Stanley Yelnats. It's the same name both ways. A name that has been cursed for generations because of a no-good-pig-stealing-great-great-grandfather. When Stanley is accused of stealing the shoes of Clyde "Sweet Feet" Livingston from a homeless shelter, he is given the option of juvenile detention or Camp Green Lake. Never having been to camp as a child, they choose that over jail. However, Camp Green Lake isn't exactly what Stanley or his parents pictured. For one, there is absolutely no lake. After he realizes things aren't as they seem, Mr.Sir tells him that he will be digging a hole (five feet deep, five feet wide) every day in order to build character and reflect on what he's done. But why do they have to dig them? Surely there is something else they can do to build character! He is given his two orange jumpsuits, his canteen, hat and group assignment. The next day, he starts digging. It isn't until he finds a gold tube with the initials KB inside a heart while digging that everything starts to change.
This was, BY FAR, the book I was most excited to be assigned for Adolescent Fiction. I mean, it's Holes! This was one of the very first "big kid" books that I ever really loved (see also: Ella Enchanted). I haven't read this since...probably fifth or sixth grade. I sort of missed it, you know? It's different but absolutely the same when you read it now. It's just as wonderful, but you pick up on so much more than you did when you were younger. You realize the underlying messages, but still love the storytelling.
It felt so good to reread this. Sometimes, you don't realize that your favorites when you were younger could be just as great now as they were then. Great writing doesn't age and this is some really great writing. I think I'll go grab the movie from my collection and enjoy some baby Shia LaBeouf. It's been too long.
No comments:
Post a Comment