Holes
By Louis Sachar
If you ever want to pick a book off the shelf that is guaranteed to go straight to the #1 slot on your Top Ten Titles list, read Holes, by Louis Sachar!
Holes seamlessly combines an intricate (but not confusing!) plot and quirky characters with a story that's tight, clever and witty to the core!
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Stanley Yelnats' family has a golden rule: when anything goes wrong (which seems to happen a lot), everyone blames Stanley's no-good, pig-stealing, great-great-grandfather for their bad luck-(more on the grandfather later)! Unfortunately, no amount of blaming anybody is going to get Stanley out of going to detention camp in the middle of a dessert with a dried up lake, despite the fact that he's been sent there for a theft he didn't commit!
Soon though, these are the least of Stanley's worries. At Camp Green Lake, Stanley and the other boys are each given the same task every day: to dig holes. The strict warden who runs the camp and everyone else says it's to 'build character' and Stanley believes it too.....until the day he and the other boys make a discovery that convince them they're looking for so much more!
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With a multilayered mystery, family curse, and possible treasure taking center stage, Holes is filled to the brim with a page-turning tale, and, with that thought in mind, I'll stop writing about it so you can start reading about it!!
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-Cenzia
Fun Extras for Holes:
As much as digging a hole sounds like good exercise and is probably a great way to get some Vitamin D, we came up with these activities instead...!
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1. Watch the movie!
Disney made a great film adaptation of this story, which we enjoyed watching very much! Good for a movie night, or when you're just too tired to dig a six-foot-deep hole in honor of the book!
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2. Try some Sploosh (Peach jam)!
At one point in Holes, Stanley and his friend taste-test some peach preserves in the unlikeliest of places... read the book to find out where! Pick up some peach jam at your local supermarket/grocery store on your next run over or make your own with this recipe: https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/21351/peach-preserves/
3. Red Nail Polish Mani!
The warden at Camp Green Lake runs a tight ship (desert?) and accomplishes this with a tough attitude and fiery red nails! Give yourself a bright red manicure for a feisty, yet stylish look!
4. Design Your Own Sneakers!
Stanley's story starts with footwear--design your own fun pair to 'wear'! Go here for a list of brands that let you be your own designer:https://www.cheatsheet.com/gear-style/sites-design-sneakers.html/
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Have fun!
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