Holes by Louis Sachar Recommendations by Cindy Sargeant

Reasons why Holes is successful:

· Novel centers around a group of boys who are “misfits”. Students can relate to this as they often feel alienated and isolated.
· Stanley, the protagonist is not a “perfect” character. He often does not stand up for himself and he allows himself to be “pushed around”. He is a realistic and believable character that students can relate to.
· Story has action, adventure and suspense that keep the reader interested.
· Story is divided into short, “bite-sized” chapters (50 in total) that are manageable for slower readers.
· Vocabulary is simple so students may even feel comfortable reading aloud in front of their peers.
· Story focuses on Stanley and his experiences at camp but there are fascinating flashbacks of his great-grandfather’s and great-great grandfather’s life that gives the story added “levels”.

Holes is suitable for grades 6-10. In grades 9 and 10 it would be most appropriate for the Locally Developed classes. It focuses on the following themes:
· Friendship
· Community
· Injustice
· Search for truth
· Loss of Innocence
· Self Discovery
· Courage