Review: Holes by Louis Sachar

 

Stanley Yelnats has always had bad luck; but he never could have imagined it would have landed him in a juvenile detention centre for a crime he didn’t commit. Every day, he and six other boys have to dig a hole each a day, in order to “build character”- and if they find anything interesting, they are to report it to the Warden immediately. But is there more to it than that?

Writing Style

Although Holes is aimed at kids/teens, the writing didn’t seem simple and patronising to younger readers. The story line was developed and complex, making for an interesting read. At the same time, the book was readable and didn’t use unnecessary words and phrases. It also touches upon issues such as racial segregation and sexism, which I thought was a good way to introduce young people to these issues. Holes is quite a short read- it could probably be finished in a day- but I did feel this meant it was tied up quite hastily, and a lot of random things happened all at once. 

Characters

I didn’t warm to Stanley straight away, however as the book wore on, I thought he was an extremely loyal friend, and began to stick up for himself more. I also liked how the characters were quality over quantity; unlike some books, the characters were developed and there weren’t too many of them. Towards the end of the book, we also see a different side to some characters (for the better or the worse) which means you don’t know who to trust, making everyone a suspect of the crime.

Overall, Holes is an exciting and at times funny read, great for a wide age range. The film, which was released in 2001, is also worth watching.