From: Chris Saad <chrisc>
Date: Wed, 17 Feb 1999 11:35:35 -0500

What does everyone think of Zero's ancestor who put the curse on Caveman's ancestor? Asking a friend to do a favor and then saying, "But if you don't come through I am going to curse you and all your descendants" strikes me as pretty darn evil.

I don't think Holes is a "boys' book" per se: after all, I am female and I LOVED it. There are, however, no female characters with whom a reader can identify. The Warden is overtly evil, and as I said above, Zero's great-great-(I forget how many greats)-grandmother is subtly evil. Caveman's mother is harmless but ineffectual, and Zero's mother abandons him. Because the cast of female characters is so unsympathetic, I can see why some people believe Holes is a boys' book.

Chris


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Received on Wed 17 Feb 1999 10:35:35 AM CST