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Home : 2002 : October : 8

Holes
By Elaine

While I love Holes more than any other book in the whole wide world and I think Louis Sachar is a total genius, I'd think twice before giving this book to the student you are describing. Number one it's long, and number
two it has a very complicated plot with two story lines running at the same time that finally merge in the most wonderful way at the end of the story. Of course that's just my opinion.
I agree with the other poster who recommended the Series of Unfortunate Events which are shorter and probably plot-wise easier to read and comprehend. Another reason I like these is that there is a whole

series of them. If your student were to like them, he might be interested in reading another and another and another!!!!!!

Here is one more recommendation. Zach's Lie by Roland Smith which (again in my opinion) is a close rival to Holes. It's a fast moving, supsense filled, surprising but not too, complicated story. Once I started reading it, I didn't want to stop.

Ooops, I know I said only one more recommendation, but here are a few more. Any of the Bill Wallace adventure books -- Journey into Terror or Trapped in Death Cave or Danger in Quicksand Swamp or Blackwater Swamp -- may also be good choices. The Gary Paulsen adventure books -- Hatchet or The River or Brian's Winter -- are always favorites with my 5th graders (and me!).

Happy Reading!