Anybody read Holes?

[raleighcanesfan]

Just finished it and waiting for my wife to read it. I need to discuss it with someone...All these questions!!

[raleighcanesfan]

Just finished it and waiting for my wife to read it. I need to discuss it with someone...All these questions!!

[Caniac]

I've tried, I've tried, but trying to make sense of words spelled out in all that dirt is hard.

[Caniac]

I've tried, I've tried, but trying to make sense of words spelled out in all that dirt is hard.

[Shell]

Haven't even heard of it.. but just came across this while reading WRAL if it is of interest:

Director Digs Author's Values In 'Holes'
Davis, Sachar Teamed Up For Movie Version Of Popular Book

POSTED: 10:17 a.m. EDT April 18, 2003

The director of "The Fugitive" has dug himself into "Holes" -- but there's really no reason to hide.

In fact, Andy Davis has every reason to hold his head high in Hollywood today. That's because he's masterfully interpreted author Louis Sachar's award-winning novel "Holes" -- a book so popular among pre-teens that it was recently voted the No. 1 book in Read magazine poll, even beating out "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone."

But Davis (pictured with Sachar, on right) was aware of the popularity of Sachar's 1998 work before the polls -- it's been published in North and South America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Needless to say, there was a little hesitation in taking on the project.

"I was very worried about it," Davis told me in a recent @ The Movies interview. "I've never liked movies after I've read the book and now I figured, 'There's no way I'm going to get the movie like the book,' but now I just love it."

For those new to the story, it's about a young teen named Stanley Yelnats IV (Shia LaBeouf), the latest in a line of Yelnats (his father is played by Henry Winkler) plagued by a family curse. For his misfortune -- a wrongful conviction for stealing a pair of sneakers -- Stanley is sent to a dusty and desolate work camp, where the overbearing Warden (Sigourney Weaver) and her underlings Mr. Sir (Jon Voight) and Mr. Pendanski (Tim Blake Nelson) make them dig holes in a dry lake bed to "build character."

But Stanley soon discovers there's a bit more to the digging than the Warden is leading them to believe, and the mystery unfolds in a series of flashbacks that takes us to the origins of the Yelnats curse. The story also takes us back to the Old West, where we meet a notorious outlaw named Kissin' Kate Barlow (Patricia Arquette) and learn of her special relationship with a young black man (Dule Hill) -- which sets off an important chain of events.

Davis, who recently embarked on a tour of the United States with Sachar to present the film to educators and answer their questions, knew if he were to get the author's words right, he'd have to go straight to the source. As a result, Sachar not only wrote the screenplay, he spent every day on the set. In short, he wanted to make sure the partnership the book inspired with its readers remained intact.

"The reader is a partner in the book," Sachar told me. "It's really engages them and brings out their best qualities. It brings out their compassion and intellect."

The great thing is, Sachar doesn't automatically award Stanley a sense of compassion at the beginning of the story. It's something he develops at the work camp -- and the reader develops it along with him. It's brought about by his friendship with Zero (Khleo Thomas), a fellow campmate that's spurned by camp heavies X-Ray (Brenden Jefferson), Armpit (Byron Cotton), Squid (Jake M. Smith), Magnet (Miguel Castro) and Zig-Zag (Max Kasch), because he's illiterate.

"Stanley learned to do the right thing to stand up for Zero and to teach him to read -- and to even have the guts to actually try to steal the truck and go looking for him," Sachar explained.

And it's those sorts of human values that drew Davis to the material.

"Stanley is a stand-up kid for taking the rap for something he didn't do," Davis said. But he truly makes the transition in the arc of his character of being afraid to teach Zero -- because he'll be rejected -- to saying, "You know what? You deserve to have me teach you to read, because you've helped me discover who I am."

Davis said he also loves the sense of history Sachar incorporates into his story.

"The themes in there about history, about immigration and families coming to America is important to understand -- that we all came from somewhere else, at one point," Davis explained. "And, I think that the issue, of what happens with Sam and Kate is important to understand the historical context of what race relationships were like years ago.

"I think that most kids don't have a sense of history these days," Davis continued. "It's important that we understand where we come from. I also think that the wonderful part of the movie for me is there's a soul and this humanity, buts there's this magic and this kind of mystical quality to it, which is all part of life."

While Sachar says he wrote the story as an adventure -- and not specifically to teach lessons, he's proud that educational themes emerge from his work. One of the most important ones is how to overcome failure.

"Think back in the story to where Stanley's father, says, 'I've learned from failure.' It's there to show that despite the fact that he's just cursed to be a constant failure, there's still an optimism that always a part of their family. And, he imparts in young Stanley to feel optimistic despite all his bad fortune. He's been picked on and convicted of a crime he didn't commit. Still, he's always looking for the positive."

And both he and Davis can speak from experience. Both have encountered plenty of failures over their years in the publishing and movie business

"My first book 'Highway Stories From Wayside School' was published by a small company out of Chicago, and the year after it was published, the company went out of business," Sachar recalled. "So, I had to go to bookstores and libraries and never see my books anywhere. It took, in retrospect maybe not that long, but probably about ten years from when I first started writing to when it felt like I could actually support myself doing it."

"Destiny is also a part of it," Davis added. "I worked very hard, for example, to become a union cameraman. I came all the way from Chicago to California and I found out it wasn't so easy to get in the union. The reason I became a director was because it was easier to become a director than get in the union."

But even with his "in" as a director, Davis said he struggled for years to find the money to get his first movie made.

"It was a tiny little movie, it didn't make any money, but you know, it at least got me to the point where I could go to the next step," Davis said. "It was a failure and yet I learned hard work and persistence. I'm always amazed at these stories about guys like Ted Turner and Rupert Murdoch, who've basically been on the brink of total disaster and taken chances in their lives, yet come up from the ashes and been able to go forward."

If there's a key, Davis said, it's hard work and concept of try, try, try.

"I think hard work has failure built into it," he said. "If try to do something, fail at it, but keep trying long enough, you'll get good at it and you'll succeed."

But even with success of his past films and positive experience with "Holes," Davis knows well that failure lurks right around the corner.

"That's the dilemma I'm going to face now that 'Holes' has come out, trying to find something as meaningful to me and to an audience," Davis concluded. "Those stories don't come along every day. You know most movies and scripts are by the numbers."

--"Holes" opens Friday in theaters nationwide.

[Shell]

Haven't even heard of it.. but just came across this while reading WRAL if it is of interest:

Director Digs Author's Values In 'Holes'
Davis, Sachar Teamed Up For Movie Version Of Popular Book

POSTED: 10:17 a.m. EDT April 18, 2003

The director of "The Fugitive" has dug himself into "Holes" -- but there's really no reason to hide.

In fact, Andy Davis has every reason to hold his head high in Hollywood today. That's because he's masterfully interpreted author Louis Sachar's award-winning novel "Holes" -- a book so popular among pre-teens that it was recently voted the No. 1 book in Read magazine poll, even beating out "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone."

But Davis (pictured with Sachar, on right) was aware of the popularity of Sachar's 1998 work before the polls -- it's been published in North and South America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Needless to say, there was a little hesitation in taking on the project.

"I was very worried about it," Davis told me in a recent @ The Movies interview. "I've never liked movies after I've read the book and now I figured, 'There's no way I'm going to get the movie like the book,' but now I just love it."

For those new to the story, it's about a young teen named Stanley Yelnats IV (Shia LaBeouf), the latest in a line of Yelnats (his father is played by Henry Winkler) plagued by a family curse. For his misfortune -- a wrongful conviction for stealing a pair of sneakers -- Stanley is sent to a dusty and desolate work camp, where the overbearing Warden (Sigourney Weaver) and her underlings Mr. Sir (Jon Voight) and Mr. Pendanski (Tim Blake Nelson) make them dig holes in a dry lake bed to "build character."

But Stanley soon discovers there's a bit more to the digging than the Warden is leading them to believe, and the mystery unfolds in a series of flashbacks that takes us to the origins of the Yelnats curse. The story also takes us back to the Old West, where we meet a notorious outlaw named Kissin' Kate Barlow (Patricia Arquette) and learn of her special relationship with a young black man (Dule Hill) -- which sets off an important chain of events.

Davis, who recently embarked on a tour of the United States with Sachar to present the film to educators and answer their questions, knew if he were to get the author's words right, he'd have to go straight to the source. As a result, Sachar not only wrote the screenplay, he spent every day on the set. In short, he wanted to make sure the partnership the book inspired with its readers remained intact.

"The reader is a partner in the book," Sachar told me. "It's really engages them and brings out their best qualities. It brings out their compassion and intellect."

The great thing is, Sachar doesn't automatically award Stanley a sense of compassion at the beginning of the story. It's something he develops at the work camp -- and the reader develops it along with him. It's brought about by his friendship with Zero (Khleo Thomas), a fellow campmate that's spurned by camp heavies X-Ray (Brenden Jefferson), Armpit (Byron Cotton), Squid (Jake M. Smith), Magnet (Miguel Castro) and Zig-Zag (Max Kasch), because he's illiterate.

"Stanley learned to do the right thing to stand up for Zero and to teach him to read -- and to even have the guts to actually try to steal the truck and go looking for him," Sachar explained.

And it's those sorts of human values that drew Davis to the material.

"Stanley is a stand-up kid for taking the rap for something he didn't do," Davis said. But he truly makes the transition in the arc of his character of being afraid to teach Zero -- because he'll be rejected -- to saying, "You know what? You deserve to have me teach you to read, because you've helped me discover who I am."

Davis said he also loves the sense of history Sachar incorporates into his story.

"The themes in there about history, about immigration and families coming to America is important to understand -- that we all came from somewhere else, at one point," Davis explained. "And, I think that the issue, of what happens with Sam and Kate is important to understand the historical context of what race relationships were like years ago.

"I think that most kids don't have a sense of history these days," Davis continued. "It's important that we understand where we come from. I also think that the wonderful part of the movie for me is there's a soul and this humanity, buts there's this magic and this kind of mystical quality to it, which is all part of life."

While Sachar says he wrote the story as an adventure -- and not specifically to teach lessons, he's proud that educational themes emerge from his work. One of the most important ones is how to overcome failure.

"Think back in the story to where Stanley's father, says, 'I've learned from failure.' It's there to show that despite the fact that he's just cursed to be a constant failure, there's still an optimism that always a part of their family. And, he imparts in young Stanley to feel optimistic despite all his bad fortune. He's been picked on and convicted of a crime he didn't commit. Still, he's always looking for the positive."

And both he and Davis can speak from experience. Both have encountered plenty of failures over their years in the publishing and movie business

"My first book 'Highway Stories From Wayside School' was published by a small company out of Chicago, and the year after it was published, the company went out of business," Sachar recalled. "So, I had to go to bookstores and libraries and never see my books anywhere. It took, in retrospect maybe not that long, but probably about ten years from when I first started writing to when it felt like I could actually support myself doing it."

"Destiny is also a part of it," Davis added. "I worked very hard, for example, to become a union cameraman. I came all the way from Chicago to California and I found out it wasn't so easy to get in the union. The reason I became a director was because it was easier to become a director than get in the union."

But even with his "in" as a director, Davis said he struggled for years to find the money to get his first movie made.

"It was a tiny little movie, it didn't make any money, but you know, it at least got me to the point where I could go to the next step," Davis said. "It was a failure and yet I learned hard work and persistence. I'm always amazed at these stories about guys like Ted Turner and Rupert Murdoch, who've basically been on the brink of total disaster and taken chances in their lives, yet come up from the ashes and been able to go forward."

If there's a key, Davis said, it's hard work and concept of try, try, try.

"I think hard work has failure built into it," he said. "If try to do something, fail at it, but keep trying long enough, you'll get good at it and you'll succeed."

But even with success of his past films and positive experience with "Holes," Davis knows well that failure lurks right around the corner.

"That's the dilemma I'm going to face now that 'Holes' has come out, trying to find something as meaningful to me and to an audience," Davis concluded. "Those stories don't come along every day. You know most movies and scripts are by the numbers."

--"Holes" opens Friday in theaters nationwide.

[Shell]

and a review of the movie, also from WRAL

Review: You'll Dig Film Adaptation Of 'Holes'
Original Screenwriter Delivers Faithful Screenplay
Tim Lammers, Staff Writer

POSTED: 7:17 a.m. EDT April 18, 2003

'Holes' (PG) http://images.ibsys.com/2001/1025/1029749.gifhttp://images.ibsys.com/2001/1025/1029749.gifhttp://images.ibsys.com/2001/1025/1029749.gifhttp://images.ibsys.com/2001/1025/1029747.gif(out of four)

For the lack of better words, fans will dig the big screen adaptation of Louis Sachar's popular pre-teen book "Holes," a fresh coming-of-age tale that boasts a solid ensemble cast, wonderfully mysterious atmosphere and most importantly, an engaging story.

Shia LeBeouf stars as Stanley Yelnats IV, a teen from a long line of "cursed" Yelnats who is sentenced to a dusty, desolate juvenile work camp in Texas after being wrongfully convicted of stealing a basketball star's sneakers. It's there where Stanley joins a band of rough-and-tumbling teen inmates with nifty nicknames (X-Ray, Zig-Zag and Magnet, among them), whose daily tasks are to dig holes and more holes in a dry lake bed.

Why? The camp's sunflower seed-spitting, squinty-eyed supervisor Mr. Sir (Jon Voight), his camp counselor flunkie Mr. Pendanski (Tim Blake Nelson) and their venomous superior, only known as the Warden (Sigourney Weaver) claim digging holes builds character -- but buried beneath their bag full of bull is a mysterious ulterior motive. We slowly find out what that is through a series of flashbacks that takes us to Latvia and the origin of Yelnats curse, as well as the Old West, where we follow the path of a notorious outlaw named Kissin' Kate Barlow (Patricia Arquette).

Director Andy Davis ("The Fugitive") masterfully interprets Sachar's script, which for the most part, was faithfully adapted from his original novel. For audience members unfamiliar with the book, the rapid jumps back and forth between time periods may be a bit confusing at first, but as the mystery unravels, the story comes together beautifully. Sure, the story is offbeat at times, but that's half the fun.

The acting in "Holes" is first rate, as to be expected, from Weaver, Voight and Nelson -- but the pleasant surprise comes from LeBeouf in his feature film debut (he plays the title character on the Disney Channel's "Even Stevens"), who gives a soulful performance as the young Stanley. He's at his best in wonderfully subtle scenes opposite Khleo Thomas, who is equally as impressive as Zero, an illiterate camp member whom Stanley takes a stand for.

What makes "Holes" a winner more than anything is the notion that good-old fashioned storytelling prevails over such cheap family film plot devices as body function humor, unnecessarily painful slapstick and misinformed adult characters that continually come off looking like buffoons.

While the book was aimed at 10-12 year olds, it, like the film, should appeal to all ages. On the whole, "Holes" is a smart film that layers important lessons within its adventurous and entertaining premise. It's valuable family entertainment that comes at a dirt-cheap price.

[Shell]

and a review of the movie, also from WRAL

Review: You'll Dig Film Adaptation Of 'Holes'
Original Screenwriter Delivers Faithful Screenplay
Tim Lammers, Staff Writer

POSTED: 7:17 a.m. EDT April 18, 2003

'Holes' (PG) http://images.ibsys.com/2001/1025/1029749.gifhttp://images.ibsys.com/2001/1025/1029749.gifhttp://images.ibsys.com/2001/1025/1029749.gifhttp://images.ibsys.com/2001/1025/1029747.gif(out of four)

For the lack of better words, fans will dig the big screen adaptation of Louis Sachar's popular pre-teen book "Holes," a fresh coming-of-age tale that boasts a solid ensemble cast, wonderfully mysterious atmosphere and most importantly, an engaging story.

Shia LeBeouf stars as Stanley Yelnats IV, a teen from a long line of "cursed" Yelnats who is sentenced to a dusty, desolate juvenile work camp in Texas after being wrongfully convicted of stealing a basketball star's sneakers. It's there where Stanley joins a band of rough-and-tumbling teen inmates with nifty nicknames (X-Ray, Zig-Zag and Magnet, among them), whose daily tasks are to dig holes and more holes in a dry lake bed.

Why? The camp's sunflower seed-spitting, squinty-eyed supervisor Mr. Sir (Jon Voight), his camp counselor flunkie Mr. Pendanski (Tim Blake Nelson) and their venomous superior, only known as the Warden (Sigourney Weaver) claim digging holes builds character -- but buried beneath their bag full of bull is a mysterious ulterior motive. We slowly find out what that is through a series of flashbacks that takes us to Latvia and the origin of Yelnats curse, as well as the Old West, where we follow the path of a notorious outlaw named Kissin' Kate Barlow (Patricia Arquette).

Director Andy Davis ("The Fugitive") masterfully interprets Sachar's script, which for the most part, was faithfully adapted from his original novel. For audience members unfamiliar with the book, the rapid jumps back and forth between time periods may be a bit confusing at first, but as the mystery unravels, the story comes together beautifully. Sure, the story is offbeat at times, but that's half the fun.

The acting in "Holes" is first rate, as to be expected, from Weaver, Voight and Nelson -- but the pleasant surprise comes from LeBeouf in his feature film debut (he plays the title character on the Disney Channel's "Even Stevens"), who gives a soulful performance as the young Stanley. He's at his best in wonderfully subtle scenes opposite Khleo Thomas, who is equally as impressive as Zero, an illiterate camp member whom Stanley takes a stand for.

What makes "Holes" a winner more than anything is the notion that good-old fashioned storytelling prevails over such cheap family film plot devices as body function humor, unnecessarily painful slapstick and misinformed adult characters that continually come off looking like buffoons.

While the book was aimed at 10-12 year olds, it, like the film, should appeal to all ages. On the whole, "Holes" is a smart film that layers important lessons within its adventurous and entertaining premise. It's valuable family entertainment that comes at a dirt-cheap price.

[talkingcanes]

I saw this post earlier and had never heard of Holes. On NPR at some point today they were discussing the movie version and how they thought it was loyal to the book. They also seem to think people who like the book will be pleased with the movie. That's almost never the case with me. I had never heard of it until this post and now NPR. It sounds interesting though.

[talkingcanes]

I saw this post earlier and had never heard of Holes. On NPR at some point today they were discussing the movie version and how they thought it was loyal to the book. They also seem to think people who like the book will be pleased with the movie. That's almost never the case with me. I had never heard of it until this post and now NPR. It sounds interesting though.

[raleighcanesfan]

talkingcanes...read the book first! At the prompting of my students, I finally read it...Really interesting and a quick read (200ish pages) much like Harry Potter is a quick, engrossing read.

[raleighcanesfan]

talkingcanes...read the book first! At the prompting of my students, I finally read it...Really interesting and a quick read (200ish pages) much like Harry Potter is a quick, engrossing read.

[talkingcanes]

I will read it. I am always looking for good reading material. It does sound interesting.

And speaking of Harry Potter, I can't wait for the next book in June!

[talkingcanes]

I will read it. I am always looking for good reading material. It does sound interesting.

And speaking of Harry Potter, I can't wait for the next book in June!

[Shell]

talkingcanes...read the book first! At the prompting of my students, I finally read it...Really interesting and a quick read (200ish pages) much like Harry Potter is a quick, engrossing read.

New Harry Potter book is almost out WHOOOOO! Man, I love those books.. and I think they did a good job on the first movie (I haven't seen the second one yet but heard it was very good as well)

From Amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/043935806X/qid=1050707604/sr=2-1/ref=sr_2_1/104-0743370-9170353)
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Book 5)
Availability: This title will be released on Saturday, June 21, 2003.
Price: $17.99
Hardcover: 896 pages
Amazon.com Sales Rank: 1

http://wemissjerry.org/smiles/happy.gif

[Shell]

talkingcanes...read the book first! At the prompting of my students, I finally read it...Really interesting and a quick read (200ish pages) much like Harry Potter is a quick, engrossing read.

New Harry Potter book is almost out WHOOOOO! Man, I love those books.. and I think they did a good job on the first movie (I haven't seen the second one yet but heard it was very good as well)

From Amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/043935806X/qid=1050707604/sr=2-1/ref=sr_2_1/104-0743370-9170353)
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Book 5)
Availability: This title will be released on Saturday, June 21, 2003.
Price: $17.99
Hardcover: 896 pages
Amazon.com Sales Rank: 1

http://wemissjerry.org/smiles/happy.gif

[SouthernHockeyChick]

And speaking of Harry Potter, I can't wait for the next book in June!

ME TOOOOOO!!!!!! Reminds me.....I need to go pre-order mine!

I love the books....haven't loved the movies. There is just too much good stuff they had to cut out! But I've still liked the movies anyway, just haven't loved them.

[SouthernHockeyChick]

And speaking of Harry Potter, I can't wait for the next book in June!

ME TOOOOOO!!!!!! Reminds me.....I need to go pre-order mine!

I love the books....haven't loved the movies. There is just too much good stuff they had to cut out! But I've still liked the movies anyway, just haven't loved them.

[raleighcanesfan]

Pre-order HP from Amazon. They are GUARANTEEING delivery on June 21st. So what? June 21st is a Saturday! They will deliver it to your home for free!!

HP II movie is good. My wife liked it better than the 1st. I don't know how they'll do all 7 with this cast though, Ron and Draco already aged a lot. Run time was close to 3 hours. Can you imagine IV and V (said to be a few chapters longer than IV)

I am the HP Master!!

[raleighcanesfan]

Pre-order HP from Amazon. They are GUARANTEEING delivery on June 21st. So what? June 21st is a Saturday! They will deliver it to your home for free!!

HP II movie is good. My wife liked it better than the 1st. I don't know how they'll do all 7 with this cast though, Ron and Draco already aged a lot. Run time was close to 3 hours. Can you imagine IV and V (said to be a few chapters longer than IV)

I am the HP Master!!

[SouthernHockeyChick]

Pre-order HP from Amazon. They are GUARANTEEING delivery on June 21st. So what? June 21st is a Saturday! They will deliver it to your home for free!!

Did just that. Yeah, when the 4th one came out I pre-ordered from Amazon and got it the day BEFORE it was to be released. Pretty cool.

I don't know how they'll do all 7 with this cast though, Ron and Draco already aged a lot.
Not to mention Richard Harris (Dumbledore) is dead now. *sigh* And he was the PERFECT Dumbledore.

[SouthernHockeyChick]

Pre-order HP from Amazon. They are GUARANTEEING delivery on June 21st. So what? June 21st is a Saturday! They will deliver it to your home for free!!

Did just that. Yeah, when the 4th one came out I pre-ordered from Amazon and got it the day BEFORE it was to be released. Pretty cool.

I don't know how they'll do all 7 with this cast though, Ron and Draco already aged a lot.
Not to mention Richard Harris (Dumbledore) is dead now. *sigh* And he was the PERFECT Dumbledore.

[talkingcanes]

I've already pre-ordered mine as well and got my "you'll get it on June 21" email! Yeah!!

I get one sent to my nephews as well. They love them and that is their reading before bedtime book for as long as they can make it last!

Richard Harris was perfect as Dumbledoor :sad: They cast the new one, but I can't remember who it is. I do remember thinking he will be a good replacement, but won't be the same.

I have the 2nd movie on DVD, but haven't had a chance to watch it yet. Maybe after hockey season!

I'll have to reread the last one as a jump start on the new one since it's been so long.

[talkingcanes]

I've already pre-ordered mine as well and got my "you'll get it on June 21" email! Yeah!!

I get one sent to my nephews as well. They love them and that is their reading before bedtime book for as long as they can make it last!

Richard Harris was perfect as Dumbledoor :sad: They cast the new one, but I can't remember who it is. I do remember thinking he will be a good replacement, but won't be the same.

I have the 2nd movie on DVD, but haven't had a chance to watch it yet. Maybe after hockey season!

I'll have to reread the last one as a jump start on the new one since it's been so long.

[Shell]

Dumbledore was perfect indeed.

The next one will be Michael Gambon
http://ia.imdb.com/media/imdb/01/I/13/65/22m.jpg
His info: http://us.imdb.com/Name?Gambon,%20Michael

[Shell]

Dumbledore was perfect indeed.

The next one will be Michael Gambon
http://ia.imdb.com/media/imdb/01/I/13/65/22m.jpg
His info: http://us.imdb.com/Name?Gambon,%20Michael

[talkingcanes]

I asked my niece about Holes today at a family lunch and she said, as only a 13 year old girl can, that it is her favorite book EVER! She highly recommended it and thought even her "old" aunt would enjoy it.

[talkingcanes]

I asked my niece about Holes today at a family lunch and she said, as only a 13 year old girl can, that it is her favorite book EVER! She highly recommended it and thought even her "old" aunt would enjoy it.

[rons#1fan]

I just started reading HOLES the other night. Easy read and I like it very much. I got it for my daughter but she's got this animal series going that she likes a lot so I picked up HOLES and found it very entertaining.

Also add me to the long list of Harry Potter fans. Love the books and the movies. The Playstation game is pretty good too...a lot of depth to it...my kids loved playing it.

[rons#1fan]

I just started reading HOLES the other night. Easy read and I like it very much. I got it for my daughter but she's got this animal series going that she likes a lot so I picked up HOLES and found it very entertaining.

Also add me to the long list of Harry Potter fans. Love the books and the movies. The Playstation game is pretty good too...a lot of depth to it...my kids loved playing it.

[nccanes]

I just started reading HOLES the other night. Easy read and I like it very much. I got it for my daughter but she's got this animal series going that she likes a lot so I picked up HOLES and found it very entertaining.


I saw the trailer for Holes a couple of weeks ago - it piqued my interest for sure. I haven't read the book, but now I'm interested in that too.

Anyway, here's the official movie website:

http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/holes/index.html

has the trailer and a link for educators to "dig deeper", etc...

[nccanes]

I just started reading HOLES the other night. Easy read and I like it very much. I got it for my daughter but she's got this animal series going that she likes a lot so I picked up HOLES and found it very entertaining.


I saw the trailer for Holes a couple of weeks ago - it piqued my interest for sure. I haven't read the book, but now I'm interested in that too.

Anyway, here's the official movie website:

http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/holes/index.html

has the trailer and a link for educators to "dig deeper", etc...

[sandstorm]

I volunteer in my son's school library and the book was/is on hold until the end of the school year. My 9yo read it in 4 days. I read it in 4 hours. Excellent book. All of Sachar's books are entertaining and well written. We went to go see the movie on Friday and it was SOLD OUT . We got there about 30 minutes early,meeting some friends. My friend let my son have her ticket so he could see it (and we went to get something to eat) . My son told me all the way home about how the movie and the book were alike and different. He stressed that Stanley (the main character) looked different than he imagined and then said the same about the adult characters in the book. I thought he'd never shut up!!! He did the same thing when the first Harry Potter movie came out. Always make them read the book first.It can lead to some of the best conversations with kids!!!

[sandstorm]

I volunteer in my son's school library and the book was/is on hold until the end of the school year. My 9yo read it in 4 days. I read it in 4 hours. Excellent book. All of Sachar's books are entertaining and well written. We went to go see the movie on Friday and it was SOLD OUT . We got there about 30 minutes early,meeting some friends. My friend let my son have her ticket so he could see it (and we went to get something to eat) . My son told me all the way home about how the movie and the book were alike and different. He stressed that Stanley (the main character) looked different than he imagined and then said the same about the adult characters in the book. I thought he'd never shut up!!! He did the same thing when the first Harry Potter movie came out. Always make them read the book first.It can lead to some of the best conversations with kids!!!

[Stormbringer]

I thought the author of Holes' name sounded familiar...I just realized that Sachar wrote two of my most favorite books from my childhood, Sideways Stories From Wayside School and Wayside School Is Falling Down. For those of you who enjoyed Holes, I wholeheartedly recommend the two said books, they are very well written and hilarious. As a matter of fact, I kind of wish I still had those books in my small collection of nostalgic reading. Looking through that, I had forgotten some of the rather interesting reading selections I chose in my childhood...

Ghosts Don't Eat Potato Chips
101 Bug Jokes
Choose Your Own Adventure - You Are Microscopic (I used to have a HUGE collection of Choose Your Own Adventure books...kind of can't help but wonder where those went too.)
The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar
Fear Street - The Dead Lifeguard (Used to have an immense collection of these and Goosebumps, both by R.L. Stine, too...)
Bone Chillers - Little Pet Shop of Horrors

and...

Help! I'm Trapped In My Teacher's Body!

Well, I just came across another great children's book that I still enjoy...Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume. A very funny book that still gets me to laugh despite my being a little old for it. :D

To get this back on-topic, I've yet to read Holes, but now that I know about its author, I'm definitely interested...

[Stormbringer]

I thought the author of Holes' name sounded familiar...I just realized that Sachar wrote two of my most favorite books from my childhood, Sideways Stories From Wayside School and Wayside School Is Falling Down. For those of you who enjoyed Holes, I wholeheartedly recommend the two said books, they are very well written and hilarious. As a matter of fact, I kind of wish I still had those books in my small collection of nostalgic reading. Looking through that, I had forgotten some of the rather interesting reading selections I chose in my childhood...

Ghosts Don't Eat Potato Chips
101 Bug Jokes
Choose Your Own Adventure - You Are Microscopic (I used to have a HUGE collection of Choose Your Own Adventure books...kind of can't help but wonder where those went too.)
The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar
Fear Street - The Dead Lifeguard (Used to have an immense collection of these and Goosebumps, both by R.L. Stine, too...)
Bone Chillers - Little Pet Shop of Horrors

and...

Help! I'm Trapped In My Teacher's Body!

Well, I just came across another great children's book that I still enjoy...Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume. A very funny book that still gets me to laugh despite my being a little old for it. :D

To get this back on-topic, I've yet to read Holes, but now that I know about its author, I'm definitely interested...

[raleighcanesfan]

Stormbringer--

Lots of good choices, most I use in my classroom. Tales is the ultimate fourth grade book. I use that every year! There is actually a new "Fudge" book out--Double Fudge. It's pretty good, the family does some traveling, Peter is reading Harry Potter, so that's a neat thing.

Sachar is a great author! The "Bathroom" books are good too!

Another really good 'child' author that adults need to read is Jerry Spinelli. He writes for children, but some many many intriguing books adults can take a lot from. They include Maniac Magee (dealing with racial problems among many other things), Stargirl (one of my favorites--'odd' girl tries to become 'normal' in her school), and Wringer (a very 'dark' book)

[raleighcanesfan]

Stormbringer--

Lots of good choices, most I use in my classroom. Tales is the ultimate fourth grade book. I use that every year! There is actually a new "Fudge" book out--Double Fudge. It's pretty good, the family does some traveling, Peter is reading Harry Potter, so that's a neat thing.

Sachar is a great author! The "Bathroom" books are good too!

Another really good 'child' author that adults need to read is Jerry Spinelli. He writes for children, but some many many intriguing books adults can take a lot from. They include Maniac Magee (dealing with racial problems among many other things), Stargirl (one of my favorites--'odd' girl tries to become 'normal' in her school), and Wringer (a very 'dark' book)

[tommy]

Choose Your Own Adventure - You Are Microscopic (I used to have a HUGE collection of Choose Your Own Adventure books...kind of can't help but wonder where those went too.)

Those were/are the coolest! I still have like 15 in my bookcase.

My personal favorites a while ago were the Bruce Coville books, i.e. "My teacher fried my brains", etc. ANyone remember those or have kids who read them?

And I think I'll start reading "Holes" now... my sister has it, maybe I can borrow it.

[tommy]

Choose Your Own Adventure - You Are Microscopic (I used to have a HUGE collection of Choose Your Own Adventure books...kind of can't help but wonder where those went too.)

Those were/are the coolest! I still have like 15 in my bookcase.

My personal favorites a while ago were the Bruce Coville books, i.e. "My teacher fried my brains", etc. ANyone remember those or have kids who read them?

And I think I'll start reading "Holes" now... my sister has it, maybe I can borrow it.

[Romney]

Tommy, although I love the My Teacher is an Alien series, my favorite Covile book is Jennifer Murdley's Toad. (I love almost all Bruce Coville books.) It is a read aloud every year in my 3rd grade classroom. Throat gets soar doing the toad voice but the kids love it. Like all of his books, there is a great message woven througout the story.

I've finally read Holes. My son read it last year and wants to see the movie. Told him I'd take him once I read it. He's been bugging me to read it but I've been busy reading other things. Finally spent time this weekend reading it. Guess where he is going on a field trip tomorrow - to the movie theater to watch Holes. It figures.[/quote]

[raleighcanesfan]

What's up with some of these schools taking their children to the theatre for field trips? Movies, IMAX...

I cannot find enough time in the day to teach my lessons, to have enough time to take my kids to the theatre...

I need more time...

[Romney]

It's difficult to judge other schools and districts, especially those from different states and regions. There are many differences in standards as well as school calendars. For example, our last day of school this year will be June 27th.
I do understand what you mean about trying to meet all of the state standards for each grade level. Although our district just extended the schoolday 40-45 minutes this year to better meet the needs of our students, I still feel as if I never have enough time with my students. With such rigorous testing, especially in 4th grade, there is so much for me to do.
Our district has had drastic budget cuts lately and field trips are pretty much a thing of the past. This will probably be their one 'field trip' of the year and they are able to take this one because the movie theater is within walking distance and the parents paid the reduced admission price. (The Home & School Association will pay for any who can't afford the cost.).
Unlike my son, many of the kids going would not be able to see this movie in the theater. I'm thrilled they are able to take the kids.