Review Detail

Reader reviewed by Kyran

He slowed to a walk. As far as he could tell, nobody was chasing him. He could hear voices coming back by the truck but couldnt make out the words&

Stanley Yelnuts is a boy whose family hasnt had a long string of good luck. In fact, theyve had a long string of bad luck. Theyre always in the wrong spot at the wrong time. So when Stanley is accused of stealing a pair of shoes belonging to a famous runner who was about to auction them off, it came as no surprise. Stanley is sent to a camp for bad boys where the Warden forces them to dig holes the size of their shovel deep, wide and long. She says its to build character but theres another motive. Shes looking for something, what is it.

The characters in the book are very well thought out. Louis Sacher, the author of Holes, has thought them out well. We are told their background. Were even told some of their origins! Theyre funny, caring and very believable. All five stars for character development.

The setting, again, is very thought out. Everything fits into place. In the flashbacks, the surroundings are explained. In real time, the present, its all put into perspective.