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Quick answer: If your child loved Holes, try Small Steps, Stanley Yelnats' Survival Guide to Camp Green Lake, Sideways Stories from Wayside School, The Westing Game, Hoot and Maniac Magee. They mix funny, strange plots and clever mysteries.
Louis Sachar's 1998 Newbery winner follows Stanley Yelnats, who is sent to Camp Green Lake and made to dig holes, while stories from the past connect to a hidden treasure. It is funny, mysterious and kind. Kids who love it want more quirky stories with puzzles and heart. These 15 books suit ages 8 to 13.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small Steps | Louis Sachar | 10-14 | the direct sequel |
| Stanley Yelnats' Survival Guide to Camp Green Lake | Louis Sachar | 10-14 | fans of the novel |
| Sideways Stories from Wayside School | Louis Sachar | 7-10 | readers who like silly humor |
| There's a Boy in the Girls' Bathroom | Louis Sachar | 8-12 | readers who like gentle stories |
| The Westing Game | Ellen Raskin | 10+ | puzzle fans |
| Hoot | Carl Hiaasen | 10-14 | readers who like environmental mysteries |
| Maniac Magee | Jerry Spinelli | 9-13 | readers who want a thoughtful story |
| Bud, Not Buddy | Christopher Paul Curtis | 9-13 | readers who like adventure |
| Hatchet | Gary Paulsen | 10-14 | survival fans |
| Wonder | R.J. Palacio | 8-12 | readers who want a heartfelt book |
| Tuck Everlasting | Natalie Babbitt | 9-12 | readers who like gentle stories |
| Frindle | Andrew Clements | 8-12 | readers who like school pranks |
| Because of Winn-Dixie | Kate DiCamillo | 8-12 | dog lovers |
| Walk Two Moons | Sharon Creech | 10-14 | readers who like layered stories |
| Stargirl | Jerry Spinelli | 10-14 | readers who like unusual heroes |
1. Small Steps by Louis Sachar
The sequel to Holes follows Armpit and X-Ray after camp. Quieter, but warm and funny.
Best for: the direct sequel.
2. Stanley Yelnats' Survival Guide to Camp Green Lake by Louis Sachar
A tongue-in-cheek guide to surviving the camp. Short and fun for fans.
Best for: fans of the novel.
3. Sideways Stories from Wayside School by Louis Sachar
A school built sideways with thirty classrooms stacked in one tower. Absurd and funny.
Best for: readers who like silly humor.
4. There's a Boy in the Girls' Bathroom by Louis Sachar
Bradley Chalkers is the class bully, and a new counselor tries to reach him. Funny and tender.
Best for: readers who like gentle stories.
5. The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin
Sixteen heirs must solve a puzzle to inherit a fortune. A Newbery winner.
Best for: puzzle fans.
6. Hoot by Carl Hiaasen
Roy, a new kid in Florida, joins a fight to save burrowing owls. Funny and full of attitude.
Best for: readers who like environmental mysteries.
7. Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli
Jeffrey Magee, an orphan, runs through a divided town and changes it. A Newbery winner about race and friendship.
Best for: readers who want a thoughtful story.
8. Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis
Ten-year-old Bud runs away in Depression-era Michigan to find his father. Funny and moving.
Best for: readers who like adventure.
9. Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
Brian survives alone in the Canadian wilderness. Fast and intense.
Best for: survival fans.
10. Wonder by R.J. Palacio
Auggie, who has a facial difference, starts fifth grade. A story about kindness.
Best for: readers who want a heartfelt book.
11. Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt
Winnie meets a family who drink from a spring and never age. Quiet and reflective.
Best for: readers who like gentle stories.
12. Frindle by Andrew Clements
Nick Allen invents a new word for a pen and the whole town joins in. Clever and sweet.
Best for: readers who like school pranks.
13. Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
India Opal Buloni adopts a stray dog and makes friends in a small town. Warm and funny.
Best for: dog lovers.
14. Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech
Sal tells the story of a road trip while she tells her friend's story. A Newbery winner.
Best for: readers who like layered stories.
15. Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
A homeschooled girl joins a high school and changes everyone's views. Quirky and moving.
Best for: readers who like unusual heroes.
How We Chose These Books
Every pick is a real, widely available book that shares something specific with Holes: its tone, its themes, its pace or the kind of characters it puts at the center. We mixed well-known favorites with a few less obvious titles, and we noted who each book suits best so you can match it to the reader. Where a book belongs to a series, we list the first volume so you can start at the beginning.
How to Choose
For more Sachar, start with Small Steps or Wayside School. For puzzles, read The Westing Game. For humor and nature, pick Hoot. For survival, choose Hatchet. A simple plan is to alternate a funny book and a serious book so the mood stays fresh. Several of these books touch on race, bullying or loss, so read them with your child when needed. A family plan: read one chapter of Holes aloud each night, then try a mystery like The Westing Game. After finishing, ask your child which puzzle piece surprised them most. Audiobooks narrated by Kerry Beyer are popular.
Related: 15 Books Like Holes by Louis Sachar You’ll Love: Funny, Clever and Full of Heart · What Age Is Holes Appropriate For? A Parent’s Guide
Frequently Asked Questions
What age is Holes for?
It is recommended for ages 10 and up, though strong younger readers enjoy it.
Is Holes a good read-aloud?
Yes. The short chapters and mysterious plot keep kids listening.
Is there a movie?
Yes. A 2003 film starring Shia LaBeouf follows the book closely, and Sachar wrote the screenplay.
Does it have a sequel?
Yes, Small Steps follows two characters from the book.
Is Holes a good book for reluctant readers?
Yes. Short chapters, humor and mystery draw kids in.
Why is it called Holes?
The campers dig holes every day as punishment, and the holes link to a long-buried secret.