beneath the surface

Sachar, L. (1998). Holes. New York City: Dell Laurel-Leaf, 231 pp.

Fiction, Newberry Medal, 1999

possible classroom uses: read aloud, individual choice, small group, bridge to Huckleberry Finn

appropriate age range: 7th-8th

Synopsis:
This novel is the story of Stanley Yelnats' experience at a juvenile detention center called Camp Green Lake. This camp has unusual disciplinary strategies and suspicious staff members. In an adventurous tale of bravery and curiosity, Stanley uncovers the connetion between a local history story, his family's past, and a new friend.

Evaluation:
Sachar's characters are diverse, but slightly flat. The only truly dymanic character is Stanley. The other characters change only in discovering their connectedness instead of undergoing true character development. The plot is the main appeal to this novel. It is fun and exciting. There is little suspense because the reader knows before the characters what is going to happen, but the storyline is complex and imaginative. The themes of overcoming all odds and identity found in one's family history are evident throughout the novel. The setting is a deserted, dry plane which serves as a juvenile correction facility in Texas. The story is told in third-person narrative. This novel addresses adolescent's need for social support and the roles played within that support system. This novel addresses how adolescents develop socially and physically. This book address multicultural stereotypes of racial profiling, gender roles, language, age, exceptionality, and social class.

Reaction:
Holes is amazingly wonderful. It is an all-around “feel-good” book. There is intrigue, adventure, excitement, fun, and seemingly unbearable challenges. Just reading it pumped me up and encouraged me. It had a fanciful element to it which made it alittle unrealistic, but that didn’t inhibit the relatability of the novel to adolescents. The fanciful tone was not extravagant by any means, but it allowed the author more freedom with the dialogue. In other words, I think adolescents will be more forgiving of the cheesier parts in the novel because of its semi-fanciful nature. I thought it was an extremely well-written, out-of-the-box novel that will appeal to a wide variety of adolescents.