I am trying to identify a young adult novel I read years ago, but I don't remember the title or author.

It is *NOT* "House of Stairs" by William Sleator, but is similar in some respects.

Best guess for publication date is 1977-1980. I read it some time around 1980, but certainly no later than 1983.

The plot: a small number of teenage boys awaken at a location, not remembering how they got there. They are not able to leave, but don't encounter any guards or other adults. It is eventually discovered that one of the boys is a mole working for the unseen keepers, and that they are juvenile delinquents in an experimental rehabilitation program.

I vaguely recall the title may have been something along the lines of "The Prison", "The Dungeon", "Escape" or something similar, but I'm not certain of that.

The author may have been British as I think the characters' use of English differed somewhat from American English.

Thanks in advance!

Were they digging holes as punishment?

If they were digging holes, I don't remember that detail. I do remember they thought the location was an abandoned abbey or monastery.

I will do some sleuthing on NoveList and post again if I find something noteworthy.

Were they digging holes as punishment?
The description doesn't sound like Holes to me.

The description doesn't sound like Holes to me.
No, to me either. Was a quick shot in the dark because of the juvie dentention situation. And I was killing time.