Rating: 5 stars
Cover synopsis: Stanley Yelnats's family has a history of bad luck. A miscarriage of justice sends him to a boys' juvenile detention center where he must dig a hole a day, five feet deep, five feet across, in a dried-up lake bed. The warden claims this labor builds character, but that's a lie. Stanley must try to dig up the truth.
This is a fun, well-written tale about the hand of fate at work in the lives of a couple of teenage boys -- as well as their ancestors. The characters are fleshed out nicely, and although there are some dark sides to the tale, it is light and often humorous.
I love the way Sachar weaves several stories and legends into one. Even though they go back more than 100 years, they all fit together like a puzzle.
I also love a good happy ending. :)
