Stanley Yelnats, is a boy that has been sent to a juvenile detention camp as punishment for stealing a pair of shoes that belonged to a famous professional athlete. In the book Stanley's entire family is cursed because of his great-great grandfather. I love the multiple characters that are in this story, and how Stanley learns how to navigate the best of his circumstances through all of his struggles. The novel is filled with adventure, surprises, and several emotions that a reader will be on the edge of his or her seat for.

Stanley Yelnats believes he is cursed because of his great-great-grandfather. He is sent to a boys' detention camp for a crime he didn't commit. He spends his days at camp digging 5 feet deep holes. While at camp, Stanley tries to discover what the warden is looking for and in the end is able to redeem himself and some friends, too. This is an adventurous book that will keep young readers wanting more. ( )

I keep trying to find a way to describe this book to people and I can never do it in three sentences or less. It always takes a few minutes to get me through the whole thing, but…that’s why we have book reviews online!
Some of you might have heard of the movie which stars Shia LeBeouf. I have never watched this movie, but I did know it was a book. When I started working at the high school where I teach, I found out that the Form 1s/7th Graders study this book, so I decided to borrow it and read it for myself.
I loved every second of it.
Louis Sachar has such an amazing narrative voice that I feel we’ve all been sleeping on his genius for so long. How come more people haven’t read this book that I know of? The way he writes is insanely good and gripping, and I read this book in literally two days. It would have been less, but I had to go to work.
The story follows Stanley Yelnats III, a young boy who has incredible bad luck following him everywhere he goes. Stanley has been accused of a crime he didn’t commit, and now has to work in a juvenile labour camp to pay off his dues to society for stealing something he didn’t actually steal. He has to dig holes that are five feet wide and five feet deep – a hole a day – for fifteen months until it’s his time to leave.
When asked why they dig holes, all the adults tell Stanley that it’s to build character, but Stanley has a feeling that they’re looking for something, he just doesn’t know what.
What I loved about reading this book is that Stanley never actually learns everything there is to know, but Sachar tells us, the reader, everything, and it’s such a satisfying moment when we get to piece everything together as the book closes off. The novel is effectively a three-generation novel, as Stanley’s grandfather, great-grandfather, and great-great-grandfather all feature in the novel as Sachar jumps between the past and the present and tell us all about how Stanley got all the bad luck in the first place, and his connection to the site where he’s digging holes (Camp Green Lake, which is neither green nor has a lake).
Seriously, this book is a gold mine of amazing story. It’s the perfect introduction to mystery for younger adults, and it’s also just a really entertaining read for anyone who’s young at heart. I highly recommend it – it gets a 6/5 from me for the amazing story and the phenomenal delivery of it.
Please, do yourself a favour and buy this book. ( )

This book is about a boy named Stanley Yelnats. Stanley ends up being placed in a boot camp in the desert for a crime he didn't commit. He happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. He makes friends while at Camp Green Lake where there is no lake at all. There are lizards and other animals that can harm the boys while they are in Camp Green Lake. Stanley believes that his great great grandfather had a curse placed on his family. I would recommend this book for older children who can understand what it's like to tell the truth but no one believes you. Stanley finds out the reason why they are digging holes every day which have to be five feet deep and five feet wide. This book is one you won't be able to put down until you finish it. ( )

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