Holes is a 1998 novel written by Louis Sachar, and it won the 1999 Newbery Medal. The story follows Stanley Yelnats IV, an unlucky teenager who has been falsely accused of stealing shoes from a famous baseball player. He is sent to Camp Green Lake as punishment for his crime, where he must dig one large hole each day in the harsh desert heat. Despite its grueling nature, Stanley finds himself growing closer with his fellow inmates at camp and discovers secrets about the history of Camp Green Lake that will change his life forever.
The book was later adapted into a 2003 film starring Shia LaBeouf as Stanley Yelnats IV. While not always following closely to the original plot points of Sachar's novel, critics praised the film adaptation for its comedic elements and strong performances from both LaBeouf and Sigourney Weaver as Warden Walker, the overseer of Camp Green Lake. It also received two Academy Award nominations: Best Adapted Screenplay (written by Andrew Davis) and Best Original Song ("Dig It," performed by Lil' Bow Wow).
Holes can be seen as an allegory for overcoming obstacles or hardships through perseverance while remaining true to oneself; this idea is evident throughout both versions of Holes—novel and film alike—but especially in the character arc of the protagonist Stanley Yelnats IV, whose journey takes him from being an outcast to becoming respected. This message resonates strongly with readers and viewers across age groups, regardless of whether they've read or seen either version, because everyone can relate to the book on some level.