Too Many Holes?

Feb 13

A review that asks if Holes is a good book, or a waste of time.

Holes by Louis Sachar is a creative and engaging novel that combines mystery, adventure, and history in a unique way. Holes is a classic book that many read when in middle school. Most people love it, but is it truly worth the time?

Stanley Yelnats, a young boy, was caught in the crossfire of an incident which led Stanley to a detention center called Camp Green Lake. As a punishment, the boys there must dig a hole a day, but there is a true secret to what they need to find. Stanley makes many friends at Camp Green Lake, but staying there is unbearable. One friend named Zero runs away from camp. Everything goes by in a flash. One second he’s in line to get water. Another he’s driving a truck and running away.

One of the strongest parts of the book is how Sachar weaves together multiple storylines from different time periods. The novel switches between the present and the past, which helps explain why certain events are happening. One point where the book flashes back to the past is where Zero steals Clyde Livingston’s shoes. The shoe is then dropped and Stanley catches the shoes, thinking they are a gift from heaven. This leads the book through allowing certain events to happen, making the book all the more interesting. Although this can be confusing at first, it ends up making the story more complex and interesting. The characters are also well developed. Stanley changes both physically and mentally, becoming more confident and determined. The characters face challenges facing venomous lizards, half money-crazy women, and many other challenges.

The book balances humor with serious themes like injustice, loyalty, and perseverance. I especially liked how everything connected at the end, making earlier details feel important because the story goes back and forth connecting things together, helping readers to understand the book.