Book Talk
1. Give the book’s title, author’s name, and publication date. What, if any, awards have
the book won?
Title:
Holes
Author:
Louis Sachar
Publication Date: 1998
Award:
John Newberry Medal
2. Describe a connection between you and the book. It can be emotional, physical, or
intellectual.
I identified with the main character, Stanley Yelnats, in his quest for social
acceptance. All he wants to do is have friends and be liked. It seems that at every turn
he does something that outcasts him more. He is a typical adolescent, going through all
of the same things that each one of us does. Is his life really as sad as he makes it out
to be? In his world it is. My perception is my reality. Every time I read something like
this it takes me back to the insecurity of my adolescence. I feel for Stanley when he
describes how Derrick Dunne torments him. Girls don’t physically torment, but they
psychologically do. Whatever the method it makes you feel bad whoever you are.
Stanley has the curse to blame for his problems and insecurities. For me it was just
adolescence. I think though that we ultimately both found our way when we realized
that we are in control of our own destinies and other people shouldn’t make us feel bad.
Stanley showed what he was made of when he went after and helped Zero. This was
an unselfish act which ultimately lead to the achievement of self worth both literally and
emotionally.
3. Select a key quote from the book. Write the quote and explain why you view it as
important to the book.
“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-on,
“If only, if only.”
I think that the above quote is representative of the book as a whole. This is the
poem that begins the curse. Stanley’s relatives continue the curse because they live
their lives saying “if only, if only.” It is when Stanley finally takes action and doesn’t just
sit and wonder why, that everything finally changes for the entire family. The lesson is
that we cannot sit around bemoaning our lives. We need to go out and live them.
Stanley, in a potentially very bad situation, takes control and does the right thing. This
is why he is ultimately rewarded. The curse is about an unfulfilled promise. Stanley’s
great-great-grandfather is too impatient. He is the wolf waiting to fail, and he does.
Stanley doesn’t fail though. He is patient, trustworthy, honest, and a good friend.
These are the qualities which ultimately lead to Stanley’s success, this along with his
perseverance.
4. Write a summary of the book. Sum up the key events, characters, settings, and
themes. Be detailed and specific. Do not give a way the ending.
Holes is about a family that is cursed approximately four generations ago.
Stanley Yelnats’ great-great-grandfather, in his impatience and haste, leaves a promise
to Madame Zeroni unfulfilled. Madame Zeroni is a sort of witch-like character, who then
puts a spell on the Stanley’s great-great-grandfather which carries down through the
generations. Stanley and his parents lead a relatively nice life. When things do go
wrong, they blame the curse. Do they really believe in the curse though?
On his way home from school one day, Stanley is hit on the head by a pair of
shoes. They turn out to be the shoes of a famous baseball player who has donated
them to a shelter to be auctioned off for charity. Stanley is found in possession of the
shoes, and though he tells the truth in regards to them falling on his head no one
believes him and he is found guilty. He is sentenced to 18 months at Camp Green
Lake.
Camp Green Lake is located in the middle of a desert, and is now the home of
wayward boys. The camp area used to be an arid, prosperous town on which another
curse was placed due to the town’s treatment of a black man who had begun a
relationship with a white woman. This woman was Kissin’ Kate Barlow. She became
an outlaw known for kissing her victims after she killed them. She also held up a stage
coach on which Stanley’s grandfather was a passenger and stole his belongings. He
somehow does survive though.
At the camp the boys are provided with the very basic necessities and told to dig
holes all day long. They holes need to be five feet in diameter and five feet deep. The
boys are also asked to let the counselors know if they dig up anything out of the
ordinary. After Stanley had been there for a while he finds a silver lipstick case with the
initials KB on it. He is pressured to give it to one of the other boys, who pretends to find
it the next day. The warden appears and they dig, and dig, and dig in the “area” in
which the case was found. They find nothing else there.
Stanley befriends one of the other boys, Zero. Zero’s real name is Hector Zeroni.
Zero is an orphan. Stanley teaches Zero to read and write in exchange for Zero helping
him dig his hole each day. Zero digs twice as fast as Stanley. Zero eventually gets fed
up and runs away. No one goes after him. The counselors consider him dead as no
one could survive in the desert.
Stanley’s conscience ultimately gets the better of him and he goes after Zero.
He finds him and helps Zero, who is very weak, to climb the mountain in the distance.
At the top of the mountain they find water and food. They revitalize themselves and
then decide to go back and dig where Stanley had originally found the lipstick case.
Do they find anything there? Are they caught or not? What do you think
happens next?
5. Review the book. Critically analyze it. Did you like it or not. Why? How did you like
it compared to other books you’ve read.
I really liked this book. I had no expectations going in, just that I had seen the
commercials for the move which showed a desert. I thought that the author intertwined
the present with the past perfectly. Nothing was given away sooner than it should be. I
wasn’t able to figure everything out until pretty close to the end. That to me is the
measure of a good mystery book. If the ending can be guessed at too early, there is no
point in reading it. I have already recommended the book to my friend’s.
I think that the mystery and the curse are exciting, but the overwhelming
message in regards to adolescent insecurity is great for students. Adolescent insecurity
is such and important issue during the school years that I think being able to show how
a young person finally succeeds due to his sincere qualities, is a very important lesson
for everyone.
6. Pick three other books, poems, shorts stories, plays, movies, TV shows, comic
books, etc. that have similar themes to the novel you read. List each of the three items
and explain why each one reminded you of your book. Please be detailed and specific.
1. Into The Woods – This is a musical about a curse that is placed on the father
of a baker which eventually impacts the baker’s ability to have children. The musical
interweaves the story of many fairytales. The baker must eventually find Cinderella’s
glass slipper, Jack from the beanstalk’s cow, a piece of Rapunzel’s hair, and Red Riding
Hood’s cape to have the curse reversed. Ultimately the show is about people who have
their wishes granted and get greedy, and what happens after happily ever after. The
lesson details being grateful for what you have, and not always looking for something
more. The family curse is what ties the musical to Holes. Of course, there is a greater
lesson to be learned as in Holes.
2. Treasure Island – This book is about a young boy and a hidden treasure. The
character of Long John Silver can also be likened to Mr. Sir from Holes. The story is
also about a young boy’s journey to find himself through the trials and people he
encounters while searching for the treasure. This is a classic telling of a story similar to
Holes. If Holes is read first it will be a nice lead in to the more difficult language of
Treasure Island, since the people will have an idea of the themes in the book.
3. Pirates of the Caribbean – The Curse of the Black Pearl – This is an
adventure story also about family curses and hidden treasures. The movie is also about
a young man’s struggle to find himself and take responsibility for his own life and
happiness. The young man is an orphan and doesn’t know who he is at the beginning
of the movie. Through his journey he discovers his real identity as well as going
through a self discovery of his capabilities and strengths. The main character is sort of
a combination of Zero and Stanley.