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Sunshine State Young Readers Award
2003-04

Book List -Grades 3-5
Anna Casey's Place in the World by Adrian Fogelin. Peachtree Publishers, ©2001.

2002 - 2003 Winner

Last year, Louis Sachar's book, Holes, was the winner for both levels, Grades 3-5 and Grades 6-8.
2002 - 2003 Winner: Last year, Louis Sachar's book, Holes, was the winner for both levels, Grades 3-5 and Grades 6-8.

"Stanley Yelnats is an unusual hero-dogged by bad luck stemming from an ancient family curse, overweight, and unlikely to stick up for himself when challenged by the class bully. Perpetually in the wrong place at the wrong time, Stanley is unfairly sentenced to months of detention at Camp Green Lake (a gross misnomer if ever there was one!) where he's forced to dig one hole in the rock-hard desert soil every day. The hole must be exactly five feet in diameter, the distance from the tip of his shovel to the top of the wooden handle. Each boy is compelled to dig until his hole is completed, no matter how long it takes. According to the warden the digging "builds character." Stanley soon begins to question why the warden is so interested in anything "special" the boys find. How Stanley rescues his friend Zero, who really stole Sweet Feet's tennis shoes, what the warden is desperately looking for, and how the Yelnats curse is broken all blend magically together in a unique coming of age story leavened with a healthy dose of humor."
--School Library Journal

Find out more about author Louis Sachar and his book Holes:

Children's Book Council biographical facts

Literature Learning Ladders - Holes

PBS Interview with Mr. Sachar

Austin Chronicle article, "Louis Sachar: Top of His Class"

Teacher Resource Page - Louis Sachar