Book Review: Holes

Synopsis

As further evidence of his family’s bad fortune which they attribute to a curse on a distant relative, Stanley is sent to a hellish correctional camp in the Texas desert.

Comments

Practically a classic for middle grade readers.  Some complex social stuff (care-taking adults abuse kids, bullying, stories of racism).

Language

Level 1 [?]

Sexual Content

Adults kiss. ‘I bet she looked great in a bathing suit.’

Drugs/Alcohol

Adult says, ‘I always get drunk before a hanging.’

Violence/Disturbing

Kid is handcuffed to the seat. Physical bullying. Adults are cruel and abusive to the kids.

Social/Family

Stanley is arrested for stealing shoes. Bullying.  A ‘Negro’ wasn’t allowed to attend school.  There is some racism in the story-a black man isn’t allowed to kiss a white woman. ‘Same old story…The white boy sits around while the black boy does all the work.’ Allusion to whips and slavery. A homeless child’s mother leaves him.

Religion/Spiritual

Stanley’s family was ‘cursed’. Woman tells couple of mixed race that ‘God will punish you!’ ‘Since that day, not one drop of rain has fallen on the town. Whom did God punish?’