Shelly Speagle
LRE 5130
Fall 2004/Borders
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Title
Author
Illustrator
Publisher
Age range
Holes
Louis Sachar
NA
Scholastic Inc.
Grade 6-8
F. Summary
Stanley Yelnat’s family is cursed because his great-greatgrandfather failed to fulfill a promise. The curse causes Stanley to be wrongfully
convicted of a crime and sent to a Texas juvenile detention camp. At Camp Green
Lake, Stanley is forced to dig holes. The warden is not trying to improve character.
She is looking for a buried treasure. Kate Barlow who killed the sheriff because her
lover Sam was killed buried the treasure long ago. Kate and Sam were hated
because Kate was white and Sam was black. Stanley bounded with several of the
boys at the detention camp. He escaped from camp to find his friend Zero who had
escaped earlier. The boys survived in the dessert by eating onions, which Sam had
sold many years before as powerful medicine. During the time in the dessert,
Stanley discovers that Zero actually committed the crime that sent Stanley to
detention. Stanley is able to break the family curse, find the treasure, get released
from camp, and return to his family.
G. Response
What a book! I continually stopped and reread. The author
included three stories and many twists and turns. I read the book on a Sunday
afternoon. I found it difficult to stop reading until I finished. I enjoyed the book
and I am sure children will love it. Stanley was wrongfully convicted. How terrible
it would be to be innocent and not able to prove it. I felt the pain and hurt of
Stanley’s situation. It is vital that we as a nation continue to improve the justice
system. This book made me rethink many personal convictions. It made me think!
H. Teaching Ideas Children should study juvenile delinquency. After reading,
speakers such as officers could visit the classroom. What long can you survive
without water? The children should find out. The children must bury a treasure
and make a map.
I. Culture Multiple cultures. The boys represented several culture groups
including the poor. My family is from Texas and I am sure Texas is a culture.
J. Genre
Tall tales, historical fiction, and realistic fiction
K. Awards
1999 Newbery Award