SUBSCRIBE
SUBSCRIBE
SLJ Blog Network +
  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Classroom Bookshelf
  • The Yarn
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About/Contact
  • Fusenews
  • Reviews
  • Librarian Previews
  • Best Books
    • Top 100
    • Best Books of 2022
    • Best Books of 2021
    • Best Books of 2020
    • Best Books of 2019
    • Best Books of 2018
    • Best Books of 2017
    • Best Books of 2016
    • Best Books of 2015
    • Best Books of 2014
    • Best Books of 2013
  • Fuse 8 n’ Kate
  • Videos
  • Press Release Fun

November 17, 2008 by Betsy Bird

WBBT Interview – Louis Sachar!

November 17, 2008 by Betsy Bird   8 comments

You will hear a lot of talk these days about Newbery winners and whether or not they are "kid-friendly", "readable", or "popular".  This same debate raises its ugly head on such a regular basis that you could probably time when the next one begins (my prediction: 3 1/2 years).  That’s why it’s so nice to read a book like Holes.  Considered one of the most popular Newbery winners of the last 25 years and one of the few recent books to be turned into a film (an accurate film no less) Holes pleases pretty much anyone who reads it.  Its detractors are few and far between.  Now we are able to celebrate its ten-year anniversary and as such Farrar, Straus, and Giroux are reprinting a lovely 10th anniversary edition with rather breathtaking endpapers, for those of you who care about such things.  They’ve also been kind enough to allow the man himself, Louis Sachar, a chance to be interviewed.  Here then is my own brief Q&A with the author of this amazing title.

Fuse #8: Newbery winners come and Newbery winners go, but in my experience Holes has been perhaps one of the most successful and popular winners in the history of the award. A perfect balance of kid-friendly content and stellar writing have your feelings towards it changed any in the intervening 10 years or so since it won its award?

SCROLL TO KEEP READING THIS POST

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Louis Sachar: This may seem odd, but I don’t really think too much about Holes. This is the 10-year anniversary of the book, but I actually wrote it over 12 years ago. It took me a year and a half to write, and during that time, it occupied my thoughts 24-hours a day. When I’m working on a book it is a very intense obsession that increases daily until the book is finished. Once the book is finished, I’m done with it, and its hard for me to connect with that part of me which wrote it.

Fuse #8: Of course Holes ends up being one of the most "taught" books in school these days. Rather than encountering it as a book to read for pleasure, kids are assigned it in droves. Is that how you would have envisioned its use and would you encourage or discourage teachers from utlizing the book in this manner?

Sachar: I can only hope that the teaching of the book enhances the enjoyment of the book. Good teachers can do that.

Fuse #8: You’ve already written one sequel to Holes in the form of Small Steps. Have you felt any inclination to follow the stories of any of the other characters from Holes or are you content to end it with that?

Louis Sachar: I don’t plan to write any more sequels, and I don’t really consider Small Steps a sequel. The main character, Armpit, was not explored very deeply in Holes. His story would exist on its own, without Holes, and is very different from Stanley’s.

Fuse #8: On your website you’ve said that the rejected original title of Holes was going to be Wrong Place, Wrong Time, Wrong Kid. Why was that title taken out of consideration?

Sachar: It’s funny thinking back to that. The title, Holes seems so obvious now, but at the time I didn’t know what to call the manuscript. Whenever I mentioned Holes as a possible title, the most common response I heard was "What???" Still, I felt that title was more substantial than the other title you mentioned, and it had a Zen kind of mystery to it.

SCROLL TO KEEP READING THIS POST

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Fuse #8: To my mind Holes has the distinction of being one of the very few basically realistic fiction titles to be successfully turned into a film for children. It’s a very accurate portrayal of the book too. Did you have a lot of input on the film and, for that matter, have you continued to have much contact with Hollywood in any way? I know that working with filmmakers can prove to be a bit of a distraction for a writer. Have you felt that way?

Sachar: I wrote the screenplay and worked closely with the director. It was never my objective to do an accurate portrayal. Rather it was to make the story work as a movie, and ironically, for that reason I think it became an accurate portrayal. It was a fun and very exciting experience, but it was definitely a distraction as well, which is why it took so long between Holes and my next book. I had to remind myself to go back to taking the "small steps" necessary to writing a book.

Fuse #8: My husband has a unique theory about the book. He says that it’s essentially the story of race in America and what we owe to one another. Is there any merit to this theory or is that just reading way too much into the title?

Sachar: Race is certianly an aspect of the book, but I never thought of it as a book about race relations in America. At Camp Green Lake I tried to minimize the issue of race. When Stanley first sees some of the other boys, their race is part of their initial description, but after digging all day, they were all the color of dirt. I wanted the story at the camp to be the boys versus the adults, not white against black. They were all in this together, and once Stanley dug his first hole, he was accepted as one of them. It was only when Zero helped Stanlely dig (in exchange for reading lessons) that the other boys turned against Stanley.

Fuse #8: Finally, you do not discuss titles as you are working on them.  So I guess my only other question for you is what’s next?

Sachar: I will only says this about it. In my spare time, I play competitive bridge. The book has a lot to do with that.

Filed under: Uncategorized

SHARE:

Read or Leave Comments

About Betsy Bird

Betsy Bird is currently the Collection Development Manager of the Evanston Public Library system and a former Materials Specialist for New York Public Library. She has served on Newbery, written for Horn Book, and has done other lovely little things that she'd love to tell you about but that she's sure you'd find more interesting to hear of in person. Her opinions are her own and do not reflect those of EPL, SLJ, or any of the other acronyms you might be able to name. Follow her on Twitter: @fuseeight.

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Posts

March 2023

Announcing the Stinetinglers Winner! The Kettle's Dark Secret by Clara J.

by Betsy Bird

March 2023

Bologna Presentations: IBBY Doing the Good Work That Needs to Be Done, Worldwide

by Betsy Bird

February 2023

Sydney Taylor Book Blog Award Tour Interview: Featuring Mari Lowe of Aviva Vs. the Dybbuk!

by Betsy Bird

January 2023

The Top Ten Most Disappointing Edibles and Potables of Children's Literature

by Betsy Bird

January 2023

Announcing the 2023 Newbery/Caldecott/YMA Pre-Game Show!

by Betsy Bird

ADVERTISEMENT

SLJ Blog Network

100 Scope Notes

BLUE FLOATS AWAY Turns Two!

by Travis Jonker

A Fuse #8 Production

Faced with a Parenting Dilemma? Write a Book About It! Jacob Grant Comes By to Talk About NO FAIR

by Betsy Bird

Good Comics for Kids

Pardalita | Preview

by Brigid Alverson

Heavy Medal

March suggestions: early Mock Newbery possibilities

by Emily Mroczek-Bayci

Teen Librarian Toolbox

Post-It Note Reviews: Wish granters, brotherly mischief, a high-stakes scavenger hunt, and more!

by Amanda MacGregor

The Classroom Bookshelf

The Classroom Bookshelf is Moving

by Erika Thulin Dawes

The Yarn

Jarrett and Jerome Pumphrey Try Something New

by Travis Jonker

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Articles on SLJ

Three Picture Books to Celebrate Black History

10 Collective Biographies for Women's History Month

Graphic Novels: Inclusivity Fuels the Continued Boom!

SPONSORED

13 Hi-Lo Titles, Including Speculative Fiction, Horror, Sports, and Graphic Novels

9 Books about Zines for Teens and Tweens

About Betsy Bird

Betsy Bird is currently the Collection Development Manager of the Evanston Public Library system and a former Materials Specialist for New York Public Library. She has served on Newbery, written for Horn Book, and has done other lovely little things that she'd love to tell you about but that she's sure you'd find more interesting to hear of in person. Her opinions are her own and do not reflect those of EPL, SLJ, or any of the other acronyms you might be able to name. Follow her on Twitter: @fuseeight.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. teacherninja says

    November 17, 2008 at 6:16 am

    One of my favorites, thanks! (Author AND book). Although wouldn’t this book be just as awesome and popular without the award? I’m starting to think that ALL awards are over rated.

  2. Beth Kephart says

    November 17, 2008 at 12:07 pm

    Years ago, following my brief conversation with Louis Sachar at the 1998 National Book Awards, this noble gentleman did something I’ll never forget—he wrote my son a letter. My son was just learning how to love a book and was wild for Sachar’s Wayside stories, and when Mr. Sachar learned of this, he reached out to my son with a wonderful note. In doing that, he claimed a special place in my heart.

  3. SamRiddleburger says

    November 17, 2008 at 4:15 pm

    I’m so jealous that you got to interview THE MASTER.

    Can’t imagine where competitive bridge will fit into the Sacharverse. Definitely something to look forward to.

  4. shelburns says

    November 17, 2008 at 6:42 pm

    Thanks for this great interview with a great author. I enjoyed it very much!

  5. holly cupala says

    November 17, 2008 at 7:09 pm

    Great interview! One of my favorite things ever was seeing Mr. Sachar’s adaptation of Holes for the Seattle Children’s Theatre.

  6. jone says

    November 18, 2008 at 6:24 am

    Thanks for the geat interview. No idea he wrote the screenplay for the movie.

  7. Vivian (hipwritermama) says

    November 18, 2008 at 7:06 am

    Thanks for asking all these great questions. My children love Mr. Sachar’s books. Holes is a particular favorite–both the book and the movie. I never thought a movie version of a book would be as good, and now I know why.

  8. Tu madre says

    January 10, 2009 at 12:59 pm

    love ur books!!!!!!!

ADVERTISEMENT

Archives

  • External Links

    • A Fuse #8 Production Reviews
  • Follow This Blog

    Enter your email address below to receive notifications of new blog posts by email.

    This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

    This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

    Primary Sidebar

    • News & Features
    • Reviews+
    • Technology
    • School Libraries
    • Public Libraries
    • Age Level
    • Ideas
    • Blogs
    • Classroom
    • Diversity
    • People
    • Job Zone

    Reviews+

    • Book Lists
    • Best Books
    • Media
    • Reference
    • Series Made Simple
    • Tech
    • Review for SLJ
    • Review Submissions

    SLJ Blog Network

    • 100 Scope Notes
    • A Fuse #8 Production
    • Good Comics for Kids
    • Heavy Medal
    • Neverending Search
    • Teen Librarian Toolbox
    • The Classroom Bookshelf
    • The Yarn

    Resources

    • 2022 Youth Media Awards
    • The Newbery at 100: SLJ Celebrates the 100th Anniversary of the Award
    • Special Report | School Libraries 2021
    • Summer Reading 2021
    • Series Made Simple Spring 2021
    • SLJ Diverse Books Survey
    • Summer Programming Survey
    • Research
    • White Papers / Case Studies
    • School Librarian of the Year
    • Mathical Book Prize Collection Development Awards
    • Librarian/Teacher Collaboration Award

    Events & PD

    • In-Person Events
    • Online Courses
    • Virtual Events
    • Webcasts
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Subscribe
    • Media Inquiries
    • Newsletter Sign Up
    • Content Submissions
    • Data Privacy
    • Terms of Use
    • Terms of Sale
    • FAQs
    • Diversity Policy
    • Careers at MSI


    COPYRIGHT © 2023


    COPYRIGHT © 2023