Holes

"I'm not going to run away," Stanley said. "Good thinking, " said Mr Sir. "Nobody runs away from here. We don't need a fence. Know why? Because we've got the only water for a hundred miles. You want to run away? You'll be buzzard food in three days." Stanley could see some kids dressed in orange and carrying shovels dragging themselves towards the tents. "You thirsty?" asked Mr Sir. "Yes, Mr Sir," Stanley said gratefully. "Well, you better get used to it. You're going to be thirsty for the next eighteen months."

If you are looking for a truly remarkable novel, something to get your teeth into, something to make you think, and something to make you feel that you have just touched real class, then look no further than Louis Sachar's extraordinary, award-winning novel Holes.

Camp Greenlake is a place for bad boys, where the belief is: "if you take a bad boy and make him dig a hole every day in the hot sun, it will turn him into a good boy." When Stanley Yelnats, accused and found guilty of a crime he did not commit, is sent to Camp Greenlake he really doesn't think it can be so bad. Stanley and his family try to pretend that he is just going away to camp like the rich kids do, and he promises to write to them every day. But the harsh realities of the camp, and the evil Warden with her lizard-venom impregnated fingernails with her own reasons for making the boys in her charge dig so many holes, sometimes make dying seem like a great idea. When Stanley leaves the camp to go in search of his friend Zero, their journey towards freedom becomes a battle with hunger, thirst and heat in the shadow of Big Thumb--a mountain so entwined in Stanley's own family history that he knows if they can reach it they will somehow find salvation.

A complex story, riddled with the harsh imagery and barren despair, Holes is a perceptive and intricate homage to family and friendship which never shies away from the harshest of realities yet injects the story of a seemingly hopeless boy with a sly, sideways humour that crackles against the backdrop of the arid wastelands of the desert. A must for anyone, young or old, who relishes an intelligent, courageous and dynamic read. (Age 11 and over) --Susan Harrison

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Amazingly written! - Rated
I love this book! Despite the target audience being a young teenager, every time I read it I discover something new. The main character Stanley Yelnats comes from a family of misfortune where nothing ever seems to go right, and this is seen as one of the reasons why he finds himself in a Juvenille Correction Camp digging holes. The story twists and turns, with the characters unfolding themselves throughout. As the story twists to an end you find yourself finally putting all of the pieces of this very cleverly written book together, and wanting to read it again immediately to see what was missed on the first reading. Read it!

a thoroughly enjoyable read - Rated
A very clever and witty novel ... the protagonist in this story has one of the funniest names in kid's literature! Some great characters, a cracking plot and the kind of book that can be read again and again. Adults and kids will love it!

Holes,curses and the best book you'll ever read!!! - Rated
I have just read holes and it is awesome!!!!! ;D The book is really good and its really clever too!! ;) This book is so cool you won't want too put it down!!!!! ;0 It is about a boy called Stanley who gets sent to Camp Green Lake for a crime he didn't commit. ;) He has to dig a hole every day but in the end he uncovers the truth about the camp. (I'm not telling anything else!!!!) ;D This is the greatest book I ever read and I am going to get the sequel!!!!!! ;)

The epic masterpiece on digging holes! - Rated
Holes is an exilerating novel about a young boy called Stanley Yelnatswho gets more than he bargained for when he is sent too a boys juvenile detention centre.Every day the boys dig a big hole in the dry wasteland.Little does S tanley know that he's on an unbelievable treasure hunt through time itself!

The characters in this book have their own unique personality.I especially enjoyed reading aboutthe extremely mysterious character Zero and The Warden (who is not to be messed with).

An absolute must read.I couldn't put it down.Louis Sachar has realy outdone himself.

Holes is amazing!

A Truly Epic Tale... - Rated
Holes is about a boy called Stanley Yelnats and his gripping adventure!
Stanley is sent to Camp Green Lake for he never did.At camp Stanley befriends another,Zero.The two boys have a exhilerating journey to gods thumb.
Along side of Stanleys journey is the story of his decendants and of a Miss Kissing Kate Barlow.The two storys are the missing puzzle pieces of Stanley life puzzle.
Louis Sacher is the definition of brilliant!!!...