Louis Sachar, Author of "Holes" and Much More

Louis Sachar has been in the news a lot in the last several years. If you recognize his name, you probably know him as the author of "Holes". "Holes" (compare prices) is a fascinating contemporary fairy tale for children 10 years old and up as well as adults. You may know him as the author of the screenplay for the movie “Holes,” which has won accolades for remaining true to the book. Perhaps, you know that he won the 1999 Newbery Medal and the National Book Award for Young People’s Literature. "The Austin Chronicle" reported, "‘Holes,’ the comically suspenseful story of a boy, a desert, and a generations-old curse, is the first book ever to win both awards in the same year." However, if all you know about Louis Sachar is that he is the author of a book that has sold more than 3.5 million copies, you are missing a lot.

With its intricate plot and some frightening scenes, “Holes” is written for a more mature audience than Sachar’s other books. These include the popular Wayside School series, the Marvin Redpost series, and the award winning "There’s a Boy in the Girls’ Bathroom" (compare prices). The humorous Marvin Redpost Series, featuring the adventures of an imaginative third grader, are written for children eight and younger and are generally about 80 pages long.

The clever Wayside School series centers on a most unusual school, and the absurd happenings, students, and teachers there. Due to a mix-up during construction, what was supposed to be a one story, 30-classroom school became a school 30 stories high with a single classroom on each floor. The books are considerably longer than the Marvin Redpost series and are written for children 9-12, although they make good read-alouds for younger children. “There’s a Boy in the Girls’ Bathroom” won several state awards, including the Texas Bluebonnet Award. While Sachar’s books are funny, they also deal with some of the serious issues, such as bullying, that children have to contend with.

Louis Sachar was born in 1954 in East Meadow, New York. He earned both a B.A. degree in economics and a law degree. While an undergraduate at the University of California, he became a teacher’s aide, which piqued his interest in writing for children. His first book, “Sideways Stories From Wayside School,” was published just after he began law school. After working part-time as a lawyer for several years while continuing to write for children, Sachar became a fulltime children’s writer.

In March 2003, Dell Yearling, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, published Louis Sachar’s follow-up to "Holes," "Stanley Yelnats’ Survival Guide to Camp Green Lake" (compare prices). If your child or young adult liked “Holes,” s/he will probably find this a fascinating book; I did. However, in order to fully enjoy this book, you have to have read all about Stanley’s experiences at Camp Green Lake in “Holes” first.

Have you or your children read "Holes"? Share your comments by posting to the About Children's Books Forum. What are your favorite books by Louis Sachar? Share your recommendations here.