Holes

📚 Why We Recommend It

If you’re hunting for a page-turner that blends adventure, heart, and a dash of magic, Holes is a must-read gem.

This isn’t just any middle-grade book—it’s a double award-winner (Newbery Medal and National Book Award) that defies expectations with its sharp, witty storytelling. Follow Stanley Yelnats, a kid tangled in a family curse that lands him in Camp Green Lake, a detention center where boys dig 5-foot-wide holes “to build character.” But the dry lakebed holds more than dirt: a warden’s obsession, generations of secrets, and truths buried deeper than the holes themselves.

Louis Sachar weaves a tale that’s equal parts hilarious and profound. The absurdity of the curse, the monotony of digging, and the boys’ quiet resilience collide in a story that’s part mystery, part fable. It’s funny enough to make you snort, yet tender enough to linger in your mind—exploring redemption, courage, and what it means to break free. Perfect for readers 9+, it’s a book that grows with you: kids dive into the adventure, while adults catch the subtle layers of growth. Plus, this anniversary edition packs extra goodies—author notes and little-known facts about Holes—and with a 4.7/5 rating, it’s clear: once you start digging into this story, you won’t want to stop.