Author: Louis Sachar
Plot:
Young Stanley Yelnats has the worst luck. If you asked him, he would say that was because of the curse put on his no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing great-great-grandfather's descendants by a gypsy. That would at least explain why he was being condemned to juvenile detention at Camp Green Lake for being found in possession of a pair of stolen sneakers (He didn't steal them! They just fell out of the sky into his hands!). Camp Green lake is no "Girl Scouts Camp"- its a dry lake bed, where it hasn't rained in a hundred years, and is under the control of the mysterious and cruel Warren. Stanley makes "friends" with the other juvenile delinquents, bonding over the backbreaking work required of them- every day, each kid goes out onto the lake bed and digs a hole- five feet deep, five feet round. Mr. Sir says its to build character, but it soon become clear that's not all there is too it- the Warren is looking for something- something buried under the barren lake bed.
Alex's Opinion:
This book is a winner of the 1998 Newbery Metal, which is like "Best Children's Book of the Year". It deserves it- this is one of my favorite books. The characters are wonderful- Mr. Sir is fantastic antagonist, the delinquents are funny and likable, and everyone has depth and personality. About a third of the book is flashbacks to the town a hundred years ago, before the lake dried out. When everything in the flashbacks come full circle with the climax of the book, it is amazing. Clever, original, smart writing.
Who would like it:
Anyone! Read this book to your kid, or pick it up for yourself. My mom read it to me when I was young, but I've picked it up again and reread it more than once. If you like mystery and suspense, your're in for a treat. This is a great "feel good" book- plenty of "Standing up to the Man". It is witty, and will have you chuckling throughout. A real page turner.
Read it!
Amazon Kindle
Amazon Paperback
They made a movie of it! That's how good it is! Watch it after reading the book for maximum enjoyment!
Amazon Instant Video
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