Holes by: Louis Sachar - Movie vs. Book

Holes by: Louis Sachar is about a boy, Stanley Yelnats, that is sentenced to a juvenile detention camp for a crime that he did not commit. Stanley swears that he has bad luck thanks to a curse that is placed on his great-great grandfather. At this camp Stanley and the other boys are forced to dig 5 foot deep and 5 foot wide holes everyday. The heat is unbearable and it never rains. Stanley finally learns why the warden forces them to dig holes...she is searching for something. Three separate stories are intertwined and reveal the curse and the reason for the holes.

I really enjoyed the book. I remember when it first came out and how it was a big deal. I always wondered what all the fuss was about. It was an exciting read. I enjoyed trying to make connections between the three stories and figuring out the secrets. I can see how this book would intrigue the curiosity of students.

I enjoyed the movie as well. I watched it with my family and my husband was pleasantly surprised. There were several differences in the movie. First of all, Stanley was portrayed as overweight in the book and was very slim in the movie. The beginning and ending also differed slightly. I did like that Stanely's friend, Zero was reconnected with his mother at the end. Although there were differences, it did not take away from the plot. I was concerned that the movie would be a bit confusing because of the 3 stories that are intertwined but they did a wonderful job of portraying them all. My husband (he has not read the book) was easily able to make the connections.

Although I enjoyed the movie I did prefer the book. As always, the book allowed me to imagine things in my head and provided me with more detail. I am glad I found out what all the fuss was about. It was very enjoyable and I am looking forward to recommending it to students and adults!