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Content snapshot
Flag an inaccuracy →What's in this book, at a glance — five things readers want to know before they start.
Violence
Barely any
Mild violence and threat; bullying by a warden and counselors
Language
Barely any
Mild language
Sexual Content
None
No sexual content
Substance Use
None
No substance use
Emotional Intensity
Barely any
Wrongful imprisonment, racial injustice in historical flashbacks; all resolved with justice and hope
What this book is about
Stanley Yelnats is sent to Camp Green Lake, a detention center where the warden forces boys to dig a hole every day in a dried-up lake. Something is being searched for, Stanley suspects. As Stanley pieces together the mystery—involving an outlaw, a schoolteacher, and an ancient curse—he also befriends Zero, a boy whose history is intertwined with his own. Sachar's Newbery Medal winner perfectly balances adventure, humor, and a satisfying mystery.
Notes for sensitive readers
Reader-flagged moments and themes that may affect your experience.
Mild violence and bullying
Brief historical racial injustice
Reader Verification
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