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Quick answer: If your child loved Holes by Louis Sachar, try Small Steps by Louis Sachar, Hoot by Carl Hiaasen, The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin, Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli, Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis and Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli.
Holes is the story of Stanley Yelnats, a boy sent to a juvenile detention camp in the Texas desert where every day he must dig a hole five feet deep and five feet wide. Along the way, we learn about a family curse, a famous outlaw named Kissin’ Kate Barlow and a mystery buried in the dirt. Louis Sachar’s book won the Newbery Medal and has been a classroom favorite for decades. The picks below share its mix of humor, mystery, underdogs and clever plotting. They suit readers about ages 9 to 13, and the table notes a starting age for each.
Table of Contents
Why Readers Love Holes
Kids love Holes because it’s a puzzle disguised as an adventure. Sachar weaves three stories across different times and places, and the pieces click together in a satisfying way at the end, so children feel smart for spotting the connections. Stanley is an ordinary kid, not a hero, and the other boys at Camp Green Lake are funny and distinct. The book is short, with fast chapters, and it deals with fairness, friendship and luck without ever becoming preachy, which is why teachers and parents recommend it so often.
How We Chose These Books
Every pick below shares at least one thing readers loved about Holes: its characters, its mood, its setting or the questions it raises. We mixed well-known favorites with a few less obvious choices, and we noted the genre and who each book suits best in the table, so you can scan for the right fit before you read the blurbs.
We kept every description spoiler-free and flagged mature content where it matters, since some of these books are written for adults and others suit teens. If you’re not sure where to start, the tips near the end of this list match each pick to what you loved most. The FAQ at the bottom answers the questions readers ask most often.
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small Steps | Louis Sachar | 10–13 | More from the Holes world |
| There’s a Boy in the Girls’ Bathroom | Louis Sachar | 8–11 | School stories with heart |
| Hoot | Carl Hiaasen | 9–13 | Funny mystery with a cause |
| The Westing Game | Ellen Raskin | 9–13 | Clever puzzles |
| Maniac Magee | Jerry Spinelli | 9–13 | Tall-tale hero |
| Stargirl | Jerry Spinelli | 10–14 | Being yourself |
| Bud, Not Buddy | Christopher Paul Curtis | 9–12 | Resilient young heroes |
| Wolf Hollow | Lauren Wolk | 10–13 | Serious historical mystery |
| Walk Two Moons | Sharon Creech | 10–13 | Stories within stories |
| Shiloh | Phyllis Reynolds Naylor | 8–12 | Doing what’s right |
| Frindle | Andrew Clements | 8–11 | Funny school mischief |
| Skellig | David Almond | 10–13 | Mysterious, quiet magic |
| Because of Winn-Dixie | Kate DiCamillo | 8–11 | Heartwarming stories |
| The Wednesday Wars | Gary D. Schmidt | 11–14 | Humor and history |
| Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key | Jack Gantos | 10–13 | Wild, fast, relatable |
1. Small Steps by Louis Sachar
Armpit, a former Camp Green Lake camper, tries to build a new life and gets drawn into a plan to meet a famous pop star. It’s a sequel in spirit rather than plot, with the same dry humor and an engaging underdog.
2. There’s a Boy in the Girls’ Bathroom by Louis Sachar
Bradley Chalkers is the class bully and outcast, until a new school counselor and a new student begin to change how he sees himself. It’s funny and surprisingly moving, and a good pick for readers who like Sachar’s voice.
3. Hoot by Carl Hiaasen
A new kid in Florida finds a mystery involving a runaway boy and a group of burrowing owls threatened by a development. It’s funny, fast and full of unusual characters, with a message about caring for nature that never feels like a lecture.
4. The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin
Sixteen heirs are named in a millionaire’s will and must work in pairs to solve the mystery of his death. The clues are meant for readers to puzzle out, and the ending makes you want to start again. It won the Newbery Medal.
5. Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli
An orphan who runs into a divided town becomes a local legend. He crosses the invisible line between Black and white neighborhoods, and the story explores race and belonging with humor and warmth. It’s a Newbery Medal winner with a mythic feel.
6. Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
A homeschooled girl arrives at a conformist high school and changes the people around her. Told by a boy who falls for her, it’s quirky and thoughtful about friendship and what it costs to be different.
7. Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis
In 1936, ten-year-old Bud leaves an orphanage to find the man he believes is his father, a jazz bandleader. It’s funny, warm and unforgettable, and it won the Newbery Medal and the Coretta Scott King Award.
8. Wolf Hollow by Lauren Wolk
In 1943 Pennsylvania, a girl named Annabelle faces a new bully and a quiet war veteran who is blamed for her crimes. It’s tense, moving and about doing what’s right when it’s hard. It’s more serious than Holes, so it suits slightly older readers.
9. Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech
A girl takes a road trip with her grandparents and tells them the story of her friend Phoebe, while hiding the story of her own mother. It’s funny, sad and a Newbery Medal winner.
10. Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
A boy finds a mistreated beagle and has to decide whether to keep a secret to protect him. It’s short, heartfelt and raises questions about honesty and compassion.
11. Frindle by Andrew Clements
A fifth grader invents a new word for a pen and sparks a nationwide craze, to the dismay of his teacher. It’s smart and funny, and a favorite for classrooms.
12. Skellig by David Almond
A boy finds a strange man in his garage who may be an angel or something else. It’s a short, lyrical story about family and hope, and it’s more atmospheric than Holes.
13. Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
A girl adopts a stray dog in a grocery store and makes friends all over a small Florida town. It’s gentle, funny and sad, a good pick for younger readers.
14. The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt
A seventh grader in 1967 is stuck with his teacher on Wednesday afternoons while his classmates go to religious school. It becomes a story about Shakespeare, the Vietnam War and growing up. It’s funny and moving.
15. Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key by Jack Gantos
Joey has ADHD and is sometimes out of control, but he is determined to be good. It’s funny, quick and honest about how hard it can be to feel different. It’s the first of a series.
How to Pick Your Child’s Next Read After Holes
- Loved the puzzle? The Westing Game and Hoot.
- Loved the underdog? Maniac Magee and Bud, Not Buddy.
- Loved the humor? Frindle and Small Steps.
- Loved the friendships? Stargirl and Walk Two Moons.
- Want something heavier? Wolf Hollow is a good next step for older readers.
- Try more Sachar. Sideways Stories from Wayside School is great for younger siblings.
What Makes a Good Holes Read-Alike?
The best books like Holes share one or two key features: a funny, underdog hero; a mystery with a clever solution; an unusual setting; or a story that links the past to the present. Some, like The Westing Game, focus on puzzles. Others, like Maniac Magee and Bud, Not Buddy, focus on a young hero who has to survive on his own and find a home. You can use the table to match your child’s favorite part of Holes to the right next book.
More Louis Sachar
If your child hasn’t read the rest of Louis Sachar’s books, they are a safe next step. Small Steps follows two characters from Holes after camp, and There’s a Boy in the Girls’ Bathroom is a funny school story about a lonely boy. Sideways Stories from Wayside School is the best pick for younger readers. Sachar’s books are short, quick and good for family read-alouds, and many are used in schools.
Holes for Reluctant Readers
Holes is often the book that turns a reluctant reader into a fan. The chapters are short, the plot moves quickly and the humor shows up on almost every page. If your child enjoyed it, look for books with a similar pace: short chapters, plenty of dialogue and a mystery that unfolds in small pieces. Audiobooks can help too, and the Holes audiobook is widely praised. Reading the same book in print and in audio at the same time is a good trick for kids who find long books intimidating.
Discussion Questions to Try After Reading
Holes is a great book for conversation. Ask your child why the author decided to tell three stories at once, whether Stanley’s family curse was real or just a coincidence, and what the holes stand for. You can also ask which character they admired most and why. Many of the books above work well with the same questions: ask what the main character wanted, what stood in their way and what they learned. These simple prompts turn independent reading into shared reading, even for older children.
A Reading Plan for the Next Month
If you want a simple plan, try this: read Small Steps first, because it feels most like Holes. Next pick one funny story, such as Frindle or Hoot, and one more serious book, such as Maniac Magee or Wolf Hollow. Finish with a puzzle book like The Westing Game. That mix gives your child a taste of humor, heart and mystery without repeating the same story, and it makes it easy to see which style they like best. After that, you can follow their favorite author or theme.
Related: best books for 11-year-old boys and best books for 9-year-old girls.
Frequently Asked Questions
What book is most like Holes?
Small Steps by Louis Sachar is the closest, since it shares the author and some characters. Hoot and The Westing Game are close matches for humor and mystery.
What age is Holes for?
Holes is suitable for ages 9 to 13. It includes bullying and some mild violence, but it’s widely taught in elementary and middle schools.
Is there a sequel to Holes?
Small Steps is a loose sequel that follows Armpit and X-Ray. Sachar also wrote Stanley Yelnats’ Survival Guide to Camp Green Lake.
Is Holes based on a true story?
No. The book is fiction, although the desert setting and juvenile camp feel realistic.
What are good funny books for kids who like Holes?
Frindle, Hoot, There’s a Boy in the Girls’ Bathroom and Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key are all funny, fast-paced reads.