Holes
by Louis Sachar
Holes by Louis Sachar is assigned in US schools at grades 4–7, with a Lexile measure of 660L. It appears across 1 curriculum reference and 1 state, 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.
- 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.
Where to find this book
Other formats on Amazon: Kindle · Audiobook
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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.
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 1 curriculum framework.
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)
Similar grade-level books
The OutsidersS.E. Hinton · 750L
The GiverLois Lowry · 760L
The Diary of a Young GirlAnne Frank · 1080L
To Kill a MockingbirdHarper Lee · 870L
See all books like Holes→ — matched on theme + reading level.
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 Common Core State Standards (ELA). Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
Why this book is on this list
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 1 curriculum on this site (see “Where assigned” above for primary-source links).
- State-level evidence
- Cited in 1 state ELA framework or DOE list (see citations above).
- Removal / banning records
- No tracked removal or challenge records in cited sources.
- Seasonal / contextual tags
- Tagged for: summer.