“When you spend your whole life living in a hole, the only way you can go is up.”
Louis Sachar, Holes
Louis Sachar’s “Holes” (1998) tells the story of Stanley Yelnats, an unlucky boy sent to Camp Green Lake after a misunderstanding with the police. Camp Green Lake is a juvenile detention center. But there is no lake at the camp. In fact, it’s the opposite: there is only dry wasteland where the boys are forced to dig one hole a day that is exactly five feet deep and five feet wide.
The plot weaves together the past and present, revealing connections between the Yelnats family curse and the mysterious and dark history of Green Lake. The characters are all very well-described. Especially Stanley’s development from a shy and quiet boy to a confident young man is fascinating.
The themes of the book include friendship, racism, fate and greed. But the novel also addresses serious issues, such as the juvenile justice system in America. Boot camps are part of the story as well – in fact the story is set in one – and Louis Sachar points out the health hazards they represent.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in a quick but exciting read. The book is fast-paced, and the chapters are rather short. Yet, the characters go through various stages in their lives and a lot of things are happening, too. I specifically like how everything ties together at the end and everything resolves nicely.
by Parzer Melanie, 6dk
English School Newspaper 