Rating: ![5 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-5-0.gif) Summary: Holes Review: Holes By Louis Sachar Deep in the heart of Texas, in the middle of the hot desert lies Camp Green Lake. There's no lake at Camp Green Lake, now it's all dried up. Why this lake is dried up, the crazy characters and a secret that is too big to keep hidden flow into this great and zany tale called "Holes". From the author of "Wayside Stories from Wayside School", and " A Boy in the Girl's Bathroom" comes an inspiring tale about a boy named Stanley Yelnats. Stanley's family is under a curse that always gives them bad luck. The reason that they are under this curse is because of his no-good-dirty-rotten-pig- stealing-great-great grandfather. This is one reason I love this book: it's zany, weird, silly, but it doesn't get off topic or too wild. Like in an ordinary manner this book makes you laugh, and even cry. When Stanley is wrongly accused of a crime, he is sent to a boy's detention center: Camp Green Lake, where the boys build character by digging holes, five feet deep, five feet wide. As I said there's no lake at Camp Green Lake, but there are lots of holes. It doesn't take long for Stanley to notice there's more than character improvement going on at camp. The Warden, the lady who runs Camp Green Lake, is definitely looking for something, but what is she looking for? What can be under a dried up lake? Read the book and you are sure to find out. Camp Green Lake is filled with dangerous characters like the warden. Mr. Pendanski, Stanley's consoler or Mr. Sir the warden's minion. The number one rule is: "Don't upset the warden." But that's kind of hard for boys of D-tent who above all thins love trouble. The boys who live with Stanley in Tent-D [Armpit, Zigzag, Magnet, X-ray, Squid, Caveman (Stanley) and Zero] are some of the weirdest kids I've ever seen. Each of the boy's nicknames tell about them and their personalities. My favorite is Zero who is shorter than the rest and never talks. People call him Zero because they say he has nothing in his head, which is not true. This story mixes three parts together at a time. From the story at Camp Green Lake, an old western tale, and the story of Stanley's great-great grandfather, these tales come together into an answer for this jigsaw puzzle of a book. So to find the secret of Camp Green Lake and what will happen to Stanley and his friends, please read this award-winning tale.
Rating: ![5 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-5-0.gif) Summary: Allegory of Transcendence Review: A deceptively easy-to-read novel, Holes is an allegory of the forces of despair pitted against hope and regeneration in a story where a young boy must reverse the curse of his great-great grandfather and in the process emerge as a more complete human being than he was at the story's beginning. Stanley Yelnats must unpeel the onion of his family's past (a metaphor from one of the novel's few good characters The Onion Man who serves--what else?--onions to the ailing)and reverse the legacy of inverted love, failed promises, and greed. What makes Stanley, shy and fat, such a great hero, is that he learns not to pity himself for the curse that, no fault of his own, afflicts him. Instead, he finds salvation by helping Zero, one of his prison mates at the desert work camp. By teaching Zero how to read, write, and learn math, Stanley is able to free himself from self-pity and transcend the limitations that have been imposed on him. Like the novel's Onion Man, Stanley becomes a giver of hope in a world of holes (gaping chasms of despair)in a mysterious masterpiece of allegorical fiction.
Rating: ![4 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-4-0.gif) Summary: Holes Review: Holes is an amazing book of destiny and friendship. The main character, Stanley Yelnats, is an overweight child who is always teased and has no friends. One day, as Stanley is walking home from school, a pair of shoes falls of a bridge and hits Stanley in the head. But these aren't ordinary sneakers. These sneakers belong to a Texas Ranger baseball player named Clyde Livingston (a.k.a. Sweet Feet). Stanley decides to take the shoes home because his dad needs shoes so he can invent a way to recycle old sneakers. But he has no idea of what consequences lye ahead.... 18 months in Camp Green Lake digging 5ft. by 5ft. holes. Holes is an addictive book, once you pick it up, you can't put it down.
Rating: ![5 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-5-0.gif) Summary: Holes Review: I can picture what its like to be in his position. The author was really good at describing where they were and what they were doing. When the author described them diging the holes I felt as if I were hot and thirsty and tired. I liked how I would never know what was going to happen next. The ending was great!
Rating: ![5 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-5-0.gif) Summary: The book is better than the movie! Review: My students have read Holes for the past 3 years. Many of them agree that the book is better than the movie! They enjoyed pointing out the differences between the novel and the movie. Don't miss out on Louis Sachar's best book ever!
Rating: ![4 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-4-0.gif) Summary: Holes Review: Can you take an innocent child accused of stealing and change his character? The warden seems to believe so. At Camp Green Lake the warden lets on that digging holes five feet deep and five feet wide will ulternate character. But is that what she is really trying to do? Was Stanley Yelnats really cursed from his "no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing-great-great-grandfather?"
Rating: ![5 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-5-0.gif) Summary: I take a look at Holes Review: Carolyn Steinmetz Book review for Holes Louis Sachur is a very gifted writer. He has written many other great books in the past, but Holes is the best! It all starts with Stanley Yelnats, Stanley and his family is under a curse, thanks to his no - good - dirty - rotten - pig stealing - great -great grandfather. Stanley is a big kid so not many people like him. Stanley usually keeps his feelings to him self, and just tries to ignore the bullies, but it is hard to ignore them when they dump your notebook in the toilet. Stanley has always seemed to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Stanley has no friends until he goes to Camp Green Lake. There he meets Zero, Zigzag, Armpit, and many more boys. There is no camp at Camp Green Lake but there are a lot of Holes and deadly yellow spotted lizards. There use to be a lake there, but now the weather is hot and dry all the time! Camp Green Lake is a camp for bad boys, but Stanley is not a bad boy, he was just at the wrong place at the wrong time. At Camp Green Lake you have to dig a hole every that is five feet in all directions. They dig holes to build character or are they digging holes for another reason? That is what Stanley and Zero would like to know! In this book Stanley and Zero try to solve the mystery of Camp Green Lake. Why are they digging holes? In the end it all comes together for Stanley and Zero .To find out for yourself you will have to read the book Holes. I think this book is wonderful. It dazzled me and it won a Newbery Medal. Holes is now being made into a movie, witch is also great. The New York Times book review says ,"A smart jigsaw puzzle of a novel." Publisher Weekly says," Larger -than- life." I say," This is the book you will never get tiered of."
Rating: ![5 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-5-0.gif) Summary: Holes, Digging in... Review: Holes, by Louis Sacher, is an adventure for all ages. In this imaginary story a boy named Stanley heads for a discipline camp after a mix up with some shoes. Before long he gets the feeling that the warden has a different purpose for the holes that the campers dig. So he heads out with his little buddy Zero to solve the prolonged mystery of Camp Green Lake. During their long journey everything comes into place for the two boys. Not only did Holes keep my attention through the 2 days it took me to read it, (and trust me that is a big accomplishment in my reading career!) but it also dragged me into to the vividly described settings. I came to care about each of the main characters, and hate all of the not so lovable ones. What color is Zero's hair, and why is his name Zero? I can answer any question thrown out there, and all because the author took the time to include all the details that helped make it a great story. Plus, as all great books should, I spent my time traveling through a desert, digging holes with blistered hands, and sleeping in a sweaty cot! With great care the author was able to slyly switch between plots, characters, and story lines, all the while maintaining some truth, and the same amount of exciting as the other set! Holes was a book that shouldn't be missed, and after you read it, you'll be back again diggin' them holes 'til the book is done!
Rating: ![5 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-5-0.gif) Summary: Holes Review: The first thing that comes to mind when we hear Camp Greenlake is a beautiful, sunny, shining lake full of life. Guess again! Louis Sachar describes Camp Greenlake as a "dry, flat, wasteland". Holes, by Louis Sachar is a story of mystery, adventure, and excitement. Stanley Yelnats has been accused for stealing a pair of shoes, supposedly worth $5,000, from a homeless shelter. And, like always, Stanley blames his no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing-great-great-grandfather for his troubles. Stanley has a choice of going to jail or going to Camp Greenlake. Now you must know that Stanley, having come from a poorer family, has never been to camp before. Therefore, he thought it would be fun to go to camp. Armpit, X-ray, Zero, Barf-Bag, Squid, Zigzag, and Magnet are some of the other attendants at Camp Greenlake. Stanley soon meets them and becomes what you might be able to call friends with them. As life goes on and 5 by 5 holes are dug, Stanley realizes there's more to this digging than building character. Stanley and Zero become good friends and one day Zero runs away. Days and days later Stanley finds him and they try to "find refuge on God's thumb". Together they try to survive without water and use their natural resources to feed and water themselves. The camp was said to have the only water for 100 miles. The two refugees secretly go back to camp and dig one last hole. While digging, they come across a... you'll have to read the book to find out more about Zero's secrets, Kissin' Kate Barlow (a famous outlaw) and the Warden's point for Camp Greenlake!
Rating: ![5 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-5-0.gif) Summary: Finally a good book for younger readers, and adults too Review: I am a middle aged male and I like to keep up with what is current, including children's literature. Most of what I have seen of late is not worth talking about. I am no Harry Potter fan. This book, however, is outstanding. For one thing it is a good yarn. It mixes elements from the past and present to create a well crafted story that will hold your interest from beginning to end. The main character, Stanley Yelnats, is a kind of everyman, or perhaps everychild, who succeeds not so much through physical strength and cunning as by courage and integrity. This book has been compared to Catcher in the Rye, but though Stanley is unjustly punished he never becomes cynical or vengeful. Other characters are also well developed and the dialog is most enjoyable. Highly recommended.
|