Holes

Written by Louis Sachar · Illustrated by Vladimir Radunsky and Bagram Ibatoulline

Book #1 in the Holes series

A cursed boy digs for secrets at a mysterious camp.

5.1/7 Bookroo experts·4.0/5 Goodreads · 1,392,371 ratings

233 pages· 47,105 words· Est. 5.5 hour read· 660L

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Bookroo's summary

Stanley Yelnats, plagued by a family curse, finds himself at Camp Green Lake, a detention center where boys dig endless holes. But these aren't just for character building. As Stanley unearths the truth, he must confront the camp's hidden motives and his own destiny. What lies beneath the dry lakebed, and can Stanley break the curse that haunts his family? Dive into this darkly humorous tale of mystery and redemption.

From the publisher

Winner of the Newbery Medal and the National Book Award! This book is a #1 New York Times bestselling, modern classic in which boys are forced to dig holes day in and day out.

Stanley Yelnats is under a curse. A curse that began with his no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing-great-great-grandfather and has since followed generations of Yelnatses. Now Stanley has been unjustly sent to a boys’ detention center, Camp Green Lake, where the boys build character by spending all day, every day digging holes exactly five feet wide and five feet deep. There is no lake at Camp Green Lake. But there are an awful lot of holes.

Awards

Newbery Medal (1999)Boston Globe–Horn Book Award (1999)National Book Award for Young People's Literature (1998)

At a glance

Format
Pages: 233
Words: 47,105
Reading age: 9–12
Audience: Middle Grade
Lexile: 660L

Themes & topics

Books about buried treasure Books about hard work Books about juvenile delinquency Books about friendship Books about social themes

What readers & critics say

Reviews

5.1

out of 7

6.0

“Holes has been a longtime favorite of mine ever since Mrs. Jeffs read it to me in the 6th grade. The fun characters, the exhaustion of digging 5-foot holes in the desert day-after-day, and a refreshing gulp of sploosh. Just watch out for those poisonous lizards.”

Mr. Staccato

Trusted reviewer

6.0

“Such an engaging story, and a really fun book to use as a family read aloud!”

B is for Bookworm

Trusted reviewer

The author