Book "Holes" ok for 3rd grader

[Anonymous]

We read it with our 3rd grader. I think it would be okay for a mature 3rd grader to read on their own, but some of the concepts are a bit mature and we wanted to be available to answer questions and talk it through. Tbh, the stuff about race wasn't hard at all because at this point they've talked about racism and civil rights at school and at home (usually) and know that history. But the boys in the book go through some difficult stuff and there are adults who are abusive, and even having read lighter fare that touches on abuse and neglect, Holes was a bit more serious and realistic than those books and needed a bit more context.

I think it's a great book for kids to read at this age, though. We always try to read books with heavier subject matter with our kids at this age, but we think it's important to still read them. They used to read more books in school with the teacher but that's been diminished in favor of other things (more science and social studies, which is great, but also more short passages for test prep, which is not). I am trying to pick up the slack at home because the heavy books I read in school at this age (Bridge to Tarabithia, Little Women, the Little Princess) were very formative for me.

[Anonymous]

I think it's thematically more appropriate for a slightly older kid, like ages 10+. It's not wildly inappropriate for a younger kid, but there's no reason to rush it when parts may go over their head.

[Anonymous]

This is one of the 5th grade novels at our parochial school.

[Anonymous]

We read it in 3rd grade, same time the movie came out. Was a little hard to follow along at times but didn't think it was inappropriate. My current 1st and 3rd grader love it. I'm also a teacher if that makes any difference.

[Anonymous]

It’s a good book. I don’t gate keep what my kids read as long as it’s not completely inappropriate for kids in some way and this book certainly does not have anything in that respect

[Anonymous]

The top 3rd grade reading group at our DCPS reads it every year as their novel.

[Anonymous]

My SN eight-year-old said it was way too "scary." Possibly it's his SN though. Emotionally, he runs a few years behind neurotypical kids.