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Holes #1.5
Stanley Yelnats' Survival Guide to Camp Green Lake
Imagine your misfortune if, like Stanley Yelnats, you found yourself the victim of a miscarriage of justice and interned in Camp Green Lake Correctional Institute. How would you survive? Thoughtfully Louis Sachar has learnt his knowledge and expertise to the subject and created this wonderful, quirky, and utterly essential guide to toughing it out in the Texan desert. Spiced with lots of information about the characters in "Holes", as well as lots of do's and don'ts for survival, this is an essential book for all those hundreds of thousands of "Holes'" fans.
96 pages, Paperback
First published March 11, 2003
67 people are currently reading
2681 people want to read
About the author
Louis Sachar
96 books4,726 followersLouis Sachar (pronounced Sacker), born March 20, 1954, is an American author of children's books.
Louis was born in East Meadow, New York, in 1954. When he was nine, he moved to Tustin, California. He went to college at the University of California at Berkeley and graduated in 1976, as an economics major. The next year, he wrote his first book, Sideways Stories from Wayside School .
He was working at a sweater warehouse during the day and wrote at night. Almost a year later, he was fired from the job. He decided to go to law school. He attended Hastings College of the Law in San Francisco.
His first book was published while he was in law school. He graduated in 1980. For the next eight years he worked part-time as a lawyer and continued to try to write children's books. Then his books started selling well enough so that he was able to quit practicing law. His wife's name is Carla. When he first met her, she was a counselor at an elementary school. She was the inspiration behind the counselor in There's a Boy in the Girls' Bathroom . He was married in 1985. Hisdaughter, Sherre, was born in 1987.
Louis was born in East Meadow, New York, in 1954. When he was nine, he moved to Tustin, California. He went to college at the University of California at Berkeley and graduated in 1976, as an economics major. The next year, he wrote his first book, Sideways Stories from Wayside School .
He was working at a sweater warehouse during the day and wrote at night. Almost a year later, he was fired from the job. He decided to go to law school. He attended Hastings College of the Law in San Francisco.
His first book was published while he was in law school. He graduated in 1980. For the next eight years he worked part-time as a lawyer and continued to try to write children's books. Then his books started selling well enough so that he was able to quit practicing law. His wife's name is Carla. When he first met her, she was a counselor at an elementary school. She was the inspiration behind the counselor in There's a Boy in the Girls' Bathroom . He was married in 1985. Hisdaughter, Sherre, was born in 1987.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews
April 4, 2025
"You can't let anybody else tell you what your choices are. Sometimes they won't give you the right choice."
—Stanley Yelnats, Stanley Yelnats' Survival Guide to Camp Green Lake, P. 13
This book is a diamond in the rough, and I'm sorry more people won't end up reading it.
Never has Louis Sachar's wit, timing, creativity and sensitive styling been better than in this miniature novel disguised as a survival guide. Louis Sachar melds so successfully into the personage of Stanley Yelnats as to make the two one person, and we the readers are the beneficiaries.
I love the hilarious survival tests that are proctored by Stanley Yelnats, and the fact that even though the questions seem so innocuous, it is extremely difficult to give more than a couple of lucky correct answers.
Embedded in the wonderful humor is an inconspicuous wisdom that really made an impression on me, especially as tucked away in the smart comments as it is. No matter what you want in a short book, try reading this one, and I'm certain that you will not be disappointed.
Stanley Yelnats' Survival Guide to Camp Green Lake packs a lot of punch for its size, and I would eupeptically recommend it.
"But don't forget who you really are. And I'm not talking about your so-called real name. All names are made up by someone else, even the one your parents gave you. You know who you really are. When you're alone at night, looking up at the stars, or maybe lying in your bed in total darkness, you know that nameless person inside you...Your muscles will toughen. So will your heart and soul. That's necessary for survival. But don't lose touch with that person deep inside you, or else you won't really have survived at all."
—Stanley Yelnats, P. 84
—Stanley Yelnats, Stanley Yelnats' Survival Guide to Camp Green Lake, P. 13
This book is a diamond in the rough, and I'm sorry more people won't end up reading it.
Never has Louis Sachar's wit, timing, creativity and sensitive styling been better than in this miniature novel disguised as a survival guide. Louis Sachar melds so successfully into the personage of Stanley Yelnats as to make the two one person, and we the readers are the beneficiaries.
I love the hilarious survival tests that are proctored by Stanley Yelnats, and the fact that even though the questions seem so innocuous, it is extremely difficult to give more than a couple of lucky correct answers.
Embedded in the wonderful humor is an inconspicuous wisdom that really made an impression on me, especially as tucked away in the smart comments as it is. No matter what you want in a short book, try reading this one, and I'm certain that you will not be disappointed.
Stanley Yelnats' Survival Guide to Camp Green Lake packs a lot of punch for its size, and I would eupeptically recommend it.
"But don't forget who you really are. And I'm not talking about your so-called real name. All names are made up by someone else, even the one your parents gave you. You know who you really are. When you're alone at night, looking up at the stars, or maybe lying in your bed in total darkness, you know that nameless person inside you...Your muscles will toughen. So will your heart and soul. That's necessary for survival. But don't lose touch with that person deep inside you, or else you won't really have survived at all."
—Stanley Yelnats, P. 84
April 7, 2020
I found this book to be a cash grab for the author. I had the idea this was only sold because of the success of book 1. It really wasn't a good story, not many new facts about the first story. It missed a coherent story or sequel idea. A very low 3.
August 1, 2014
Super quick read. Sometime after the end of Holes, Camp Green Lake has reopened. Main character Stanley Yelnats would like to share some of his wisdom that he gained from his experiences in Holes. Now some of the "chapters" are about detail specific things from Holes such as the yellow spotted lizards. But what I really took from the book was certain life lessons that everyone should learn at some point. One of the morals of the story was that the correct choice is not always one given. If you only do what other people tell you, that is no way to live. That there are bad guys in life and no matter what you will have people around you that are going to make your life hell. Stick up for your friends especially the ones you make now because they could be your best friends for decades. Anyway it was a pretty uplifting book if you look at if from the morally philosophic side like I did. There were references to almost every character from Holes, so make sure you are familiar with them if you want to enjoy the connections.
February 24, 2015
It was fun to visit Camp Green Lake again. I started reading Small Steps, which is a loose sequel to Holes, and I didn't know if there was anything in this Survival Guide that had any bearing on Small Steps. There isn't. I think this book was published more in conjunction with the release of the movie.
November 7, 2022
now i'll be prepared if i'm ever sent to camp green lake
January 14, 2021
deniz cred ca nu ghiceai in viata vietilor tale
2.75*
2.75*
October 17, 2022
Very very cute.
Makes me miss the characters from the original story.
Makes me miss the characters from the original story.
December 18, 2021
The ONLY reason I give this book four stars instead of five was because it was that much of a disappointment (a HUGE disappointment, in other words) that it was so short. I really hate Louis Sachar right now for not making this a little bit longer (especially considering I paid a totally unfair 41 dirhems for it, but that's just the fault of the cheapskates who own the bookshop). You know it's funny, you'll hate a really good author alot more than you'll hate a totally lousy author because in the case of the former you have expectations. And right now I am so angry I need a moment to compose myself before I continue this review;
breathing in...breathing out
Okay, done. Now let me just say that, in alot of ways, this book was even better than Holes. Sachar does a better (well, more entertaining) job in first-person than third, and this book is told from Stanley's point of view. He (Stanley) wrote it a little while after the events of Holes and he reveals things about Camp Green Lake and the people in it that we hadn't known before, so it's sort of a sequel and a prequel. It's also a hilariously funny read at some points (or most), and then at other times Stanley says something that really makes you think. There are survival test questions, and these are interesting because you'll think that one is a trick question like its predeccesor but then turn out to have a totally obvious yet clever answer to it. Besides giving the basics of how things run around Camp Green Lake, Stanley also recalls events that take place both during his time at Camp Green Lake and after he left. Regretfully there is no mystery twist to it like there was to the plot in Holes, but then, this is a survival guide. Had Camp Green Lake actually been a real Correction Facility (and we can thank our lucky stars that it isn't) this would be the perfect thing to take along if you find yourself sent down there. I know because while I was reading it I imagined myself sitting in a cot in one of the tents, tired and sore after a whole day of digging.
breathing in...breathing out
Okay, done. Now let me just say that, in alot of ways, this book was even better than Holes. Sachar does a better (well, more entertaining) job in first-person than third, and this book is told from Stanley's point of view. He (Stanley) wrote it a little while after the events of Holes and he reveals things about Camp Green Lake and the people in it that we hadn't known before, so it's sort of a sequel and a prequel. It's also a hilariously funny read at some points (or most), and then at other times Stanley says something that really makes you think. There are survival test questions, and these are interesting because you'll think that one is a trick question like its predeccesor but then turn out to have a totally obvious yet clever answer to it. Besides giving the basics of how things run around Camp Green Lake, Stanley also recalls events that take place both during his time at Camp Green Lake and after he left. Regretfully there is no mystery twist to it like there was to the plot in Holes, but then, this is a survival guide. Had Camp Green Lake actually been a real Correction Facility (and we can thank our lucky stars that it isn't) this would be the perfect thing to take along if you find yourself sent down there. I know because while I was reading it I imagined myself sitting in a cot in one of the tents, tired and sore after a whole day of digging.
October 16, 2019
Omgosh, I LOVED this little throw back to Camp Green Lake. I just discovered its existence and boy am I glad my library had a copy in stock. The survival guide is just tips Stanley feels people heading to Camp Green Laken should know, but he includes "never before seen" stories of other moments during his time there, which was fun to read. We get a little closer glimpse into each D Tent boy's lives and how they each turn out.
The only thing that threw me off was that there was still A Camp Green Lake. Stanley makes it seem like the criminals of the story basically got off scott free which the original book seemed to imply otherwise. But it was such a good little book I'll let Sachar slide lol
Also love how realistically Stanley talks about girls 😂
Great book, totally recommend it for any fan of Holes!
The only thing that threw me off was that there was still A Camp Green Lake. Stanley makes it seem like the criminals of the story basically got off scott free which the original book seemed to imply otherwise. But it was such a good little book I'll let Sachar slide lol
Also love how realistically Stanley talks about girls 😂
Great book, totally recommend it for any fan of Holes!
June 5, 2015
Stanley yelnat is from poor family. He found the hidden treasure one day and make a rich family.
September 1, 2025
I took way too long finishing this small, thin book for whatever reason… Regardless, this is just a little like companion in - between with extra stories from the “Holes” universe before I jump into the sequel. It was okay. I don’t have too many thoughts on it besides liking the fact that it dove into the backstory on some of the characters from the original series like how X-Ray ended up at the camp and how Stanley is surviving now back in high school.
December 5, 2023
I couldn't really get into this, mostly since Stanley supposedly wrote this, but some things he mentiones are not at all in Holes, such as liking girls. Also, I feel this is a very bad survival guide, as it adds little after reading Holes.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 11, 2020
This thin survival guide may be a bit incomprehensible to those who have not read "Holes". Yet, it is in itself a great summary of Four Life Lessons that Stanley has learnt from his stay at Camp Green Lake:
1. Don't complain
2. Don't ask too many questions
3. Try to make the right choices.
4. Dig the perfect Hole
"I don't complain. I don't ask too many questions. I try to make the right choices. And I'm still trying to dig the perfect hole."
The whole situation at Camp Green Lake is a metaphor for life itself.
"Everyone suffers equally. You're all in this together. Race, skin color, the grades you got at school, whether you were one of the popular kids; none of that matters. You will earn the respect of the others by doing your job without grumbling."
Thus, Camp Green Lake is the world, life, living...Whatever. In this sense all of us are in some form or the other at Camp Green Lake. We don't like that we''re doing; we are paid less and over-worked; we don't like digging holes.
But digging holes is what we do. Doing a great job in whatever we do is "Digging the Perfect Hole."
Stanley says he's still trying to Dig the Perfect Hole!
"I know that sounds really weird. Who cares if your hole is perfect? But if you're going to be out there six hours a day, you have to give yourself a purpose. You can either groan about how stupid is to dig a hole, or you can tell yourself you're doing something important. You Are digging the best hole anyone's ever dug
It also helps physically. If you can make a perfect circle, exactly five feet in diameter and five feet deep, with sides that are perpendicular to the ground, you will have dug the absolute minimum amount of dirt required. No one's ever done that, not even Zero, but he's come close
When you're done, stand over your hole. Take time to admire it, no matter how tired and sore you feel. You worked hard digging that hole, and you should take pride in a job well done.
And then spit in it."
Digging a hole is purpose. Doing it well is courage. Spitting into it is detachment.
"Because, after all, it's just a stupid hole, and you are better than that."
In other words you are better and bigger than the challenge demanded by your current job. Look for greater things to do. Stretch yourself. You are not proving anything to others its just between you and that "nameless person inside you".
Choices
"You can't let anybody else tell you what your choices are. Sometimes they won't give you the right choice. If you're going to survive at Camp Green Lake, you must always make the right choice, whether it's given to you or not."
In other words, you should choose for yourself. Life is not an easy MCQ. The correct answer may not be one of the choices! Many of the things we regret doing are because of allowing others to decide what we choose!
Finally "Holes" is about self-discovery.
"But don't forget who you really are. And I'm not talking about your so-called real name. All names are made up by someone else, even the one your parents gave you.
You know who you really are. When you're alone at night, looking up at the stars, or maybe lying in your bed in total darkness, you know that nameless person inside you."
1. Don't complain
2. Don't ask too many questions
3. Try to make the right choices.
4. Dig the perfect Hole
"I don't complain. I don't ask too many questions. I try to make the right choices. And I'm still trying to dig the perfect hole."
The whole situation at Camp Green Lake is a metaphor for life itself.
"Everyone suffers equally. You're all in this together. Race, skin color, the grades you got at school, whether you were one of the popular kids; none of that matters. You will earn the respect of the others by doing your job without grumbling."
Thus, Camp Green Lake is the world, life, living...Whatever. In this sense all of us are in some form or the other at Camp Green Lake. We don't like that we''re doing; we are paid less and over-worked; we don't like digging holes.
But digging holes is what we do. Doing a great job in whatever we do is "Digging the Perfect Hole."
Stanley says he's still trying to Dig the Perfect Hole!
"I know that sounds really weird. Who cares if your hole is perfect? But if you're going to be out there six hours a day, you have to give yourself a purpose. You can either groan about how stupid is to dig a hole, or you can tell yourself you're doing something important. You Are digging the best hole anyone's ever dug
It also helps physically. If you can make a perfect circle, exactly five feet in diameter and five feet deep, with sides that are perpendicular to the ground, you will have dug the absolute minimum amount of dirt required. No one's ever done that, not even Zero, but he's come close
When you're done, stand over your hole. Take time to admire it, no matter how tired and sore you feel. You worked hard digging that hole, and you should take pride in a job well done.
And then spit in it."
Digging a hole is purpose. Doing it well is courage. Spitting into it is detachment.
"Because, after all, it's just a stupid hole, and you are better than that."
In other words you are better and bigger than the challenge demanded by your current job. Look for greater things to do. Stretch yourself. You are not proving anything to others its just between you and that "nameless person inside you".
Choices
"You can't let anybody else tell you what your choices are. Sometimes they won't give you the right choice. If you're going to survive at Camp Green Lake, you must always make the right choice, whether it's given to you or not."
In other words, you should choose for yourself. Life is not an easy MCQ. The correct answer may not be one of the choices! Many of the things we regret doing are because of allowing others to decide what we choose!
Finally "Holes" is about self-discovery.
"But don't forget who you really are. And I'm not talking about your so-called real name. All names are made up by someone else, even the one your parents gave you.
You know who you really are. When you're alone at night, looking up at the stars, or maybe lying in your bed in total darkness, you know that nameless person inside you."
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 16, 2015
(Maybe 2.5)
Stanley Yelnats, now home from his adventures at Camp Green Lake Juvenile Correctional Facility, has decided to write a survival guide to help future campers to better endure their time spent there (since it has apparently re-opened?...).
I have no idea why exactly, but for some reason every time I heard about this book in recent years I figured it was a movie tie-in/adaptation from back in the day, so I didn't have much interest. Then when I read the excerpt included at the end of the pseudo-sequel Small Steps , I realized it wasn't, so I picked it up one afternoon. What I found when I did was a slim volume, short on pages, but also on substance. It basically read like a combination of recycled (some probably by now irrelevant) survival tips and extended/deleted scenes that weren't quite interesting or necessary enough to include in Holes (with just a little bit of behind-the-scenes info on camp life). The appendix was especially odd, as it was essentially a "where are they now?" list of all the characters from the previous book, almost as if in response to a lot of fans writing in and wondering what happened to everyone after they left Camp Green Lake, in which case I think an official statement online or something would have been more than sufficient. There were some interesting little character moments, but they didn't do a whole lot to expand the characters or relationships. The excerpt at the end of Small Steps was the most engaging part, which was a little misleading as a teaser. It tried to teach some life lessons, and naturally tried to capture some of the combination of down-to-earth and whimsical that Holes, but ended up just feeling vague and just a teeny bit pretentious.
This slender companion piece to Holes is harmless, but it's also totally unnecessary and a little self-indulgent. I think the general rule for sequels or tie-ins is that they should have something to add to or enrich the story or the world, but this book didn't really. I'm not sorry I read it or anything, but I don't feel like I gained anything much by reading it either.
Stanley Yelnats, now home from his adventures at Camp Green Lake Juvenile Correctional Facility, has decided to write a survival guide to help future campers to better endure their time spent there (since it has apparently re-opened?...).
I have no idea why exactly, but for some reason every time I heard about this book in recent years I figured it was a movie tie-in/adaptation from back in the day, so I didn't have much interest. Then when I read the excerpt included at the end of the pseudo-sequel Small Steps , I realized it wasn't, so I picked it up one afternoon. What I found when I did was a slim volume, short on pages, but also on substance. It basically read like a combination of recycled (some probably by now irrelevant) survival tips and extended/deleted scenes that weren't quite interesting or necessary enough to include in Holes (with just a little bit of behind-the-scenes info on camp life). The appendix was especially odd, as it was essentially a "where are they now?" list of all the characters from the previous book, almost as if in response to a lot of fans writing in and wondering what happened to everyone after they left Camp Green Lake, in which case I think an official statement online or something would have been more than sufficient. There were some interesting little character moments, but they didn't do a whole lot to expand the characters or relationships. The excerpt at the end of Small Steps was the most engaging part, which was a little misleading as a teaser. It tried to teach some life lessons, and naturally tried to capture some of the combination of down-to-earth and whimsical that Holes, but ended up just feeling vague and just a teeny bit pretentious.
This slender companion piece to Holes is harmless, but it's also totally unnecessary and a little self-indulgent. I think the general rule for sequels or tie-ins is that they should have something to add to or enrich the story or the world, but this book didn't really. I'm not sorry I read it or anything, but I don't feel like I gained anything much by reading it either.
October 19, 2021
I read this right after rereading Holes and, honestly, I feel like there may have been a ghostwriter involved with this. There are parts of it that absolutely have the same voice as Holes, and then parts of it that absolutely don’t. It almost feels like someone took some scenes cut from the book as well as notes on various characters and strung them together to make a book.
Also, I understand for the conceit of the book to work Camp Green Lake has to exist still, but the idea that the camp just… reopened really takes a lot of the catharsis out of the original book.
Also, I understand for the conceit of the book to work Camp Green Lake has to exist still, but the idea that the camp just… reopened really takes a lot of the catharsis out of the original book.
July 15, 2018
This is just a short tie-in to Holes for a bit of fun.
Even so, it's completely awful. From the first few pages it seems to completely ignore many of the major plot points of Holes (which I won't spoil).
If it weren't so inconsequential it would go some way to ruining Holes itself, and I really don't understand why it was done like this!
Even so, it's completely awful. From the first few pages it seems to completely ignore many of the major plot points of Holes (which I won't spoil).
If it weren't so inconsequential it would go some way to ruining Holes itself, and I really don't understand why it was done like this!
June 8, 2019
Read this a few years ago, and it was a good, fun, short reading tie-in to Holes, which I enjoyed quite a bit. I recall liking things about the lizard, the other boys like X-Ray, and in general, I recall it fitting the tone of the series well enough and paying decent homage to the original with its humor/references.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 4, 2018
This was pretty boring, and I have to say that I skim read most of it. It was nice to see a little more of the characters, but I didn't really enjoy it. The information in it is very repetitive, we here it all in Holes and I didn't think it added anything to the story. Waste of time, really.
July 2, 2019
This was a tie-in that was really not necesary. I didn't really enjoy it. It also seemed to ignore the cannon established in Holes which was odd.
August 19, 2021
A quick, fun, and easy read for fans of holes. If you ever find yourself at camp green lake, or a similar camp, you should definitely check this one out so you can know the dos and don'ts of camp green lake.
May 18, 2022
An excellent survival guide for life inside a Fortune 500 company. Wish I would have read this book before I started my career; would have been far better off had I followed Stanley Yelnats’ advice. Just change the word “warden” to “CEO” and you’ll be all set.
October 24, 2022
Cute little guide, it's a take on the events that happened at Camp Green Lake and how to survive them. It's a young readers book, so I read it in like an hour or so. It's part of the Holes series, so I was reading it no matter what. Did you know there's 3 books in total?
February 25, 2017
A funny addition to Holes, but not as entertaining or well written as the original.
February 13, 2018
This was another quick read, and I wasn't sure when I was going to start it. The book is pretty straight forward, and gives the reader information about Camp Greenlake and the characters from Holes.
July 9, 2018
A short guide to life at Camp Green Lake by Stanley Yelnats from the book "Holes." Short but funny. It has info about some of the other characters also.
August 1, 2018
This was a cute little book. I cant wait to read Small Steps.
August 20, 2018
Good 3.5 stars
August 21, 2018
2.5
Rather unnecessary.
Rather unnecessary.
September 5, 2019
Cute, but a little too obviously riding off the success of Holes.
January 14, 2020
Thoroughly enjoyed the trip back to Camp Green Lake. Very quick read and easy to do in one sitting. Fun to reminisce over the characters and the their personalities. Makes me want to reread Holes.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews