Holes, directed by Andrew Davis (DVD)

Bibliographic Information:
Davis, A. (2003). Holes. Walt Disney Home Entertainment. ASIN: B00005JLYQ

Book Awards:
1999 Newbery Medal (Original book by Louis Sachar)
1998 National Book Award for Young People's Literature (Original book by Louis Sachar)

Plot Summary:
When a famous basketball players shoes fall from the sky and Stanley Yelnats picks them up, he is immediately arrested for having stolen them. He is sent to a juvenile detention center (called Camp Greenlake) in the middle of the Texas desert. The warden is crazy and scary, and makes all the boys dig holes, 5 feet deep and 5 feet square, in the floor of the desert--all day long. When the boys discover that the warden is really looking for buried outlaw treasure, all bets are off!

Critical Evaluation:
This movie is scary and funny and heartbreaking and joyful-- quite a range! Shia LaBoeuf was nominated for multiple acting awards for his performance, as were several of the other boys. Sigourney Weaver is fabulous as the terrifying warden---she paints her fingernails with rattlesnake poison! The relationship between Stanley and Zero is both funny and touching--Zero himself is a unique and quirky character who adds a tremendous amount to the emotion of the story. A combination of social commentary, mystery, adventure, and coming of age, this movie really is a great piece of work.

Reader's Annotation:
Can Stanley save himself and the other boys at the juvie camp from the insanely evil warden, find the outlaw treasure, and break the ancient curse on his family-- all in one summer?

About the Author:
Not applicable

Genre:
fiction

Curriculum Ties:
History

Booktalking Ideas:
Not applicable

Interest Age:
10+

Challenge Issues:
None
However, if a challenge should occur,
Watch the movie! Urge parent to do the same. Cite awards and reviews. Refer to collection development policy. If dispute continues, parents' wishes regarding their own children will be respected.

Reason Included:
I loved the book--I wanted to see how they did with the movie. The answer was, great!