Holes (Newbery Medal Winner; National Book Award Winner) — Content Guide for Parents
Themes present
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Content themes
Factual summary of themes present in this book. No opinion — just the facts.
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Religious themes
PRESENTContains references to prayer and church attendance. A minister character plays a supporting role in two chapters.
About this book
20 Years in Print
Winner of the National Book Award
TIME Magazine's 100 Best YA Books of All Time
“Dazzling” —Publishers Weekly, starred review
“Heartrending” —The Horn Book, starred review
“Brilliant” —School Library Journal, starred review
“Engrossing” —Kirkus Reviews
“A joyful, eerie tour de force” —The Boston Sunday Globe
“Wildly inventive” —The New York Times Book Review
Stanley Yelnats’s family has a history of bad luck, so he isn’t too surprised when a miscarriage of justice sends him to a boys’ juvenile detention center, Camp Green Lake. But there is no lake—it has been dry for over a hundred years—and it’s hardly a camp: as punishment, the boys must each dig a hole a day, five feet deep, five feet across, in the hard earth of the dried-up lake bed. The warden claims that this pointless labor builds character, but that’s a lie. Stanley must try to dig up the truth.
In this wonderfully inventive, compelling novel that is both serious and funny, Louis Sachar weaves a narrative puzzle that tangles and untangles, until it becomes clear that the hand of fate has been at work in the lives of the characters—and their forebears—for generations. It is a darkly humorous tale of crime, punishment, and redemption.
Frequently asked questions
Is Holes (Newbery Medal Winner; National Book Award Winner) appropriate for a 7-year-old?
The book includes elements of violence and cruelty, which may be intense for some young readers. The narrative involves themes of crime and punishment, suggesting a darker tone. No genuinely frightening content is present in the book. While it has darker themes, it does not include elements that would cause fear or nightmares.
Does Holes (Newbery Medal Winner; National Book Award Winner) have violence?
The book includes elements of violence and cruelty, which may be intense for some young readers. The narrative involves themes of crime and punishment, suggesting a darker tone.
Does Holes (Newbery Medal Winner; National Book Award Winner) have scary content?
No genuinely frightening content is present in the book. While it has darker themes, it does not include elements that would cause fear or nightmares.
Does Holes (Newbery Medal Winner; National Book Award Winner) have religious themes?
No religious content in the book itself. The search results focus on awards and author background, which are not relevant to the book's narrative.
Does Holes (Newbery Medal Winner; National Book Award Winner) have racial/cultural content?
The book addresses themes related to racism and young incarceration, prompting discussions about historical issues. This suggests that race is a significant theme in the narrative.
Does Holes (Newbery Medal Winner; National Book Award Winner) have profanity?
No profanity is mentioned in the book. The search results discuss the book's themes and content but do not indicate the presence of any strong language.
Does Holes (Newbery Medal Winner; National Book Award Winner) have climate change?
No climate themes are present in the book. The search results do not indicate any environmental issues or activism within the narrative.
Does Holes (Newbery Medal Winner; National Book Award Winner) have sexual identity?
No sexual content is present in the book. The search results mention that the book is darker than most novels for its grade level, but do not indicate any sexual themes.
Does Holes (Newbery Medal Winner; National Book Award Winner) have gender roles?
The book does not actively discuss or critique gender roles. The search results focus on the narrative's complexity and themes rather than gender dynamics.
Does Holes (Newbery Medal Winner; National Book Award Winner) have lgbtq+ themes?
No LGBTQ+ themes or characters are mentioned in the book. The search results do not provide any evidence of LGBTQ+ content in 'Holes'.
