So, my boys requested this book after watching the movie, and we devoured this cinematic little morsel ASAP. I considered labeling this one “magical realism” but it’s not really. There’s the element of destiny, fate, and cosmic what-have-you, and this is something that I usually dislike. I don’t like vague spiritual messages that confuse kids. But there’s something about Holes that feels different. I decided that I’d approach it like a modern fable or folk tale, and it clicked into place in my mind.

The Yelnats family is cursed with unluckiness. They can’t catch a break. For Stanley Yelnats the fourth, his un-luck lands him at Camp Green Lake, a reformatory for delinquent boys, where they have to dig holes in the hot sun as penance for their crimes. But, Camp Green Lake isn’t what it seems to be, and the boys aren’t digging holes to build character—they’re looking for something.

Two storylines from the past weave into Stanley’s present-day tale. There’s the story of Stanley’s great-great-grandfather, who brought the curse upon his household by breaking a promise to Madame Zeroni, a sharp-witted witch-doctor-y character.

Then, you’ve got the story of Kissin’ Kate Barlow, a famous outlaw who once robbed Stanley’s great-grandfather and left him for dead in the Texas desert. But his grandfather survived somehow—even he’s a bit fuzzy on the details.

I think the intertwining storylines and the no-detail-left-behind nature of how it all comes together hits me right in my literary heart. And it’s what makes the whole thing feel like a folk tale. It couldn’t possibly happen, but tell the story anyway because there’s truth in there.

But, this book isn’t set in a fantasy world. It’s set in modern times, so what is it trying to say? It is, I confess, a tad muddled, but I believe it’s telling kids that if they try to do what’s right, God will work all things together for good. Now, don’t mistake me, God as Creator is not mentioned, even though one of the pivotal locations in the book is named God’s Thumb, and it turns out to be an oasis of saving grace. There are elements of the story that point to a bigger plan than what we can see in a single lifetime. This is interesting.

The book is overflowing with fantastic characters, funny dialogue, and high-drama scenes. We really enjoyed it.