Age rating and parents' guide:Holes
by Louis Sachar
Ages 9–14
Holes by Louis Sachar is best for children aged 9–14. It has mild violence, a few mildly scary moments, no romance and no bad language. Worth knowing: Juvenile-camp hardship.
Stanley Yelnats is plagued by bad luck, thanks to a curse placed on his great-great-grandfather. Sent to Camp Green Lake, a brutal juvenile detention facility in the middle of a dried-up desert lake bed, boys are forced to dig one five-foot hole every day. Stanley soon suspects the cruel Warden is secretly hunting for buried treasure. With clever, interlocking timelines and a dry, witty narrative voice, this absorbing story balances hardship with humor and deep friendship.
Content ratings
How much of each a parent can expect, from none to strong.
- Violence
- Mild
- Scary moments
- Mild
- Romance
- None
- Bad language
- None
Worth knowing: Juvenile-camp hardship
Content checked by Dhiraj Bodade, co-founder of Bookstaken, on .
At a glance
- Novel
- A steady start that picks up quickly
- Mostly text
- Emotionally light
- A good pick for reluctant readers
Great for kids who like
- Family
Reading mood
- Playful
Good to talk about
- Family
Books like Holes
Similar stories for the same ages, none more intense than this one should be for its youngest readers.
Ages 9–14
Front Desk
by Kelly Yang
Ten-year-old Mia Tang lives in a motel where her immigrant parents work, managing the front desk while hiding secrets, including undocumented guests. Mia dreams of being a writer despite her mother's doubts and the daily racism and poverty her family faces. With resilience, humor, and heart, she uses her words to fight for fairness and support her community. Readers love Mia's brave, optimistic voice and the engaging, relatable look at friendship, family, and overcoming tough odds.
Ages 9–14
Travel Team
by Mike Lupica
Danny Walker loves basketball more than anything and has natural talent, but he gets cut from the travel team simply because he is too short. Devastated, Danny gets an unexpected second chance when his estranged father—a former local basketball star—forms a new squad for the kids who were left behind. Readers who love sports will be hooked by the fast-paced, authentic court action, the spirit of a true underdog team, and the moving story of a boy reconnecting with his dad.
Ages 12–14
Sheets
by Brenna Thummler
Thirteen-year-old Marjorie Glatt is barely keeping things together. While dealing with the loss of her mother and an overwhelmed father, she is forced to run the family laundromat, all while facing pressure from a sleazy local businessman and cruel classmates. Enter Wendell, a young ghost wrapped in a sheet who longs for friendship but inadvertently wreaks havoc on Marjorie's wash cycles. With its soft pastel palette and poignant storytelling, this graphic novel balances gentle whimsy with tender, relatable reflections on grief, loneliness, and hope.
Ages 9–14
Wonderstruck
by Brian Selznick
This unique story weaves two tales together fifty years apart. In 1977, Ben searches for the father he never knew after his mother passes away, told in words. In 1927, Rose longs for a glamorous silent film actress, told through detailed pencil illustrations. Both children are deaf and find their journeys taking them to the American Museum of Natural History in New York. Readers love the blend of cinematic drawings and prose, creating an intriguing mystery about family, art, and finding where you belong.
Ages 9–14
Heat
by Mike Lupica
Twelve-year-old Michael Arroyo is an incredible Little League pitcher with a fastball that seems impossible for his age. Living in the shadow of Yankee Stadium, Michael and his older brother are secretly surviving on their own after the sudden death of their father, terrified of being separated by social services. When rival coaches demand proof of his age, Michael faces losing the sport he loves. It is an engaging, fast-paced sports drama filled with tense baseball action, loyalty, and heart that resonates strongly with young sports enthusiasts.
Ages 9–14
Football Genius
by Tim Green
Twelve-year-old Troy White has an extraordinary talent: he can watch any football play unfold and predict exactly what the opposing team will do next. Troy longs to use his gift to help his favorite NFL team, the Atlanta Falcons, but getting adults and professional coaches to listen to a kid is nearly impossible. Young sports fans will love the thrilling, fast-paced gridiron action combined with Troy's relatable struggles with friendship, family, and proving his own worth on and off the field.
On these book lists
A good book is the start. A mentor makes it stick.
In a free 1:1 session, a trained Bookstaken mentor reads with your child, asks what they think and helps the reading habit last.