The Warden, the novel’s villain, owns and runs Camp Green Lake in the Texas desert. She’s a tall, red-haired woman who is soft spoken but nasty: she knows that she’s the most powerful person at camp and uses this to intimidate anyone who challenges or bothers her, children and adults alike.

Camp Green Lake. Stanley Yelnats IV (also known as “Caveman” by the rest of the campers, but referred to in the book by his proper name): Stanley is a 14-year-old boy who does not have any friends from school and is often picked on by his classmates and the school bully.

Use these questions to start a discussion with your child about Holes by Louis Sachar, a Flashlight Readers favorite for grades 3–8. Read the book yourself, too, so you can better discuss the story and enjoy the online activities together.

The hard part was laying out the strands throughout the story, telling the story of Kate Barlow and of Elya Yelnats and Elya’s son, without it getting in the way of Stanley’s story.

When he was fifteen he fell in love with a pretty fourteen year old girl named Myra Menke. Elya wanted to marry Myra but so did Igor Barkov, a fifty-seven year old pig farmer.

What is the hardest thing about writing?

1. Showing up. Actually starting your project.
2. Dialogue. Getting it to sound realistic with a good flow.
3. Finding something to write about.
4. Not just writing, but writing something good and finishing it.
5. Creating complex characters that win over an audience.

67 years (March 20, 1954)

I write for about two hours a day, every morning, in my office in my house.

Best-selling author Louis Sachar took the world by storm with Holes, his remarkable story about a group of boys in a reform camp.

Robert Sachar

American

Fun Facts

• His bestselling novel, Holes, has sold over 8 million copies worldwide.
• Holes was made into a movie by Disney in 2003.
• His first book, Sideways Stories from Wayside School, was published in 1978.
• Hillside Elementary School was the inspiration for Wayside School.

Sherre Sachar

He graduated in 1980 with a law degree and passed the California Bar Exam, which allowed him to practice law in the state of California. Sachar’s books were selling well; finally, in 1989, he was able to stop practicing law and become a full-time writer. In 1991, Sachar and his family moved to Austin, Texas.

loo-is sack-er (rhymes with cracker) The pronunciation of this author’s name has been verified by the publisher.

Louis Sachar net worth: Louis Sachar is an American author who has a net worth of $10 million. Louis Sachar was born in East Meadow, New York in March 1954. He is known for his works of young adult mystery and comedy.

Stanley

Louis Sachar is an award winning young-adult mystery-comedy author who’s perhaps best known for humorous writings such as the Wayside School series and Holes.

Louis Sachar