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Reflecting on the Book

The book is very funny, but in an offbeat way.

Yes. Sometimes when I start reading, people aren't quite sure if this is a humorous book or not, and they're not sure whether to laugh at first, and then gradually, people start laughing.

 

Is this a story that has any meaning or is it just for entertainment?

It's written for entertainment, but part of my definition of entertainment, especially with reading, is to have meaning. At least the books I love are ones that really make me think and provoke all kinds of feeling. And so there are meanings there. I didn't set out to teach a lesson, I set out to entertain, and whatever messages are there grew out of the story.

What are some of those messages, in your mind?

I would say the importance of trusting yourself, standing up for your friends, then the broad issues of racial equality, anti-discrimination, and the importance of learning to read.

 

When Holes won both the 1998 National Book Award and the Newbery Medal, which was the first children's book to do so, what did that mean for you, personally and professionally?

It was a great satisfaction to be recognized like that, but awards don't mean as much to me as just people liking the book. You know, it means some committee likes the book, and that's nice, but it also means more if kids like the book.

 

What do you think makes Holes so special?

I think it's a very entertaining story, very exciting story, thought provoking, and a puzzle. And its not written down to kids, I write for my enjoyment, things that I like, so it respects its readers, treats its readers as intelligent, caring, smart people, and I think it brings out the best qualities of the reader.

What do you mean it brings out the best qualities of a reader?

I think it's the attitude the author has of its reader, it presents characters that caring people should care about. And the book is a puzzle that intelligent people will enjoy solving and the humor grows out of the story and is not directed at any of the characters. They're not laughing at the people. So the qualities it brings out are people's natural compassion for other people and imagination and intelligence.

 

Of all the books that you have written, why is Holes your favorite?

It was a much more challenging story to write; it was a much bigger story than my other books, and by bigger, I don't mean longer in words. I mean it spanned four generations. Part of it took place in Latvia, part of it in the Old West, part of it in current day. [There were] lots of characters. The plot was kind of a great adventure with people escaping from prison and digging up buried treasure. Most of my other books are more character studies rather than big, plotted books. There's a Boy in the Girls' Bathroom is another one of my favorites, which is really about the story of a troubled kid in school.

 

Will you write a sequel to Holes?

I don't expect to. I feel like the story is completely finished. I don't really have more to add to it.