Cover of Holes

Holes

by Louis Sachar

Among the most widely assigned — 21 curriculum lists · 22 states

On reading-award lists:Newbery MedalMaine Student Book AwardPacific Northwest Young Reader's Choice AwardVermont Golden Dome Book Award+16 more

Holes by Louis Sachar is assigned in US schools at grades 4–7, with a Lexile measure of 660L. It appears across 21 curriculum references and 22 states, sourced from state DOE pages and AP/IB/Common Core syllabi. Every citation below links to the primary source.

This page shows where Holes is assigned in US schools — curricula, states, grades, and the primary-source citations behind each placement. Not a summary or study guide.

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Lexile
660L
Grade range
Grades 4–7
Difficulty for grade
Below the grade 4–5 band (740–1010L)
Age range
Ages 9–12
Pages
233
Reading time
about 4h 15m (est.)
First published
1998
Genre
Middle Grade Fiction
ISBN-13
9780440414803

Reading difficulty: At 660L, Holes reads below the typical 740–1010L text-complexity range for 4th grade (Common Core Appendix A). It is an accessible read for the grade — often assigned for its themes and discussion value rather than for reading challenge.

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About this book

Stanley Yelnats is wrongly sent to a juvenile detention camp in the Texas desert where boys are made to dig one hole a day. Sachar's Newbery Medal novel weaves a family curse, a 19th-century outlaw, and a present-day mystery and is a fixture of 4th-7th grade ELA curricula.

Adapted for screen

Adapted for screen (Film · 2003) · theatrical.

Similar grade-level books

See all books like Holes→ — matched on theme + reading level.

Why widely assigned

This Middle Grade Fiction title, reads at middle-grade prose complexity, typically at grades 4–7. Written in the 1990s; pairs with curriculum units on fate vs choice and friendship; cited across 21 curriculum frameworks.

Themes

fate vs choice · friendship · justice · family legacy · racial history

Content notes

mild violence · peril

Common Sense Media recommends age 10+.

Where this book is assigned

Show 15 more awards & assignments

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Common questions

What grade level is Holes?
Holes is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 4–7, with a Lexile measure of 660L. Specific grade placement varies by curriculum — AP Literature and IB English Literature typically use it in grades 11-12.
What is the Lexile level of Holes?
Holes has a Lexile measure of 660L according to MetaMetrics. Lexile measures text complexity, not content maturity — check the grade range and content notes separately for age-appropriateness.
How long does it take to read Holes?
It takes about 4h 15m to read Holes (233 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 255 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.
Is Holes hard to read for 4th grade?
At 660L, Holes reads below the typical 740–1010L text-complexity range for 4th grade (Common Core Appendix A). It is an accessible read for the grade — often assigned for its themes and discussion value rather than for reading challenge. Lexile measures text complexity, not thematic maturity — check the content notes for age-appropriateness separately.
What curricula assign Holes?
Holes appears on reading lists for Boston Globe–Horn Book Award, Buckeye Children's & Teen Book Award, Common Core State Standards (ELA), and 18 others. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.

Why this book is on this list

How we classify

Each dimension below is sourced from a public reference. The full framework is documented on the classification standard page.

Lexile measure
660L — sourced from MetaMetrics’ Lexile Hub.
Grade band
Grades 4–7 — drawn from state ELA frameworks and AP/IB syllabi citing this book.
Curriculum alignment
Cited in 21 curricula on this site (see “Where assigned” above for primary-source links).
State-level evidence
Cited in 22 states ELA frameworks or DOE list (see citations above).
Removal / banning records
No tracked removal or challenge records in cited sources.
Seasonal / contextual tags
Tagged for: award-winner, book-club, read-aloud, summer.

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