Holes by Louis Sachar Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Holes
Book Review: Holes- Jordan
Summary: 4 Stars
Have you ever been punished and had to dig a hole five feet wide and five feet deep. Stanley Yelnats was found guilty for stealing a superstars shoes. Stanley chooses to go to Camp Green Lake and meets a lot of new friends there. Their punishments are digging holes but the question is why. Everyone that can read this book will enjoy it.Book Review: Holes- fullfilling
Summary: 5 Stars
I read this book at the urging of my 7 yr old grandson and didn't expect to be held captive by it. I read until 1 A.M. to finish it. A great read and now I want to see the movie. He has also read all the Harry Potter books and will probably talk me into reading them someday too.
Over 3200 reviews for this book. I would say it is well read.
Book Review: Holes: A fantastic book
Summary: 4 Stars
Holes is set primarily in Texas close to the present day (the late 20th Century), although parts of the book flash back to the same area in Texas in the late 19th Century and to the country of Latvia in the late 19th Century as well. The story is told by an all-knowing narrator who guides the story back and forth between the present day situation of the story and two key plot lines about the past. The bulk of the story centers around the main character and protagonist Stanley Yelnats and his life in a boys' juvenile detention center called Camp Green Lake. Stanley has been falsely convicted of a crime and must work hard all day under the hot Texas sun. The boys in the detention center are forced to dig large holes day after day with no other apparent purpose than to "build character." Stanley's family has been under a curse for generations, which began back in the late 19th Century when Stanley's great-great grandfather Elya broke a promise he made to a gypsy woman named Madame Zeroni. A small part of the story that the narrator tells focuses on how this sub-plot developed in the past and how it still affects Stanley and his family today.
The other side-plot of the story focuses on the town of Green Lake, Texas in the late 19th Century, before the lake became dried up and the place became a juvenile detention center. This part of the story deals with the issues of racism and prejudice, and helps to build up the plot for the present day section of the story, where Stanley and the others are at a juvenile detention center. Stanley struggles to make friends and to survive the tough conditions at Camp Green Lake, and he is always battling the larger fight against his family's curse. He and a friend at the camp (named Zero) discover that the camp's warden (a relative or descendant of Charles Walker) is actually making the boys dig holes because she is looking for something valuable. Stanley finds out about his family's history and how his great grandfather's suitcase full of money is buried somewhere in Camp Green Lake. When Stanley's friend Zero escapes from the camp, Stanley escapes as well to go and help him. They figure out that Zero is a direct descendant of the gypsy Madame Zeroni, and so the boys sort of heal that old family rift and thus lift the curse off of Stanley's family. When they return to the camp a week later the boys find the suitcase. The warden tries to take it from them but Stanley's lawyer finally shows up, proves his innocence, and allows Stanley and Zero to leave the detention center (with the suitcase full of money!). The story concludes happily with Stanley and Zero receiving a million dollars each for the stocks and jewels in the suitcase, with the detention center closing down so that a girl scout camp can be built, and with Stanley's father finally creating a cure for foot odor which makes him rich.
There are not many negative aspects to Holes, as it is an excellent read for adults and children alike. One drawback may be that the chapters are very short, spanning two or three pages on average. This makes the story a bit choppy at times as it flips back and forth between the past and the present settings without much warning. Some readers might like the short chapters though, as it keeps the story moving and keeps the reader on his or her toes. I personally think that Holes is a great novel for emerging young readers. It has a rich and complex plot but is not too difficult to read and understand. The author weaves a good mix of humor and fate, and the characters are very realistic and relatable. I like how the characters in the book are diverse and represent different types of kids with different economic and racial backgrounds. Holes is an enjoyable book to read and contains many plot twists and turns that will keep you interested. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in reading it.
Book Review: Movie or book?
Summary: 5 Stars
Holes the book is a good story with many interesting characters. Holes the movie brings the book to life and fills in the details. But both are good and if you watched the movie you should read the book. Otherwise you're missing out.Book Review: My son loved it
Summary: 4 Stars
I have to say that I did not read this book myself, so I won't comment on plot, character, content, etc. but my 10-year-old son read it and absolutely devoured it. I bought it for him to take on a vacation to keep him occupied and gave it to him a few days in advance. Well, the book didn't make it to vacation as he finished it within a couple of days. He enjoyed it thoroughly and now wants to see the movie.