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Average rating4
As further evidence of his family's bad fortune which they attribute to a curse on a distant relative, Stanley Yelnats is sent to a hellish correctional camp in the Texas desert where he finds his first real friend, a treasure, and a new sense of himself
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2 primary books3 released booksHoles is a 3-book series with 2 primary works first released in 1998 with contributions by Louis Sachar.
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This book was a classic in my house and will be one that I'll reread from time to time. It isn't complicated, but tells the story of two young boys and their connection to each other and to the past. Entertaining and enjoyable. Nothing to fawn over, but just a good, enjoyable read.
This was a great, economical adventure. Sometimes I find YA to set the quality bar too low, but this is a shining example of a story told well for a young audience, without sacrificing artistry. In fact, I preferred the YA angle on this tale, because in a novel for grown-ups, the descriptions of how bad the camp was, and the abuse from other inmates, would have gone on for, like, 150 soul-crushing pages. Sachar keeps it efficient, giving us enough detail so we know how bad conditions are, but without belaboring the point and getting too depressing.
He skillfully treads the line between pathos and whimsy throughout, and gives a satisfying ending that ties up every thread - even ones I didn't realize were still running through the story! There's a reason this is an award-winning book, and I recommend it to readers from middle grade through adulthood.
so good. i loved the realization (that i had) at the end... would've loved to have studied this in school
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2,097 booksWhen you think back on every book you've ever read, what are some of your favorites? These can be from any time of your life – books that resonated with you as a kid, ones that shaped your personal...
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