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Holes [AUDIOBOOK] [UNABRIDGED] (Audio CD) (Audio CD)
by Louis Sachar
| Category:
Adventure, Fiction, Childhood, Children books, Ages 9-12 |
| Market price: ¥ 218.00
MSL price:
¥ 198.00
[ Shop incentives ]
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| Stock:
Pre-order item, lead time 3-7 weeks upon payment [ COD term does not apply to pre-order items ] |
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MSL rating:
 Good for Gifts |
| MSL Pointer Review:
Holes is another new book that gets young people to read, much like the Harry Potter phenomenon. Not only that, it gets them to think and talk about what they've been reading. |
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AllReviews |
  1 2 Total 2 pages 16 items |
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belacane (MSL quote), USA
<2007-11-13 00:00>
I had never heard of this book but recently Entertainment Weekly described it as "a property that's almost as hot as 'Potter.'" I still read some childrens' books, partially for the nostalgia of books I loved as a child (E. Nesbit and so on) and partially because they are considered great new books (Phillip Pullman, for example). So I checked "Holes" out of the library and read it.
It is disappointingly slim - for a book that was compared to the Potter books, I expected a read of reasonable length - yet Holes took me all of 1.5 hours to read, and that included interludes to deal with my toddler, phone calls and so on. Still, I wanted to get to the end of it and see how it was.
In the end I considered this to be an interesting children's short story. There are nifty aspects to the story that pop up throughout. It is resolved satisfactorily and in keeping with most childrens' "feel-good" book endings. But I just can't consider this a "hot property." I'd not consider purchasing it. My son is only three, so he won't understand it yet - and I don't believe it will continue to be a "classic of children's literature" (if you can call it that) when he gets old enough to enjoy it.
Yes, I know it's won awards, and I'm happy for the author. A movie has been made, and it appears it is shorter to read the book than to sit through the movie! Certainly a cinematic first. Well, read and enjoy, but don't expect a lot. For "a property as hot as 'Potter'" I was rather disappointed. |
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Sexton (MSL quote), USA
<2007-11-13 00:00>
Holes will certainly appeal to Harry Potter fans. It is the type of story where the main character ends up on a quest for self respect, and as a side effect of what he has become, he is many times over the hero. So to be brief, this story is cool and kids will like it.
For a little more detail: The story is very simply spoken, but very well written. Frequent flashbacks (100 years back) provide clues to the fate of our hero Stanley Yelnats. Rarely will the author just come right out and explain why a brief sidetracked story has anything to do with the plot, but each one is a key to a new riddle. And even the riddles are often subtle. Some riddles are easy (Why does Zero keep muttering about Satan?) some are moderate (Why was there 'sploosh' in the middle of the desert?) some are a bit tough (Where is Zero's father?). I believe this method of foreshadowing and interpretation on the reader's part could be useful in getting a child to reread this book and developing cognitive abilities.
To put it simply again: This book will make you feel happy!
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Tom Munro (MSL quote), USA
<2007-11-13 00:00>
This is a book that most kids thinks is better than Harry Potter. The hero Stanley is a loser living with a loser family when he is mistakenly accused and found guilty of a serious theft. Instead of going to a juvenile detention centre he goes to a civilian run program where he has to dig holes in the hot Texas sun.
The book has two broad layers. The reason for Stanley's predicament results from a historic curse his family has been subject to. The reasons for this are explained in a back narrative. Against this is the story of Stanley coping with his environment, learning how to live in a crazy system and making friends.
The message of the book is reasonably good. The world is not necessarily a sensible place but one has to keep working at things. Bizarrely enough the reform camp is not that far of the mark of some that have existed.
The book is easy to read and adult readers can read it in a couple of hours. Kids might take a bit longer but they would love it. |
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Matthew Gunia (MSL quote), USA
<2007-11-13 00:00>
Louis Sachar has written an excellent story about Stanley Yelnats, an overweight, picked on 12-year-old with a family curse. His great-great-grandfather accidently got a curse placed upon him by a Madame Zeroni. Since that time, what can best be described as "bad luck" has plagued the Yelnats family. Stanley lives up to the family curse as he is arrested for stealing a pair of shoes belonging to a superstar athelete that was being auctioned off to support a charity. The judge doesn't like the idea that someone would steal from a charity, so he throws the book at Stanley: 18 months of hard labor at Camp Green Lake.
Now, while Camp Green Lake may sound like a happy, fun-filled place, it's actually one of the hottest, dryest deserts in the world--it hasn't rained there in 110 years. Forced to dig a five foot deep hole with a five foot diameter every day in the hot sun, Stanley slowly realizes that holes are being dug for a reason other than to "build character."
This book is fast paced and really hooks the reader, especially the young reader. It is well written, shifting between humor and drama (my class laughed out loud more than a couple times). Sachar also shifts between past and present, at first confusing the young reader, until Sachar includes and event to connect the two seemingly unrelated stories (again, a chorus of "Oooooooh"s from my class as they realize what "sploosh" really is and as they realize the connection between Madame Zeroni and Zero). This really is an excellent book and I highly recommend it to any reader, no matter his or her age. |
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Cally (MSL quote), USA
<2007-11-13 00:00>
I would just like to say that this is one of the best books I have ever read. It was amusingly entertaining. I admit it did become quite predictable but the story line kept me wanting to read on.
The story is about a boy named Stanley Yelnats (notice the name... look closely) around 13 whom is wrongly accused of steeling a pair of famous shoes. His sentence leads him to Camp Green Lake where there isn't a lake at all...just a vast area of dry desert like sand. His punishment is to dig holes, and dig holes and dig holes to "straighten him out".
The story is clever because it jumps back and forth between two story lines. One about the present and how Stanley survives along with his friends and the short curcuited leaders, and the other is a tale of the past.
Everything is linked together and fits like a glove at the end. I started reading and could not put this book down. It is fun for all ages... and I am now officially dieing to see the movie! |
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MagnoliaSouth (MSL quote), USA
<2007-11-13 00:00>
This was such a fun book to read. First off, I don't `review' books like the others who tell you about the story.
This book has many interesting facets to it. The story is captivating and moves along at a steady pace leaving no boredom. It even starts with a bang. In addition, there are intriguing plot twists which is a definite plus.
Oddly, there are two other stories included in addition to the main theme. I won't elaborate but it adds a certain dimension, as well as humor, to it.
I am not a politically correct person and am easily put off with social issue "message" type books. However, this one addresses issues such as racism, peer pressure, and adolescent crime in such a good way. It didn't feel like you were being preached at like so many "message" books do. There are plenty of character issues addressed as well such as honesty, perseverance, patience, and understanding.
The book contains one small curse word that I can remember and no sexual references at all. There is some violence, including a murder, but the violence is brief and I didn't find it offensive. There is, however, some disturbing moments where a character becomes gravely ill but it's handled very well and used in a positive way.
On the lighter side the book has plenty of humor. Even when it shouldn't be humorous you'll find it is. Mr. Sachar has a way about that.
On the whole it's just a great book. I give it the full 5 stars for it's content, readability, humor, suspense and very happy ending. No wonder it won the Newbery!
I suggest grades 5 and up for reading on their own and 4th grade and up for being read to.
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1 2 Total 2 pages 16 items |
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