered a long series of misfortunes they attribute to a "dirty-rotten-pig-stealing-great-great-grandfather" who brought a curse upon them. At first the story is just about Stanley's efforts to learn the rules of camp, survive the desert heat and make his way among the other boys. But before long he realizes there's more than just character-building behind all the holes: the camp director is looking for something. Something which is connected to his own family history, which is revealed bit by bit in alternating chapters. The whole thing about the pig-stealing grandfather was a bit ridiculous, but woven in well, the two storylines unfolding side by side until at the end you learn the mystery behind the grandfather's curse, what's hidden under the dead lake and how Stanley aims to solve it all. I never really expected to read a book that had prison life, a hidden treasure, an ancestral love story and desert survival. It's pretty entertaining.Rating: 3/5 ........ 233 pages, 1998
Read more reviews at:
Book Addiction
Books and Movies
I liked this book, but I actually liked the movie better. That doesn't happen very often!
ReplyDeleteI love this book and the movie was good too. I read it before my blog was started and I have it on my list to reread soon.
ReplyDeleteWow, this one does sound like it incorporates a little of everything!
ReplyDeleteJanet
I remember how my middle school son came in and stood over me and insisted I read this book. I'm so glad I did! And the movie was good, too. Thanks for the review.
ReplyDeleteI thought the movie was great fun, but I still haven't read the book. Need to do that.
ReplyDeleteI love this book! It is one of my favorites, actually. I am really drawn to the story and the characters (especially Zero). I think it is a fun read for any age. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for your honest review!
My stepson just finished reading it in school. I think he liked it a lot better than The Secret Garden- which was the last assigned book (and he complained about that one a lot).
ReplyDelete