Holes
by Louis Sachar
- Lexile
- 660L
- Grade range
- Grades 4–7
- Age range
- Ages 9–12
- Pages
- 233
- First published
- 1998
- Genre
- Middle Grade Fiction
- ISBN-13
- 9780440414803
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.
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
Common Core State Standards (ELA)
- recommended· 5th gradesource: CCSS ELA Appendix B, grades 4-5 exemplar
- recommended· 5th grade · Texassource: Houston ISD Summer Reading — grade 5
Similar grade-level books
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.
- What curricula assign Holes?
- Holes appears on reading lists for Common Core State Standards (ELA). Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
- Is Holes banned in schools?
- Holes does not appear in PEN America's Index of School Book Bans 2022-2024. No documented multi-district removals on record, but individual districts may challenge titles locally.
- What themes does Holes explore?
- Central themes in Holes include fate vs choice, friendship, justice, family legacy, racial history. These themes match how the book is discussed in most curriculum guides and AP Literature prompts.