Holes
About
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.
Read one section at a time, then discuss the questions to review understanding. These questions are a starting place for conversation, not a complete test of the chapter.
Chapter 1
Comprehension questions
How does the author begin this story?
Page 3 — Describing Camp Green Lake and the living conditions; the harm in being bit by scorpions, rattlesnakes, and yellow-spotted lizards
3
Chapter 2
Comprehension questions
Describe the setting of this story.
Page 5 — Camp Green Lake is in Texas where a lake once was. It’s a camp for bad boys
5
Chapter 3
Comprehension questions
Describe the main character.
Page 6 — 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
6
If you were in the main character's position, how would you feel?
Listen to your child's answer
Chapter 4
Comprehension questions
Describe Stanley’s life for the next 18 months.
Page 11 — 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
11
Chapter 5
Comprehension questions
Describe Mr. Pendanski.
Page 16 — He seems kind; wants to help the boys; the boys call him Mom
16
Chapter 6
Comprehension questions
How does the judge think Camp Green Lake will improve Stanley’s character?
Page 25 — 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
25
Chapter 7
Comprehension questions
How was Stanley’s situation similar to his great-great grandfather’s situation with the pig?
Page 28 — 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
28
Why did Elya think he was cursed?
Page 38 — 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
38
Chapter 8
Comprehension questions
Why do you think the author is describing the yellow-spotted lizard in this chapter?
Page 41 — To help the reader understand that getting bit is very dangerous. Possibly foreshadowing someone getting bit
41
Chapter 9
Comprehension questions
Why was Stanley scared of the Caveman?
Page 44 — He didn’t realize that was his new nickname; he thought the Lump was the Caveman and was going to beat him up
44
Chapter 10
Comprehension questions
Why did Stanley think the fossilized rock would give him the day off?
Page 50 — It was interesting to him; finding a cool fossil doesn’t happen very often
50
Chapter 11
Comprehension questions
Explain why Stanley was accepted at Camp Green Lake, but struggled with bullies at home?
Page 53 — There was mutual respect between the boys since they were all there for the same reason
53
Chapter 12
Comprehension questions
What’s something you’re interested in and what you’d like to do when you grow up?
Listen to your child’s answer.
What does Mr Pendanski say you’ll need to do to achieve your dream?
Page 57 — 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
57
Chapter 13
Comprehension questions
How did Stanley earn one place in line?
Page 63 — X-ray gave him permission since Stanley gave him something he found while digging
63
Chapter 14
Comprehension questions
Describe the Warden.
Page 66 — Bossy and stern; red hair and red fingernails; freckles; intimidating; doesn’t want anyone to question her authority
66
Chapter 15
Comprehension questions
Why didn’t Stanley tell the Warden they were digging in the wrong place?
Page 71 — Didn’t want to get X-ray in trouble; he didn’t want the Warden to know where he’d found barrel
71
Chapter 16
Comprehension questions
What did you learn about Zero in this chapter?
Page 76 — He’s never heard nursery rhymes
76
Chapter 17
Comprehension questions
How successful were the boys at uncovering anything else “interesting”?
Page 77 — They weren’t
77
Chapter 18
Comprehension questions
What did the author mean, Stanley’s heart hardened over the last several weeks?
Page 82 — He wasn’t as compassionate and kind
82
Chapter 19
Comprehension questions
When Stanley was riding in the truck, why was he surprised it felt good?
Page 87 — 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
87
Chapter 20
Comprehension questions
What caused Mr. Sir to be in horrific pain when the Warden slapped him?
Page 91 — She intentionally scraped him, so the venom from her fingernails went into open wounds on his face
91
Chapter 21
Comprehension questions
Why was Stanley scared of Mr. Sir?
Page 92 — Mr. Sir would be angry at Stanley for taking the sunflower seeds and for being slapped and scraped with the venom
92
Chapter 22
Comprehension questions
Why did Stanley agree to teach Zero how to read?
Page 96 — 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
96
Chapter 23
Comprehension questions
Describe Katherine Barlow.
Page 101 — 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
101
Chapter 24
Comprehension questions
How did Mr. Sir punish Stanley in this chapter?
Page 106 — Instead of filling his canteen with water, Mr. Sir just let the water run on the ground
106
Chapter 25
Comprehension questions
What happened to Katherine and Onion Sam in this chapter?
Page 111 — They fell in love
111
Chapter 26
Comprehension questions
How did Katherine become an outlaw?
Page 115 — Sam and his donkey were killed for kissing her due to the color of Sam’s skin; Katherine was full of vengeance
115
Chapter 27
Comprehension questions
Where did Zero get his nickname from?
Page 119 — His last name Zeroni
119
What’s significant about Zero’s last name?
Page 31 — It’s the same last name as the woman who gave Stanley’s great-great grandfather the pig and who cursed him
31
Chapter 28
Comprehension questions
Summarize this chapter.
Page 120 — 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
120
Chapter 29
Comprehension questions
How is Stanley connected to Katherine Barlow?
Page 128 — When Kate was an outlaw, she robbed his great grandfather and left him for dead
128
What connection does Stanley see with his great grandfather and the fist that looked like a rock?
Page 128 — His great grandfather said he was saved by the thumb of God; the rock juts up like a thumb sticking up
128
Chapter 30
Comprehension questions
Why did Zero run away from the camp?
Page 138 — Mr. Pendanski called Zero stupid and that he couldn’t learn, so he hit him
138
Chapter 31
Comprehension questions
Why does the Warden want to destroy all of Zero’s records?
Page 144 — She thinks he’s going to die in the desert, and she doesn’t want anyone coming to look for him
144
Chapter 32
Comprehension questions
What did Stanley do in this chapter?
Page 148 — He stole and wrecked Mr. Sir’s truck to go find Zero
148
Chapter 33
Comprehension questions
Why was Stanley scared when he saw the family of yellow-spotted lizards in the hole?
Page 150 — He would be dead if one bit him
150
Chapter 34
Comprehension questions
Who was taking shelter under the boat?
Page 154 — Zero
154
Whose boat was named the Mary Lou?
Page 107 — Onion Sam’s
107
Chapter 35
Comprehension questions
What is the sploosh Zero found and why are there 16 bottles?
Page 109 — The spiced peaches Kate gave to Onion Sam to pay him for fixing up the school house
109
Chapter 36
Comprehension questions
Why was Zero’s stomach hurting him?
Page 161 — From drinking the old sploosh and not eating other food
161
Chapter 37
Comprehension questions
How did Stanley know they were getting close to water?
Page 169 — The mountain had bugs and weeds
169
Chapter 38
Comprehension questions
What did Stanley find when he slipped?
Page 171 — A hole with water and an onion
171
Chapter 39
Comprehension questions
Whose fault is it that Stanley is at Camp Green Lake?
Page 175 — Zero’s
175
Why did Stanley sing his family’s song to Zero?
Page 175 — To comfort Zero
175
Chapter 40
Comprehension questions
Why was Stanley so amazed when he finally found the shovel and jars?
Page 181 — He hiked a long way up the mountain carrying Zero with no food and water
181
Chapter 41
Comprehension questions
Why did Zero get sent to Camp Green Lake?
Page 184 — Stealing a new pair of shoes
184
Chapter 42
Comprehension questions
Why did Stanley want to dig another hole?
Page 188 — He wanted to go back to where he found the lipstick tube and see if there really was buried treasure
188
Chapter 43
Comprehension questions
How did Stanley feel as he and Zero got closer to camp? Why?
Page 197 — Terror; he was traumatized from what had happened at the camp
197
Chapter 44
Comprehension questions
What did Stanley and Zero find in this chapter and why couldn’t they keep it?
Page 202 — A suitcase; the Warden found them digging and wanted it
202
Chapter 45
Comprehension questions
What did the Warden mean when she said, “it won’t be long “?
Page 206 — It won’t be long before the lizards bite Zero and Stanley and they’re dead
206
Chapter 46
Comprehension questions
Why had the lawyer come looking for Stanley?
Page 209 — Stanley was innocent and she was going to take him home
209
Chapter 47
Comprehension questions
Why do you think the suitcase had Stanley’s name on it?
Page 216 — Kate stole it from his great-grandfather, whose name was also Stanley Yelnats
216
Chapter 48
Comprehension questions
How did Stanley's lawyer protect Stanley and Zero?
Page 222 — 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
222
Chapter 49
Comprehension questions
Why didn’t Stanley and Zero get bit by the yellow lizards?
Page 224 — They had onions in their bloodstream and the lizards don’t like onion blood
224
Why did Ms. Morengo leave the windows rolled down on the way home?
Page 224 — The boys stank of onions
224
Chapter 50
Comprehension questions
Why did Hector (Zero) hire private investigators?
Page 230 — To find his mom
230
Summarize the end of this story.
Page 231 — 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
231
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