by Louis Sachar

Grades 6-8; Genre - Fiction; GRL V; AR 7.0

Stanley Yelnats is under a curse. A curse that began with his no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing great-great-grandfather and has since followed generations of Yelnats. Now Stanley has been unjustly sent to a boys' detention center, Camp Green Lake, where the boys build character by spending all day, every day, digging holes exactly five feet wide and five feet deep. There is no lake at Camp Green Lake. But there are an awful lot of holes. It doesn't take long for Stanley to realize there's more than character improvement going on at Camp Green Lake. The boys are digging holes because the warden is looking for something. But what could be buried under a dried-up lake? Stanley tries to dig up the truth in this inventive and darkly humorous tale of crime and punishment - and redemption.

Vocabulary

Writing Prompts

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

1. How does the author begin this story? Describing Camp Green Lake and the living conditions; the harm in being bit by scorpions, rattlesnakes, and yellow-spotted lizards p.3

Chapter 2

1. Describe the setting of this story. Camp Green Lake is in Texas where a lake once was. It’s a camp for bad boys p.5

Chapter 3

1. Describe the main character. Stanley Yelnats the IV; poor family; no friends; overweight; not a bad kid, but was convicted of a crime that took him to Camp Green Lake p.6

Chapter 4

1. Describe Stanley’s life for the next 18 months. Stanley will need to dig a hole 5ft deep and 5 ft wide each day; he’ll have two sets of clothes; it’s hot and nowhere to go besides desert p.11

Chapter 5

1. Describe Mr. Pendanski. He seems kind; wants to help the boys; the boys call him Mom p.16

Chapter 6

1. How does the judge think Camp Green Lake will improve Stanley’s character? Being away from home and digging holes will give Stanley an appreciation for the things he has at home and will help him grow tough mentally and physically p.25

Chapter 7

1. How was Stanley’s situation similar to his great-great grandfather’s situation with the pig? His grandfather developed character when he carried the pig up the mountain each day and sang to it. Stanley was building character as he dug his first hole p.28
2. Why did Elya think he was cursed? His friend Zeroni said he would be if he didn’t carry her up the mountain and sing to her; his life was filled with bad luck p.38

Chapter 8

1. Why do you think the author is describing the yellow-spotted lizard in this chapter? To help the reader understand that getting bit is very dangerous. Possibly foreshadowing someone getting bit p.41

Chapter 9

1. Why was Stanley scared of the Caveman? He didn’t realize that was his new nickname; he thought the Lump was the Caveman and was going to beat him up p.44

Chapter 10

1. Why did Stanley think the fossilized rock would give him the day off? It was interesting to him; finding a cool fossil doesn’t happen very often p.50

Chapter 11

1. Explain why Stanley was accepted at Camp Green Lake, but struggled with bullies at home? There was mutual respect between the boys since they were all there for the same reason p.53

Chapter 12

1. What’s something you’re interested in and what you’d like to do when you grow up? Listen to your child’s answer.
2. What does Mr Pendanski say you’ll need to do to achieve your dream? It won’t be easy; you’ll be surprised what you can accomplish if you set your mind to it; you only have one life, so you should try to make the most of it p.57

Chapter 13

1. How did Stanley earn one place in line? X-ray gave him permission since Stanley gave him something he found while digging p.63

Chapter 14

1. Describe the Warden. Bossy and stern; red hair and red fingernails; freckles; intimidating; doesn’t want anyone to question her authority p.66

Chapter 15

1. Why didn’t Stanley tell the Warden they were digging in the wrong place? Didn’t want to get X-ray in trouble; he didn’t want the Warden to know where he’d found barrel p.71

Chapter 16

1. What did you learn about Zero in this chapter? He’s never heard nursery rhymes p.76

Chapter 17

1. How successful were the boys at uncovering anything else “interesting”? They weren’t p.77

Chapter 18

1. What did the author mean, Stanley’s heart hardened over the last several weeks? He wasn’t as compassionate and kind p.82

Chapter 19

1. When Stanley was riding in the truck, why was he surprised it felt good? Because he was on the way to being punished by the Warden, but it felt good to be out of the sun and sit down p.87

Chapter 20

1. What caused Mr. Sir to be in horrific pain when the Warden slapped him? She intentionally scraped him, so the venom from her fingernails went into open wounds on his face p.91

Chapter 21

1. Why was Stanley scared of Mr. Sir? Mr. Sir would be angry at Stanley for taking the sunflower seeds and for being slapped and scraped with the venom p.92

Chapter 22

1. Why did Stanley agree to teach Zero how to read? Zero dug part of his hole and he wasn’t as tired; Zero showed Stanley a great kindness, so he wanted to be kind back p.96

Chapter 23

1. Describe Katherine Barlow. She was from the town by Green Lake and was kind and pretty; made delicious, spiced peaches, and always received a prize for them; she taught school p.101

Chapter 24

1. How did Mr. Sir punish Stanley in this chapter? Instead of filling his canteen with water, Mr. Sir just let the water run on the ground p.106

Chapter 25

1. What happened to Katherine and Onion Sam in this chapter? They fell in love p.111

Chapter 26

1. How did Katherine become an outlaw? Sam and his donkey were killed for kissing her due to the color of Sam’s skin; Katherine was full of vengeance p.115

Chapter 27

1. Where did Zero get his nickname from? His last name Zeroni p.119
2. What’s significant about Zero’s last name? It’s the same last name as the woman who gave Stanley’s great-great grandfather the pig and who cursed him p.31

Chapter 28

1. Summarize this chapter. Katherine came back after 20yrs to Green Lake and lived in the cabin between the two oak trees. Trout and his wife Linda caught Kate, but she wouldn’t show them where her loot was buried and was bit by a yellow-spotted lizard and died p.120

Chapter 29

1. How is Stanley connected to Katherine Barlow? When Kate was an outlaw, she robbed his great grandfather and left him for dead p.128
2. What connection does Stanley see with his great grandfather and the fist that looked like a rock? His great grandfather said he was saved by the thumb of God; the rock juts up like a thumb sticking up p.128

Chapter 30

1. Why did Zero run away from the camp? Mr. Pendanski called Zero stupid and that he couldn’t learn, so he hit him p.138

Chapter 31

1. Why does the Warden want to destroy all of Zero’s records? She thinks he’s going to die in the desert, and she doesn’t want anyone coming to look for him p.144

Chapter 32

1. What did Stanley do in this chapter? He stole and wrecked Mr. Sir’s truck to go find Zero p.148

Chapter 33

1. Why was Stanley scared when he saw the family of yellow-spotted lizards in the hole? He would be dead if one bit him p.150

Chapter 34

1. Who was taking shelter under the boat? Zero p.154
2. Whose boat was named the Mary Lou? Onion Sam’s p.107

Chapter 35

1. What is the sploosh Zero found and why are there 16 bottles? The spiced peaches Kate gave to Onion Sam to pay him for fixing up the school house p.109

Chapter 36

1. Why was Zero’s stomach hurting him? From drinking the old sploosh and not eating other food p.161

Chapter 37

1. How did Stanley know they were getting close to water? The mountain had bugs and weeds p.169

Chapter 38

1. What did Stanley find when he slipped? A hole with water and an onion p.171

Chapter 39

1. Whose fault is it that Stanley is at Camp Green Lake? Zero’s p.175
2. Why did Stanley sing his family’s song to Zero? To comfort Zero p.175

Chapter 40

1. Why was Stanley so amazed when he finally found the shovel and jars? He hiked a long way up the mountain carrying Zero with no food and water p.181

Chapter 41

1. Why did Zero get sent to Camp Green Lake? Stealing a new pair of shoes p.184

Chapter 42

1. Why did Stanley want to dig another hole? He wanted to go back to where he found the lipstick tube and see if there really was buried treasure p.188

Chapter 43

1. How did Stanley feel as he and Zero got closer to camp? Why? Terror; he was traumatized from what had happened at the camp p.197

Chapter 44

1. What did Stanley and Zero find in this chapter and why couldn’t they keep it? A suitcase; the Warden found them digging and wanted it p.202

Chapter 45

1. What did the Warden mean when she said, “it won’t be long “? It won’t be long before the lizards bite Zero and Stanley and they’re dead p.206

Chapter 46

1. Why had the lawyer come looking for Stanley? Stanley was innocent and she was going to take him home p.209

Chapter 47

1. Why do you think the suitcase had Stanley’s name on it? Kate stole it from his great-grandfather, whose name was also Stanley Yelnats p.216

Chapter 48

1. How did Stanley lawyer protect Stanley and Zero? She wouldn’t let Stanley open the suitcase and tried to get him out of there as quickly as possible; she was taking Zero with her as well p.222

Chapter 49

1. Why didn’t Stanley and Zero get bit by the yellow lizards? They had onions in their bloodstream and the lizards don’t like onion blood p.224
2. Why did Ms. Morengo leave the windows rolled down on the way home? The boys stank of onions p.224

Chapter 50

1. Why did Hector (Zero) hire private investigators?  To find his mom p.230
2. Summarize the end of this story. Stanley and Zero received just under $1 million each for the contents in the suitcase; Stanley bought his family a home to live in and Hector hired private investigators; Stanley’s dad invented Sploosh, it neutralizes odor in shoes; Zero finds his mom p.231