Holes

Title: Holes
Author: Louis Sachar
ISBN: 0439244196

Plot Summary: Stanley Yelnats, the son of a failed would-be inventor, comes from a long line of cursed individuals, all of whom bear the same name. The family curse dates back to an Eastern European ancestor who stole a pig from a a gypsy woman, Madame Zeroni. Stanley himself is wrongfully accused of stealing a valuable pair of sneakers, and is sentenced to a juvenile facility at which the Stanley and the other offenders have to dig holes all day, in search of a mysterious treasure sought by the woman who owns the land. In the process of meeting his fellow juvenile offenders, Stanley tries to figure out the mystery behind what it is they are searching for and the story behind it. In the process, the reader is shown flashbacks to the events leading up to the treasure's burial, and Stanley uncovers enough clues not only to change the situation at Camp Green Lake permanently, but possibly to lift his family curse once and for all.


Critical Evaluation: The author's writing style has a certain folk-tale cadence throughout the book, repeating certain phrases and themes that lend an almost mythical air to the story. Although aimed at younger readers, this book has a refreshingly sophisticated plot, tackling such tricky issues as the correctional system, racism and discrimination, and other forms of injustice, doing so with both candor and humor. Stanley does not magically lose weight, become the most popular kid at school, or save the day single-handedly. However, he is able to bring at least some measure of justice both for himself and for those around him, especially Zero, arguably the most disenfranchised character in the entire book. Whether or not the reader believes in curses, Stanley's actions and growth as a character demonstrate his own willingness to grow and learn from experience, and to work to better the situations of those around him.

Reader's Annotation: Stanley Yelnats comes from a long line of losers in a family suffering from an ancestor's curse. When Stanley is wrongfully convicted of stealing a pair of sneakers and is sent to a juvenile work camp as a punishment, he discovers a secret that may hold the key not only to his family's curse, but to another old injustice he may have a chance to right.

About the Author: Louis Sachar was born in 1954 in East Meadow, New York, where he lived until his family moved to California when he was nine. He first started writing in high school, and gained further writing inspiration in college, when he taught at a local school for college credit while attending UC Berkeley. After graduating with an Economics degree, he wrote his first book, Sideways Stories from Wayside School, loosely based on his teaching experiences. He received a law degree from UC Hastings in San Francisco, and continued to perform part-time legal work until his books started selling well enough for him to write full-time. Holes, his most successful work to date, was made into a major motion picture. He lives in Austin, Texas with his wife, Carla Jean Askew, and their daughter Sherre.

Genre: Fiction


Curriculum Ties: American History


Booktalking Ideas:

Hook: Stanley's family curse
Approach: Plot-based.
Ideas for Booktalk: What repercussions do Elya Yelnats's actions have on himself and his descendents? Discuss the nature of the curse, the circumstances that led up to it, and what requirements Madame Zeroni puts on lifting it. How soon is the reader first given clues as to Zero's true identity? To what extent is the curse lifted, and to what extent does Stanley's luck change as a result of his changed attitude and actions?

Hook: Katherine and Sam's romance
Approach: Plot and character-based.
Ideas for Booktalk: Interracial romance wasn't just taboo at the time; it was illegal. Sam is immediately (and fatally) punished for his role in "corrupting" a white woman, but Katherine suffers consequences as well. Discuss how personal tragedy led her to a life of crime. Actions of other people in the past have repercussions in the present; discuss the Warden and the role her ancestors played in Kate's death and the subsequent search for her buried treasure. "Kissing Kate Barlow" kisses the men she kills; parallels with the fact that her kissing Sam led indirectly to his death. Way of dealing with her own grief and society's rejection of her love. Compare and contrast Sam and Kate's romance with Zero and Stanley's friendship; also interracial, but although no longer forbidden for the races to integrate, there is still tension in their relationship until they get to know each other better as people. Talk about relations between the races in the present day (bring up Louisiana judge who refused to marry an interracial couple?), how different ethnic groups get along as friends and lovers.

Reading Level/Interest Age: Junior High/High School


Challenge Issues: Racism, violence, sexual content, character death.
This book deals with the tricky issue of interracial romance, a subject still controversial in contemporary times, between two people who were not married. Although Sam and Kate are not explicitly shown having sex, such activity could be inferred, and the book makes clear that they are not married at any time during their brief relationship, which in any case was prohibited by law at the time. Their relationship ends in death for both characters, something younger readers might find disturbing. The juveniles at Camp Green Lake are subject to borderline abusive treatment under the Warden's supervision, and characters in the present day also explore racial issues. To the racial questions, I would argue that the book's main message is one of tolerance and racial harmony. As to the sexual nature of Sam and Kate's relationship, it is arguable that they never actually do more than kiss. However, rather than pass judgment on the nature of their relationship, I would question the values of a society that encourages a law enforcement agent to make advances to an unmarried woman who rejects him, but forbids two people who love each other to marry because their complexions are different. Their respective deaths, although tragic, are meant to convey the injustice of the circumstances that led up to them.

Why I Chose This Book: I was a fan of Sideways Stories from Wayside School as a child, but did not realize that Holes was by the same author until the movie version of the latter book was released. When I read this book, I was impressed by the way it dealt with complex themes in a way that was both accessible and entertaining to young readers, while at the same time not appearing too juvenile to older ones. The book's rejection of racism is commendable; however, one comes away equally impressed by the maturation process its narrator undergoes, and the way his fight for justice is ultimately rewarded.