Get hundreds more LitCharts at www.litcharts.

com

Holes
Sachar has been open about the fact that, stylistically, Holes was
INTR
INTRODUCTION
ODUCTION inspired by Kurt Vonnegut's Hocus Pocus and William
Goldman's The Princess Bride. Both books open with short,
BRIEF BIOGRAPHY OF LOUIS SACHAR
jumpy chapters, and Sachar was inspired by the over-the-top
Louis Sachar was born in East Meadow, New York and lived in and bizarre setting and characters in The Princess Bride. In
New York State until he was nine. His family then moved to 2006, Sachar wrote a spinoff of and sequel to Holes, titled Small
California. He became interested in reading and literature in Steps. Small Steps picks up two years after the inmates are
high school, though he attended University of California at released and follows Armpit (Theodore) as X-Ray (Rex) ropes
Berkeley to study economics. While in school there, Sachar him into a ticket-scalping scheme. Other darkly comedic
took a for-credit position as a teacher's aide at a local children's novels include Lemony Snicket's A Series of
elementary school and loved it. This position and the kids he Unfortunate Events books. Finally, Holes is notable for a
worked with inspired his first children's book, Sideways Stories children's novel in that it does tackle childhood poverty and
from Wayside School, which was accepted by a publisher during homelessness; another novel to do so is Small as an Elephant by
his first week of law school. After completing his law degree, Jennifer Richard Jacobson.
Sachar worked part-time in the legal field while he wrote; he
finally left law in 1989 to write full-time. He married in 1985
and his daughter was born two years later. Holes has proven
KEY FACTS
one of Sachar's most famous books; it won the prestigious • Full Title: Holes
Newbery Medal in 1999 and was adapted into a Disney movie • When Written: 1997-98
in 2003. Sachar wrote the screenplay, and he and his family also
• Where Written: Texas, USA
appear in a cameo. He and his wife live in Texas.
• When Published: 1998

HISTORICAL CONTEXT • Literary Period: Contemporary

• Genre: Children's/Young Adult Fiction; Adventure Novel
When Elya Yelnats immigrated to the United States,
presumably in the mid-late 1800s, he was ahead of the • Setting: Latvia, mid-1800s; Green Lake, TX 1880s; Camp
curve—Latvian immigration to the United States didn't truly Green Lake, late 1990s
pick up until 1888, and a second wave of immigration took • Climax: Ms. Morengo arrives, allowing Stanley and Hector to
place in 1905. The events in Green Lake are deeply influenced safely climb out of a hole with the mysterious suitcase and
by America's history of slavery, racism, and the racial animosity escape the Warden
that persisted in the Reconstruction-era South. During the • Antagonist: Trout Walker, the Warden, and the counselors
1880s, when Sam is killed for kissing Miss Katherine, Texas was • Point of View: Third person omniscient
still deeply segregated. The state, along with much of the
American south, enforced laws prohibiting marriage, sex, and EXTRA CREDIT
cohabitation between interracial couples. This practice was
Reading Should Be Fun. Sachar has said that he writes the kind
ruled unconstitutional in the 1967 Supreme Court Case Loving
of books he does (funny, with outlandish characters) with the
v. Virginia. While it's unclear if Stanley was tried as an adult or a
intention of making reading enjoyable for young readers.
child for the theft of Clyde Livingston's shoes, at age fourteen,
Stanley's case could've gone either way. However, because of
the value of the shoes ($5000), it's likely he was tried as an Sigourney Weaver. Sigourney Weaver, who plays the Warden
adult. Trying children and teens as adults often results in in the film adaptation of Holes, initially expressed interest in
harsher sentences, which 18 months at Camp Green Lake working on the project due to the fact that her daughter loves
arguably was. In the United States, there are few protections the novel.
available to children and teens when facing the justice system,
and in some states, it's legal to try children as young as eight as
adults.
PL
PLO
OT SUMMARY
There's no real camp or lake at Camp Green Lake. Though it
RELATED LITERARY WORKS was once the largest lake in Texas, it's been dry for the last 110
years. It's now a camp for "bad boys," where the boys dig holes
every day. Stanley Yelnats is the only passenger on the bus to

©2018 LitCharts LLC v.006 www.LitCharts.com Page 1

 Get hundreds more LitCharts at www.litcharts.com
Camp Green Lake. He tries to pretend that he's going to an finds anything else, he needs to give it to him—he's been at
actual summer camp and hopes he'll make friends, as he's the camp a year and hasn't found anything. Later that afternoon,
victim of terrible bullying at home due to being overweight. Stanley joins a circle led by Mr. Pendanski. The boys discuss
Stanley is innocent of his crime; he was convicted because of what they want to do when they get out, though nobody takes
his no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing-great-great-grandfather, it seriously. Mr. Pendanski talks about personal responsibility
who supposedly stole a pig and thereby cursed all of his and calls Zero stupid.
descendants. No one in Stanley's family truly believes this, One afternoon, Stanley finds a gold tube in the dirt with "KB"
though things do go wrong a lot. Stanley steps off the bus and a inscribed in a heart on one end. He gives it to X-Ray and
man named Mr. Sir handles Stanley's intake. Stanley changes suggests he wait until the next day to "find" it. The next
into an orange jumpsuit as Mr. Sir tells him he'll be required to morning, Stanley tries to ask X-Ray about the tube at breakfast,
dig a hole five feet deep and five feet across every day and that but X-Ray won't talk about it. X-Ray "finds" the tube that
he should report anything interesting he finds to one of the morning and the Warden comes out to oversee the digging. The
counselors. boys spend a week digging in one area, and Stanley realizes the
Stanley meets his counselor, Mr. Pendanski, and his fellow Warden is looking for something.
campers in Tent D. Though Mr. Pendanski uses their given One afternoon, Zero admits to Stanley that he can't read and
names to introduce them, the boys introduce themselves as X- asks Stanley to teach him. Stanley insists he doesn't know how
Ray, Squid, Magnet, Armpit, Zigzag, and Zero. Stanley takes his to teach and doesn't have the energy. The following morning, as
four-minute cold shower, eats dinner, and the other boys don't Mr. Sir fills canteens by the holes, Magnet steals Mr. Sir's
believe that Stanley is at camp for stealing the famous baseball sunflower seeds. The boys pass them around, but Stanley spills
player Clyde Livingston's shoes. The shoes fell from the sky the bag in his hole right as Mr. Sir returns to look for them.
onto Stanley as he was walking home from school and he ran Stanley takes the blame, and Mr. Sir takes Stanley to speak to
with the smelly shoes to his father, feeling as though the shoes the Warden. In the Warden's house, the Warden paints her
were the key to Stanley's father's latest invention. His parents nails with red polish that she makes with rattlesnake venom.
had been too poor to hire a lawyer to defend Stanley. She hits Mr. Sir hard for bothering her. When Stanley returns to
As Stanley begins to dig his first hole, the narrator tells the his hole, he finds that Zero had been digging for him. That
story of Elya Yelnats, Stanley's great-great grandfather. At age afternoon, Stanley thinks about the first Stanley, who was
fifteen in Latvia, Elya fell in love with Myra Menke. Myra's robbed by the outlaw Kissin' Kate Barlow and left in this very
father, however, wanted Myra to marry Igor Barkov, a 57-year- desert. He apparently found refuge on "God's Thumb," though
old pig farmer. Elya went to his friend Madame Zeroni for help. he had no idea what that even meant after he was rescued.
She insisted that Myra was silly and spoiled, but she agreed to Later, Stanley offers to teach Zero to read. They agree that
help Elya anyway. She gave Elya a runty piglet and instructed Zero will dig part of Stanley's holes in exchange for lessons.
him to carry the piglet up the nearby mountain daily, where the The narrator goes back to the 1880s, when the town of Green
pig was to drink from a stream while Elya sang a special song to Lake was actually a lakeside town. The local schoolteacher, Miss
it. After Myra's birthday, Elya was to then carry Madame Zeroni Katherine Barlow, was beloved by all, especially Charles
up the hill. If he didn't follow through, Madame Zeroni would "Trout" Walker. Trout Walker, however, was stupid and proud
curse his descendants for eternity. Elya did as he was told and of it, as well as wealthy and entitled. He was enraged when Miss
both he and the pig grew big and strong. On the last day, Katherine turned down his advances. Not long after, Sam, the
however, Elya took a bath instead of carrying his pig up the hill. onion man, offered to fix the dilapidated schoolhouse for Miss
The pig weighed just as much as Igor's, so Myra's father Katherine. Over the course of a few months, Sam made the
allowed Myra to choose her husband. Myra refused to choose, schoolhouse beautiful. Finally, they kissed in the rain one night.
so Elya got on a ship bound for America and didn't realize until One person saw them and the next day, a mob burned the
later that he'd broken his promise to Madame Zeroni. The schoolhouse, angry because Sam was black. The sheriff
curse started to seem real in America, after Elya married and wouldn't help Katherine and instead, asked her for a kiss.
had the first Stanley. Katherine and Sam tried to escape across the lake, but Trout
In the present, Stanley finishes his first hole. He spends a few Walker shot Sam and "rescued" Katherine. Three days later,
minutes in the rec room, which is called the Wreck Room, and Katherine shot the sheriff, kissed him, and spent the next
realizes his tent mates have christened him the Caveman. He twenty years as a feared outlaw. She returned to Green Lake
then writes a letter to Stanley's mother lying to her about the when it was a ghost town, where Trout Walker and his wife,
fun he's having at camp. He notices Zero reading over his Linda, found her. They attempted to make her give up the
shoulder. On the second day, Stanley finds a fossil of a fish, location of her treasure, but a yellow-spotted lizard bit her and
though Mr. Pendanski says that the Warden doesn't care about she died laughing, telling them to start digging.
fossils. X-Ray, the leader of the group, tells Stanley that if he

©2018 LitCharts LLC v.006 www.LitCharts.com Page 2

 Get hundreds more LitCharts at www.litcharts.com
Back in the present, Mr. Sir's face swells to the size of a melon. the treasure. The Warden also runs through their story:
When he delivers water, he doesn't give Stanley any. Stanley Stanley was delusional, ran into a hole, and was killed by lizards.
and Zero continue their reading lessons and Zero learns Stanley is too preoccupied to listen when Mr. Sir tells Stanley's
quickly, though the other boys mock Stanley and call him a slave he's innocent and his lawyer came to pick him up yesterday.
master when Zero digs. Zero tells Stanley that his real name is Finally, they see a car coming. A young woman introduces
Hector Zeroni. One morning, Stanley is able to see a rock herself as Ms. Morengo, Stanley's lawyer, and introduces the
formation in the distance that looks like a thumbs-up sign, and Texas Attorney General. The Warden attempts to tell them that
he wonders if it's God's Thumb. The next day, Mr. Pendanski Stanley tried to steal her suitcase, but her story doesn't add up.
arrives with lunch, Zigzag begins pushing Stanley and Mr. After a few minutes, Stanley is able to crawl out of the hole and
Pendanski encourages a fight. Zero rescues Stanley from helps Zero up. When the Warden tries to take the suitcase
Zigzag as Mr. Pendanski shoots his gun to call the Warden. from Zero, he points out that it has Stanley's name on it. After
Zigzag lets slip to the Warden the nature of Stanley and Zero's getting paperwork in order, Ms. Morengo tries to lead Stanley
agreement. She insists the lessons need to stop and Mr. away, but he refuses to go without Zero. Ms. Morengo and the
Pendanski insists that Zero is too stupid to learn anyway. Zero Attorney General discover that Zero's records are missing, so
hits Mr. Pendanski across the face with a shovel and then walks Ms. Morengo takes Zero with her. In the car, she explains that
into the desert. Stanley spends the next few days thinking that Stanley's father invented something to cure foot odor and
he should go after Zero. The Warden, Mr. Sir, and Mr. pretends she didn't hear Zero's confession that he stole Clyde
Pendanski speak to Stanley about Zero's whereabouts and say Livingston's shoes. It begins to rain at Green Lake.
in front of him that they're going to destroy Zero's records. As a
The narrator says that whether one believes in the curse or not,
ward of the state, there's nobody to care about him.
it's true that Stanley's father experienced his breakthrough on
On the day that Group D gets a new boy, Twitch, Stanley the day that Elya Yelnats's great-great grandson carried
decides to steal the water truck and rescue Zero. He crashes Madame Zeroni's great-great-great grandson up the mountain.
the truck into a hole and continues on foot into the desert. He Camp Green Lake is slated to become a Girl Scout camp, and
feels as though the thumbs-up sign is encouraging him. In the Stanley and Zero each get about a million dollars from the
afternoon, he discovers Zero hiding in a tunnel under an old contents of the suitcase. A year and a half later, Stanley and
boat. He's been eating what he calls sploosh, which is fruit Hector are at a party to see the new commercial for Stanley's
preserves of some sort. He shares his last jar with Stanley and father's invention, which Clyde Livingston promotes. Hector
then the two decide to head for God's Thumb. Zero begins sits with his mother, who sings a version of the lullaby that
experiencing painful episodes of stomach cramps, though he's Madame Zeroni taught Elya.
able to walk all the way to the edge of the lakebed, climb up the
cliffs on the other side, and then start up the mountain. At one
point, Zero vomits and then collapses. Stanley leaves their CHARA
CHARACTERS
CTERS
shovel and their saved jars behind and begins to carry Zero up
the hill. Close to the top, Stanley falls in a muddy gully and finds MAJOR CHARACTERS
water and an onion. He gives some to Zero, and they spend the Stanle
Stanleyy Y
Yelnats
elnats – Stanley is the fourteen-year-old protagonist
next two days recovering. Zero admits he stole Clyde of the novel, who has been wrongfully imprisoned at a labor
Livingston's shoes from the homeless shelter, and Stanley sings camp in Texas for stealing a famous athlete’s sneakers. Before
him Elya's lullaby. As Zero improves, he tells Stanley about his his wrongful conviction, Stanley was an overweight and
mother. They used to live in a house, though they always had to extremely unhappy boy who suffered severe bullying, although
steal. When Zero stole the shoes from the homeless shelter, he he tends to be kind to others despite the cruelty he has
thought he was doing a better thing by stealing old shoes experienced. His family has been unlucky for generations,
instead of new ones. Stanley and Zero decide to return to which he believes to be the fault of the Yelnats family curse
camp, try to dig up Kate Barlow's treasure where Stanley found (though he also insists he doesn't actually believe in the curse).
the tube, and then escape. At Camp Green Lake, Stanley is forced to dig a huge hole every
As Stanley and Zero walk, they try not to drink water and Zero day and report anything interesting he finds to the Warden. He
talks more about his mom. That night, they find the hole and does his best to keep to himself and is soon given the nickname
begin digging. Stanley is surprised to discover a suitcase and is Caveman due to his size. As everyone seems selfish, cruel, and
eventually able to wiggle it out. As he hands it to Zero, the power-hungry, Stanley tries to stay on the good side of those in
Warden, Mr. Sir, and Mr. Pendanski arrive. The adults, however, power including X-Ray, his unit’s de-facto leader, to whom
back away horrified—the hole is a yellow-spotted lizard nest, Stanley promises to give anything interesting he finds. This
and both boys are covered in lizards. Stanley and Zero are still results in Stanley handing X-Ray a gold lipstick tube belonging
alive hours later as the adults suggest shooting the boys to get to the bandit Kissin' Kate Barlow. Though Stanley remains

©2018 LitCharts LLC v.006 www.LitCharts.com Page 3

 Get hundreds more LitCharts at www.litcharts.com
interested in and concerned for the welfare of the boys at woman who is soft spoken but nasty: she knows that she's the
Camp Green Lake, his heart begins to harden after being most powerful person at camp and uses this to intimidate
exposed to so much cruelty. For instance, Stanley at first goes anyone who challenges or bothers her, children and adults
along with Mr. Pendanski and the other boys in thinking that alike. When she feels as though Mr. Sir is wasting her time by
Zero is stupid and has nothing to offer; it's not until Zero shows bringing up his stolen sunflower seeds to her, she viciously hits
Stanley unprecedented kindness that Stanley begins to take him across the face with her rattlesnake venom-infused nail
Zero seriously and treat him kindly in return. This culminates in polish, leaving him in excruciating pain and with massive
Stanley trying to steal the water truck and go after Zero, who swelling on his face for days. Though it's never confirmed, the
has run into the desert. When Stanley finds Zero, he carries the boys of Tent D tell Stanley that the Warden has hidden cameras
weak boy up the mountain, helps him drink, and sings him an and microphones around the camp to constantly spy on the
old family lullaby—which appears to break the family curse. teenage inmates. Stanley discovers relatively quickly that the
Stanley and Zero eventually return to Camp Green Lake, where Warden is looking for something specific in the desert. Through
they discover a suitcase full of valuable things and are rescued flashbacks, the reader learns that the Warden is Trout Walker's
from the Warden and a yellow-spotted lizard's nest by Ms. descendant and her family has owned the land around Green
Morengo, Stanley's lawyer. After this, Stanley demonstrates Lake for generations. When X-Ray "discovers" the lipstick tube
that he's learned the importance of kindness by refusing to from Kate Barlow, the Warden gets excited and proves a
leave camp without Zero. terrifying overseer when it becomes clear that she's not going
Zero/Hector Z Zeroni
eroni – Zero is the smallest boy in Group D. He's to find what she's looking for. Later, when Zero walks off into
black and is often scowling and angry-looking, though Stanley the desert alone, the Warden shows just how cruel she is and
notices that when Zero smiles, his smile seems too big for his how little she thinks of her charges: she asks Mr. Pendanski to
face. Zero is the only boy at Camp Green Lake who is referred erase Zero's records, implying that if Zero somehow doesn't die
to by his nickname by other campers and Mr. Pendanski alike; in the desert, he'll somehow die when he returns to camp. Days
Mr. Pendanski is vocal about his belief that Zero is stupid and later, when Stanley and Zero do unearth the first Stanley's
useless. This understandably makes Zero even angrier. None of suitcase that Kate Barlow buried in the desert, the Warden
the other boys like Zero much; he's consistently relegated to engages in a standoff for more than twelve hours with the boys,
the last spot in line for water and the other boys join in Mr. who are surrounded by yellow-spotted lizards. She callously
Pendanski's jokes about Zero's worthlessness. He and Stanley asks Zero why he isn't dead yet and when Ms. Morengo and the
become friends when Zero admits that he doesn't know how to Attorney General arrive, she attempts to act as though she
read and asks Stanley to teach him. Stanley eventually learns cares about the boys and about observing protocol, though her
that Zero is a very quick study and is skilled at performing constantly changing story reveals she cares only about herself.
mental math, despite having no formal education. In exchange After Stanley and Zero leave camp, the Warden is forced to sell
for reading lessons, Zero digs part of Stanley's hole every day. Camp Green Lake.
After an altercation over this arrangement, Zero hits Mr. Miss Katherine/Kissin
Katherine/Kissin'' Kate Barlow – In 1880s Green Lake,
Pendanski across the face with a shovel and heads off into the Miss Katherine was the town’s beloved schoolteacher. She was
desert alone. A day later, Stanley discovers that Zero is a ward beautiful, charming, and an exceptional educator, and so she
of the state and thus, Mr. Pendanski and the Warden decide to was beloved by children, parents, and her adult students alike.
destroy Zero's records and erase his entire existence. When She also won a special prize at the Fourth of July picnic every
Stanley goes out after Zero and finds him, Zero has been living year for her spiced peaches. The town expected her to marry
under Sam's boat, eating Miss Katherine's peach preserves that Trout Walker, the wealthiest bachelor, but Miss Katherine
he calls "sploosh." This makes him very ill. After carrying Zero to turned down his advances. Miss Katherine was also friends
the top of God's Thumb, Stanley helps Zero drink and sings him with Sam, the African-American onion seller. He fixed the
his great-great grandfather's lullaby. As Zero recovers and as schoolhouse over the course of a semester, and at the end,
he and Stanley head back to camp, he tells Stanley about his Miss Katherine and Sam discovered that they'd fallen in love.
mother. Zero also confesses that he stole Clyde Livingston's They kissed in the rain one night not long after. Miss Katherine
shoes; he thought it was better to steal old shoes than brand was distraught the next day when Trout Walker led a mob to
new ones. In the epilogue, the reader learns that Zero is torch the schoolhouse, and the sheriff refused to do anything
actually Madame Zeroni's great-great-great grandson, and it about it. She was shocked and disgusted when the sheriff asked
broke the Yelnats family curse when Stanley carried Zero up for a kiss, and she tried to help Sam escape. Trout Walker shot
the mountain. Zero uses his money from the first Stanley's Sam and rescued her. Three days later, Miss Katherine killed
suitcase to find his mother. the sheriff and kissed him. She spent the next twenty years as
The W
Warden
arden – The Warden, the novel's villain, owns and runs Kissin' Kate Barlow, one of the most feared outlaws in the west.
Camp Green Lake in the Texas desert. She's a tall, red-haired During those twenty years, she attacked a stagecoach carrying
the first Stanley Yelnats and stole his suitcase full of valuable

©2018 LitCharts LLC v.006 www.LitCharts.com Page 4

 Get hundreds more LitCharts at www.litcharts.com
bonds and promissory notes, which she buried in Green Lake Sam – Sam is the black onion seller in 1880s Green Lake. He
(which was, by then, a ghost town). Trout Walker came for her touts the healing powers of onions, citing his donkey Mary Lou
treasure twenty years after Sam's death and she died laughing as evidence: he claims that she's nearly 50 and never gets sick
after refusing to tell him where she buried the first Stanley's because she eats only onions. Nobody is sure if they can believe
suitcase. In the present day, Zero survives in the desert by him, given that Sam himself is only twenty. Aside from selling
eating her canned spiced peaches, which survived for over 100 onions, Sam also makes a number of tinctures and ointments
years in Sam's boat on the dried-up lake. out of onions meant to cure all manner of illnesses and
Elya Y
Yelnats
elnats – Elya is referred to as Stanley's “no-good-dirty- ailments. Even Doc Hawthorn uses Sam's cream to cure
rotten-pig-stealing-great-great-grandfather.” He's responsible balding. Sam is gregarious and appears to be loved by all. He
for cursing the Yelnats family after he broke a promise to his and Miss Katherine form a friendship and then a romance when
friend Madame Zeroni. Elya is described as being a kind, if he offers to fix the dilapidated schoolhouse for her. When
somewhat idealistic, teen; he's far more interested in spending there's no more to fix at the schoolhouse, Sam kisses Katherine
time with Madame Zeroni than he is in mud wrestling, which is in the rain, insisting it will fix her breaking heart. However,
held up as the sport of desirable bachelors. At age fifteen in because Sam is African-American, the kiss is illegal and the
mid-1800s Latvia, Elya fell in love with a girl named Myra. To townsfolk riot. Sam and Katherine attempt to escape across the
win her hand, Madame Zeroni told Elya to carry a runty piglet lake to Sam's secret onion fields, but Trout Walker's motorized
up a mountain every day. There, the piglet was to drink from a boat is inescapable. Trout shoots Sam in the water, which puts a
stream and Elya was to sing it a special song. On the day of curse on Green Lake: no rain falls until Stanley and Hector, 110
Myra's birthday, Elya was then supposed to carry Madame years later, set things right. Katherine tries to avenge Sam's
Zeroni up the mountain. However, Elya neglected to carry the death by killing the sheriff, who wanted to hang Sam.
pig up the hill on the last day and because of this, the pig Mr
Mr.. Sir – Mr. Sir is a nasty middle manager at Camp Green Lake.
weighed exactly the same as Igor Barkov's pig. In his He's especially grumpy because, when Stanley arrives, Mr. Sir
disappointment at losing his love's hand, Elya boarded a ship has recently quit smoking; instead, he eats sunflower seeds by
bound for America and broke his promise to Madame Zeroni. the bag. His favorite catchphrase is to say that Camp Green
Elya was insistent that the curse was nonsense; he was sad only Lake isn't a Girl Scout camp, and he loves telling campers that
because he felt bad for breaking his promise, as he knew how they're not in the Girl Scouts anymore. Mr. Sir is a callous man
much she wanted to drink from the stream. Though he never who thinks little of the lives of the boys at camp; he tells Stanley
admits that the curse might be real, he does tell his wife, Sarah outright that he's not worth wasting bullets on. He's also
Miller, about the curse after lightning strikes his barn for a third extremely vindictive. When Stanley takes the blame for stealing
time. Mr. Sir's sunflower seeds, the Warden believes that bringing
Madame Z Zeroni
eroni – In the present, Madame Zeroni is described the matter to her is a waste of her time, so she hits and
as a "Gypsy woman;" in reality, Madame Zeroni was Egyptian. scratches Mr. Sir across the face with her rattlesnake venom-
In mid-1800s Latvia, she was an elderly woman and was good infused nail polish. This causes Mr. Sir's face to swell painfully,
friends with Elya Yelnats. When Elya approached her, sad that and he goes on to punish Stanley by depriving him of water for
he was going to be unable to marry Myra Menke, Madame more than a week. He's later complicit in destroying Zero's
Zeroni initially cautioned that Myra wasn't worth the trouble. records. Much to Mr. Sir's chagrin, after the Attorney General
However, against her better judgment, she gave Elya a runty shuts Camp Green Lake down, it eventually becomes a Girl
piglet and instructed him to carry the piglet up the nearby Scout camp.
mountain every day. There, the piglet was supposed to drink Mr
Mr.. PPendanski
endanski – Mr. Pendanski is the Tent D counselor. He's
from the stream as Elya sang a special song to the pig. This was relatively young and wears a buzz cut, but he also has a thick
supposed to make the pig bigger than Igor's pig, who was Elya's curly beard. The Tent D boys refer to him as “Mom,” which he
rival for Myra’s hand. On the final day, Elya was to carry allows. He does, however, make a point to call his charges by
Madame Zeroni up the hill (she has only one foot and couldn't their given names. He often attempts to give them pep talks
climb herself) and sing her the song while she drank from the and inspirational speeches about personal responsibility and
stream. Madame Zeroni told Elya that if he failed at any of this, life after Camp Green Lake. Of all the named authority figures,
his family would be cursed for eternity. Elya did indeed fail to Mr. Pendanski is by far the kindest; he gives Stanley extra water
follow through and began to wonder if the curse was real when when he realizes Mr. Sir is depriving Stanley and even offers to
he arrived in America. Though he asked people often if they give Stanley a ride back to camp after his first day digging.
knew of anyone named Zeroni, he never found any relatives of Despite these positive qualities, Mr. Pendanski also thinks very
hers. In the present, Zero is Madame Zeroni's great-great- little of Zero and is constantly cruel to him. He insists that Zero
great grandson. has nothing to offer, is unable to learn, and is only good for
digging holes. This culminates in Zero hitting Mr. Pendanski

©2018 LitCharts LLC v.006 www.LitCharts.com Page 5

 Get hundreds more LitCharts at www.litcharts.com
across the face with a shovel. Later, Mr. Pendanski is complicit breaks the curse: he develops what he later names Sploosh,
in destroying Zero's records. It's unclear what fate befalls Mr. which is a fruity and spicy spray to cure foot odor. Clyde
Pendanski after the camp shuts down. Livingston later promotes the product.
Charles "T"Trout"
rout" W
Walk
alker
er – Charles Walker is the eligible The Sheriff – The sheriff is a racist and powerful man in 1880s
bachelor of the richest family in 1880s Green Lake. He's most Green Lake. He's prepared to hang Sam for kissing Miss
often referred to as Trout Walker; the nickname comes from Katherine, and he drunkenly bullies Miss Katherine to try to get
his feet, which are afflicted with an incurable foot fungus that her to kiss him. He tells Miss Katherine that God will punish her
makes them smell like rotting fish. He's described as loud, for kissing Sam, and he presumably supports Trout Walker
stupid, and entitled—and proud of being all three. He's when he shoots Sam and "rescues" Katherine. Three days later,
extremely angry when Miss Katherine turns down his advances Miss Katherine shoots the sheriff and gives him the kiss he
and after she runs away with Sam, he takes justice into his own asked for.
hands. He shoots Sam and "rescues" Katherine, after which no The First Stanle
Stanleyy Y
Yelnats
elnats – The first Stanley was the son of
rain falls on Green Lake for the next 110 years. Twenty years Elya Yelnats and Sarah Miller. He made his fortune in the stock
later, Trout and his new wife, Linda, find Kate living on the edge market on the east coast in the mid-late 1800s, went west with
of Green Lake and attempt to make her give up her treasure, a valuable suitcase, but was robbed by Kissin' Kate Barlow. She
having lost their own fortune as the lake dried up. The Walker left him in the desert, where he survived for 17 days on "God's
family lives on the lake until the present, digging for Kate's Thumb"—although, when he came out of his delirium in the
treasure. The Warden is Trout's descendant. hospital, he had no idea what that even means. He married his
Cly
Clyde
de Livingston – Clyde "Sweet Feet" Livingston is a famous nurse and remained in Texas, where the Yelnats family lives to
baseball player. He also suffers from an incurable foot fungus the present day.
that makes his feet smell like dead fish. Despite this, he donates X-Ra
-Rayy/Re
/Rexx – X-Ray is a small boy in Tent D. Despite his size, he's
an old pair of his shoes to a local homeless shelter to auction the leader of the group and is always first in line for water.
them off, even though they reek. Zero steals the shoes, though Though he allows others to believe that he got his nickname
Stanley is the one convicted of the crime. Stanley idolizes Clyde because he has sharp eyesight, in reality, X-Ray is just Rex in pig
Livingston and has a poster of the baseball player on his wall Latin and he has terrible eyesight. After Stanley finds the fossil,
until it's confiscated as evidence. When Livingston testifies at X-Ray asks that if Stanley finds anything else, he give it to
Stanley's trial, he heartbreakingly calls Stanley a terrible person him—he's been at Camp Green Lake a year and believes he's
for stealing from homeless children. In the epilogue, Livingston the most deserving of a day off.
and the Yelnats family presumably have made up for this, as
Zigzag/Ricky – Zigzag is one of the boys in Tent D. He's white
he's the spokesperson for Stanley's father's cure for foot odor,
and one of the tallest at camp, though this is mostly because his
Sploosh.
neck is exceptionally long. He takes a great deal of offense to
Zero
ero's
's Mother – Though Zero's mother is described as being Stanley and Zero's agreement for Zero to dig part of Stanley's
quite young, she looks older than she is and as though she's hole, so he begins a fight with Stanley with Mr. Pendanski's
seen a number of unpleasant things in her life. Zero begins to blessing. He also tells the Warden about the agreement, which
tell Stanley about her as he recovers on God's Thumb. He culminates in Zero heading off alone into the desert after
recounts memories of her singing the same lullaby that hitting Mr. Pendanski with a shovel.
Stanley's family has passed down for generations. She and Zero
Stanle
Stanley's
y's Mother – Stanley's mother insists there's no family
became homeless when Zero was very small, and she would
curse, though she also can't ignore the fact that things go
often leave him places when she went to do things alone.
wrong for her family often. While Stanley is at Camp Green
Though it's unclear what exactly happened or when it
Lake, he and his mother write letters to each other. His mother
happened, she abandoned him at a playground. After Zero gets
appreciates Stanley's attempts to make it seem like he's at a
money from the first Stanley's suitcase, he hires private
real summer camp, as it makes her feel like a much wealthier
investigators to find her and succeeds.
parent.
Stanle
Stanley's
y's Father – Stanley's father is the third Stanley Yelnats.
Myr
Myraa Menk
Menke e – Myra is the object of Elya Yelnats's affection in
He's an inventor, though his inventions are never very
mid-1800s Latvia. Though she's exceptionally beautiful,
successful. He claims not to believe in the family curse but he
Madame Zeroni describes her as being "as empty as a flower
also regularly blames mishaps on Elya Yelnats. When Stanley is
pot." Elya eventually discovers that this is true: though he
convicted, his father is working on discovering a way to recycle
thought Myra loved him, when asked to choose between him
old sneakers. While Stanley is at camp, he learns that the stench
and Igor Barkov, Myra cannot make a decision and instead she
from this endeavor may lead to his family's eviction from their
asks her suitors to choose numbers between one and ten so
home. Stanley's father experiences a breakthrough
that chance can make her decision for her. She marries Igor.
immediately after Stanley carries Zero up the mountain and

©2018 LitCharts LLC v.006 www.LitCharts.com Page 6

 Get hundreds more LitCharts at www.litcharts.com
Myr
Myraa's Father – Myra Menke's father wishes to marry her off Twitch – A boy assigned to Tent D to take Zero's place. His real
when she turns fifteen. He doesn't much care whom she name is Brian and he was arrested for stealing a car.
marries; he simply wants a fat pig in return. This leads him to The Guard – The guard accompanies Stanley to Camp Green
consider Igor Barkov and agree to Elya's suggestion that the Lake.
suitor to bring the fattest pig should win her hand.
The Bus Driv
Driver
er – The driver who takes Stanley to Camp Green
Igor Bark
Barko ov – Igor is a 57-year-old pig farmer in mid-1800s Lake. He cautions Stanley to be careful.
Latvia. Like Elya, he wishes to marry Myra Menke and he
Hattie P
Park
arker
er – The woman in Green Lake who saw Sam and
promises Myra's father a fat pig as a bride price. He agrees with
Miss Katherine kissing and then spread the news.
Myra's father to accept that whomever brings the fattest pig
will win Myra's hand. He ends up marrying Myra, as the pigs The Attorne
Attorneyy Gener
General al – The Texas Attorney General
weigh exactly the same and Myra was unwilling to choose. accompanies Ms. Morengo to pick up Stanley from Camp
Green Lake. He's tall and wears a cowboy hat.
Sar
Sarah
ah Miller – Elya Yelnats marries Sarah Miller not long after
he immigrates to the United States in the mid-1800s. She can Derrick Dunne – Stanley's bully at home. Because Derrick is
think for herself and has a number of practical skills. She small, the teachers don't take his bullying seriously.
doesn't fully buy Elya's story that the family is cursed, but she is
entranced by the song that Madame Zeroni taught him. She
makes the song rhyme in English and sings it to her son, the THEMES
first Stanley.
In LitCharts literature guides, each theme gets its own color-
Ms. Morengo – Ms. Morengo is technically a patent lawyer, but coded icon. These icons make it easy to track where the themes
she also represents Stanley. Stanley's father is able to hire her occur most prominently throughout the work. If you don't have
after experiencing a breakthrough in his invention to cure foot a color printer, you can still use the icons to track themes in
odor. Ms. Morengo is a very short Hispanic woman who is a black and white.
force to be reckoned with. She is able to take both Stanley and
Zero away from Camp Green Lake.
FATE AND DESTINY
Holes follows fourteen-year-old Stanley Yelnats, a
MINOR CHARACTERS
boy wrongly accused of stealing a pair of shoes, as
Doc Ha
Hawthorn
wthorn – Doc Hawthorn is the doctor in 1880s Green he's sent to Camp Green Lake in the Texas desert
Lake. Residents of Green Lake seek out both Doc Hawthorn's to serve his sentence. For generations, Stanley's family has
services as well as Sam's onion potions, and neither man is been haunted by the specter of Stanley's "no-good-dirty-
bothered by this arrangement. Doc Hawthorn himself uses an rotten-pig-stealing-great-great-grandfather." That great-great
onion cream for balding. grandfather, Elya Yelnats, didn't follow through on a bargain he
Linda W
Walk
alker
er – Linda Walker is Trout Walker's wife. Though struck with a "gypsy" woman, Madame Zeroni, and the Yelnats
Kate remembers Linda as one of her former students (and a family has been plagued by bad luck ever since. Opinion varies
pleasant one), after her marriage, Linda becomes just as cold among the Yelnats family members as to whether this is due to
and mean as her husband. a real curse put on the family by Madame Zeroni or a simple
Squid/Alan – Squid is one of the boys in Tent D. When Stanley case of constant bad luck, but the narrator is quick to point out
is released from Camp Green Lake, Squid asks him to call his instances in which things seem far too serendipitous to be the
mother and relay to her that he's sorry, using his given name, work of mere chance. With this, Holes presents a world in which
Alan. there's a very real chance that fate is at work, even if it's never
possible for the characters to ever know for sure. In this way,
Magnet/José – Magnet is a Mexican boy in Tent D. He implies Sachar is able to use fate and destiny as devices to make the
that he was arrested for theft, and he steals Mr. Sir's sunflower plot of the novel feel especially dramatic, ordered, and
seeds at camp. During one of Mr. Pendanski's conversations, satisfying.
Magnet suggests he'd like to train animals for movies.
It's worth noting that, at least according to what they say, none
Armpit/Theodore – Aside from Stanley, Armpit is the biggest of the Yelnats family truly believes in the curse—even Elya. The
boy in Tent D. He's often angry and can be violent. narrator states that when Elya realized he broke his promise to
Mrs. T
Tenn
ennyson
yson – A woman in Green Lake who thanks Sam for Madame Zeroni, he was only fifteen and instead of worrying
curing her daughter with onions. about his family being cursed for generations, he was simply
Barf Bag – The boy whose place Stanley takes at Camp Green sad that he'd broken a promise to his friend. Over the next
Lake. He left the camp and was hospitalized because he several generations (Stanley the protagonist is the fourth
purposefully stepped on a rattlesnake. Stanley Yelnats; the first Stanley was Elya's son), the Yelnats

©2018 LitCharts LLC v.006 www.LitCharts.com Page 7

 Get hundreds more LitCharts at www.litcharts.com
family is plagued by bad luck. Most notable is the first Stanley, not in fate or curses—the success and relief that Stanley's
who surprisingly did make his fortune on the east coast and family feels in the epilogue suggests that, even if they don't fully
then headed west with a valuable suitcase. In Texas, his believe in the curse, Stanley's actions still somehow freed them
stagecoach was attacked by the outlaw Kissin' Kate Barlow, from ever needing to blame their misfortunes on Stanley's no-
who stole his suitcase. He survived for seventeen days in the good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing-great-great-grandfather.
desert, married a nurse at the hospital where he was treated,
and the Yelnats family has been in Texas ever since. Notably, CRUELTY VS. KINDNESS
Kate's story is also one in which fate factors dramatically.
Camp Green Lake is an impossibly cruel place.
Before she was Kissin' Kate Barlow, she was Miss Katherine,
There, the Warden forces teenage inmates to dig
the beloved schoolteacher of the idyllic Texas town of Green
holes five feet wide and five feet deep, seemingly
Lake. When she fell in love with Sam, an African-American
for no reason other than to "build character." In addition to this
onion seller, his murder by the wealthy white man Trout Walker
backbreaking labor, the adults in charge, who are ironically
propelled Kate into a life of banditry and put a curse of sorts on
referred to as counselors, also work hard to terrify the inmates
Green Lake: the narrator states that since Sam's death, 110
and destroy their senses of self-worth—and in turn, they foster
years before the present, not a drop of rain has fallen in the
an environment in which cruelty and terror are valuable
area.
currency, while kindness is a joke when it exists at all. In this
Though Stanley's time at Camp Green Lake is horrific and environment Stanley's kindnesses to his fellow Group D
makes little sense to him, his transformation over the course of members, and specifically to Zero, stand in sharp contrast to
the novel very much mirrors the transformation that young the way the rest of the camp functions. Through the
Elya went through as he entered into his agreement with relationship between Stanley and Zero, Holes explores the truly
Madame Zeroni. In order to win over his love, Myra Menke, transformative power of kindness, as well as the dehumanizing
Elya was to carry a piglet up the mountain every day to drink effects of cruelty, ultimately suggesting that kindness and
from a magical stream and sing it a special lullaby. This would friendship in particular can help to remedy some of the effects
both make him extremely strong and help his pig grow bigger of cruel mistreatment.
than that of Igor Barkov, his rival for Myra's affection. On the
Stanley is described as being a "good kid," and his actions and
final day, Elya was supposed to carry the pig up the hill and then
outlook on life are surprisingly generous given the
carry Madame Zeroni herself to the stream. Stanley, on the
circumstances. He's arrested because he's just "in the wrong
other hand, digs holes five feet wide and five feet deep every
place at the wrong time," but he's also trying to do something
day for about the same amount of time that Elya carried his pig
nice for his dad by bringing him the smelly pair of shoes that
up the mountain. At what comes to be the end of Stanley's
mysteriously fell from the sky (Stanley's dad is in the process of
sentence, he runs away into the desert after his friend, Hector
figuring out how to recycle old sneakers, and Stanley feels
"Zero" Zeroni. Zero becomes extremely ill and dehydrated after
instinctively that the shoes will be the key to his dad's success).
several days in the desert, leading Stanley to carry Zero up a
Stanley simply has no idea the shoes were stolen. Immediately
mountain to where they believe there's water. Unbeknownst to
upon arrival at Camp Green Lake, however, Stanley learns that
both boys, Zero is actually the great-great-great grandson of
his kindness and generosity aren't going to get him far in the
Madame Zeroni—and after Stanley carries Zero up the
cutthroat social structure of Group D or the camp at large. Mr.
mountain and sings him the special lullaby, it appears to break
Sir, the cantankerous middle manager of Camp Green Lake,
the curse. Stanley's dad promptly experiences a breakthrough
handles Stanley's intake and promptly reminds him that "this
in his formula to cure foot odor and, because of this, he is finally
isn't a Girl Scout camp," a phrase that he repeats in some form
able to hire a lawyer to prove Stanley's innocence. Ms.
nearly every time he speaks. Coupled with the fact that Mr. Sir
Morengo isn't just able to clear Stanley, but is able to also take
is easily the nastiest adult in charge, second only to the
temporary custody of Zero and shut down Camp Green Lake.
Warden, his constant refrain about the Girl Scouts sets up the
This in particular suggests that Stanley's actions also did
idea that the things and ideas that he considers embarrassingly
something to atone for Sam's murder, as the Warden is Trout
feminine—in this case, things like kindness, empathy, or care for
Walker's descendent—and following Stanley's release, rain
others—don't exist at Camp Green Lake, the goal is to be as
finally falls on the lake again.
toxically masculine and as cruel as possible, just like he is.
Though the characters remain seemingly unconvinced of the
Mr. Sir and the Warden's insistence on cruelty filters down to
actual existence of the curse, the ways in which Stanley's
the campers, which in turn keeps the campers from forming
completion of his great-great grandfather's task appears to set
meaningful connections with each other, truly caring about
things right for the family suggests that fate and destiny clearly
others' fates, or being at all willing to help each other. Of the
exist and hold sway in Stanley's world. In the end, it seems to
boys in Group D, Stanley seems relatively unique in that he
matter less whether or not the Yelnats family truly believes or
clearly recognizes that the social hierarchy of Group D is based

©2018 LitCharts LLC v.006 www.LitCharts.com Page 8

 Get hundreds more LitCharts at www.litcharts.com
on terror and power, not camaraderie. Thus, Stanley "moves up Livingston's shoes from the homeless shelter, where they were
one spot in line" for water only when he caves to X-Ray's supposed to be auctioned to raise money. Regardless, Stanley is
intimidation, while any attempts he makes to express care or convicted and sent to Camp Green Lake, which is sold to him as
interest in his peers' wellbeing are met with explosive anger. an option superior to going to prison. Stanley then arrives at
The only person that this doesn't hold true for is Zero, who is Camp Green Lake and becomes aware of just how
spoken to with unmatched cruelty by both his peers and adults, dysfunctional and cruel the camp truly is. While Camp Green
even the relatively kind Mr. Pendanski. The fact that Zero and Lake is technically part of the formal Texas justice system, in
Stanley are able to form a friendship suggests that Zero, like reality, it exists in a separate realm altogether from the justice
Stanley, doesn't necessarily buy into the idea that behaving system. This is reinforced and magnified by the fact that it soon
cruelly is the only way to get ahead in the world. Indeed, Zero becomes clear that the teenage inmates aren't actually there
doesn't participate in any of the group intimidation of Stanley just to "build character" by digging holes; Stanley realizes after
and is the only camper who refuses to use Stanley's assigned a few weeks that the Warden is looking for something buried in
nickname, Caveman. Zero's choice to instead be mostly solitary the lake and is using the inmates as cheap labor to help her find
culminates in his decision to walk away from the camp it. This shows clearly just how corrupt and ineffective the
altogether into the desert, a choice that suggests it's better to formal justice system is, as it doesn't seem like the state
be alone than to live with the kind of cruelty that's particularly cares about the injustices that go on at Camp
commonplace at Camp Green Lake. Green Lake.
When Stanley decides to go after Zero, understanding that When the novel goes back in time to tell the history of Green
Zero has no chance of survival without water, he rebels Lake, it quickly becomes clear that Camp Green Lake is barren
dramatically by choosing kindness in a place where kindness is and horrific in the present as punishment for an instance in
severely undervalued. The high degree of care that Stanley which justice was not served in the 1880s. When Miss
shows Zero while they wander in the desert, including carrying Katherine, the beloved schoolteacher, first rejected the
him up an impossibly steep mountain, finding him water, and advances of the wealthy Trout Walker and then fell in love with
feeding him onions, allows Stanley and Zero to become close to the black onion seller Sam, the idyllic town dissolved into race-
each other and become true friends. Stanley's kindness to Zero driven violence. The town of Green Lake had outlawed
even allows him to break the curse that Madame Zeroni, a interracial relationships, and thus Katherine and Sam's kiss
distant grandmother of Zero's, put on Elya Yelnats, Stanley's sparked a riot that resulted in Trout Walker shooting Sam in the
great-great grandfather. Finally, the lake's subsequent middle of the lake as he tried to escape with Katherine, and
transformation into a real lake—and the fact that Camp Green then rescuing Katherine "against her will." Prior to her attempt
Lake becomes a real Girl Scout camp after the Warden's to escape with Sam, Katherine approached the sheriff for help
operation is shut down—illustrates clearly that harmony among when the mob began to torch the schoolhouse. The sheriff not
nature and people rests on kindness, while cruelty has the only refused to put a stop to the violence, but presumably went
power to destroy both. on to condone Trout Walker's actions. He also suggested that
God would punish Kate for kissing Sam, given that her
JUSTICE participation in the kiss wasn't illegal, it was just considered
morally wrong in the racist world of the 1880s. This illustrates
Holes explores the complexity of justice, both in
how the formal justice system in Green Lake has been corrupt
terms of formal justice systems like courts of law,
for more than a century—as the sheriff's cruelty continues to
and more personal justice systems, such as the
be perpetuated by the Warden in the present. Then, after
banditry and vigilante justice of the outlaw Kissin' Kate Barlow
describing what happened to Sam, the narrator notes that "not
in the late 1800s. By exploring the ways in which the formal
one drop of rain has fallen on Green Lake" since Sam was
justice system falls short and doesn't actually promote justice,
murdered, 110 years ago. The narrator even asks the reader to
both in the present and in the past, Holes questions the
decide whom God punished. In this way, the novel encourages
usefulness of formal systems of justice in the first place. At the
the reader to see the horror of Camp Green Lake as divine
same time, it also questions the role of both vigilante justice
punishment for the morally repugnant actions of the sheriff and
and justice that appears to come from fate, destiny, or possibly
Trout Walker, whose descendent is none other than the
God. Ultimately, the novel suggests that it takes all three
Warden.
methods to properly uphold justice, while also suggesting that
everyone will eventually receive the justice they When Katherine kills the sheriff, she also seeks to do her part
deserve—though it may come through mysterious means. to atone for Sam's death. The fact that she dies laughing twenty
years later at the hands of Trout Walker and his wife when they
From the beginning, the reader is led to believe that the formal
come for her treasure suggests that she very literally got the
justice system is ineffective at best. The narrator explains up-
last laugh—the Walker family continues to pay for their racism
front that Stanley didn't steal the famous baseball player Clive

©2018 LitCharts LLC v.006 www.LitCharts.com Page 9

 Get hundreds more LitCharts at www.litcharts.com
and greed for generations, even after the novel ends (the Zero is illiterate, they nonetheless view him as stupid,
Warden is forced to sell Camp Green Lake after the Texas uneducated, and only good for digging holes, and they use this
attorney general shuts it down). With this, the novel makes it image of him to justify their own superiority and their bullying
clear that everyone will eventually receive justice, even if and poor treatment of Zero. The power of education comes to
justice comes on its own timeline and from outside the formal the forefront when, at the end of the novel, Zero has learned to
justice system. read well enough to be able to read Stanley's name on the
mysterious suitcase he and Stanley dig up. This allows Zero to
POWER, MONEY, AND EDUCATION effectively make the case to Ms. Morengo that the suitcase
belongs to Stanley, not the Warden, finally gaining a degree of
At its heart, Holes is a study of power dynamics. By
power over a person who has, for the entirety of the novel, held
considering the different ways that characters gain
Zero's life in her hands.
power, hold onto it, or are unable to do either, Holes
questions the very nature of power and, specifically, the Though the epilogue doesn't reference education specifically,
different ways that individuals are denied power due to poverty Stanley and Zero both earn a small fortune from the contents
and a lack of education. of the first Stanley Yelnats's suitcase. With this money, Stanley
is able to buy a house, and Zero—who chooses to go by his real
One of the first means of gaining power that the novel explores
name, Hector—is able to finally reunite with his mother. This
is through money. The Yelnats family is extremely poor, while
happy ending implies that, even if money can't necessarily buy
Zero and Zero's mother lived in dire poverty until his mother
happiness, it does indeed have the power to make it easier for
disappeared, leaving Zero to live as an orphan on the streets.
one to move through the world and support one's family, which
For both boys—and, indeed, their families as well—their
the novel ultimately suggests is one way to get closer to true
economic standing is one of the main reasons why Stanley and
happiness.
Zero end up at Camp Green Lake in the first place. Stanley's
family is unable to pay for a lawyer to defend Stanley, which
puts him at the mercy of the criminal justice system that's more MAN VS. NATURE
interested in convicting someone for stealing Clyde In all three settings of the novel (Latvia in the
Livingston's shoes than discovering the truth of who did it. mid-1800s; Green Lake, Texas in the 1880s; and
Stanley chooses to go to Camp Green Lake instead of prison Camp Green Lake in the late 1990s), the natural
because the judge pressures him into making a quick decision, world is afforded a great deal of power over its human
which again illustrates how Stanley's lack of power in the inhabitants. For those who are willing to play by the natural
courtroom relegated him to a horrendous fate: in the event world's rules, nature isn't something to be feared; rather, it's
that Stanley had lost his case even with the help of a lawyer, a something that can bring happiness, good fortune, and even
lawyer still would've been aware that Camp Green Lake is no economic prosperity. For those who seek to dominate the land,
idyll and, at the very least, could've given Stanley more time to and, in some cases, for those who do respect the land, the
make an informed decision. natural world strikes back with surprising force. In this way,
Zero is similarly victimized because his poverty forces him to Holes presents a version of nature in which nature is something
petty theft in order to simply survive—he's arrested and sent to sentient whose rules require respect and reverence.
Camp Green Lake after stealing a pair of shoes from a shoe The power of the natural world is first introduced in Elya
store, and he tells Stanley that he and his mother have always Yelnats's story, when Madame Zeroni tells him that if he carries
had to steal in order to eat. For Zero in particular, he believes his piglet up the mountain daily to drink from a stream that
that the only way to maintain power and control over his own runs uphill, it will grow big enough for him to win his beloved
life is to steal and hide from the authorities, as the government Myra's hand. It very quickly becomes clear that the stream has
discovering that he's living as an orphan gives them the right to magical powers, as the runty piglet is exactly as big as Igor's pig
declare him a ward of the state—in other words, to take control on the day of Myra's birthday—but not bigger, as Elya didn't
over Zero's life. take the pig up the mountain that final day. The stream
Unlike Stanley or the other campers, Zero is victimized because represents an unnatural yet benevolent side to nature, and it
of his lack of education; he's entirely illiterate when Stanley shows up again in Green Lake, Texas. Sam the onion man
meets him. Stanley's opinion of Zero evolves relatively carefully guards the location where he grows his onions, but it
quickly—he very soon recognizes that Zero is exceptionally later comes to light that the water there either runs uphill or
smart and worthy of consideration, regardless of whether or comes from some other mysterious means. This in turn helps
not he can read—but Zero's lack of education means that no Sam market his onions, as well as the tinctures and lotions he
one else at Camp Green Lake takes him seriously and he makes with them, as a sort of miracle drug for all manner of
simultaneously has less power to stand up for himself. Though maladies and ailments. Most notably, Sam makes an onion drink
it's somewhat unclear if the other boys at camp are aware that that repels the deadly yellow-spotted lizards that, at the time,

©2018 LitCharts LLC v.006 www.LitCharts.com Page 10

 Get hundreds more LitCharts at www.litcharts.com
lived only in the mountains. In particular, when the knowledge
GIRL SCOUTS
that the lizards hate onions dies with Sam, it suggests that the
ability to coexist with the natural world belongs only to those Mr. Sir's favorite catchphrase is that "this isn't a Girl
who treat it with respect and take its unnatural elements in Scout camp," and calling the campers Girl Scouts is
stride, unlike Sam's killer Trout Walker and his descendent, the his favorite insult. This speaks to the way that those at Camp
Warden. Green Lake gender their cruelty—it's masculine (and
acceptable) to be cruel and perform hard labor, while anything
When the narrator suggests that Green Lake dried up and
else, even positive qualities like kindness or caring, are
became a desert to punish Trout Walker and the racist
unfashionably feminine. In this way, Mr. Sir's catchphrase
townsfolk who participated in the mob, it implies that nature in
comes to encapsulate the toxic nature of the camp and show
the world of Holes isn't just something that exists alongside
that the camp takes destructive masculine ideas to the
humans. Rather, it's something sentient with a keen interest in
extreme. When the narrator says at the end of the novel that a
the goings-on of its human inhabitants, as well as a sense of
restored Camp Green Lake will actually be turned into a Girl
morality and judgment that is clearly not in line with that of
Scout camp in the future, it suggests that, with balanced
Trout Walker and the sheriff. With the transformation of Green
restored to the area of Green Lake, these more feminine
Lake into a desert, the yellow-spotted lizards also descend from
qualities have prevailed and, contrary to Mr. Sir's beliefs,
the mountains to prey on any humans not quick enough to
kindness and genuine care for others and the environment—as
escape them. Though the novel suggests that this was a natural
represented by the Girl Scouts—will govern the area going
move for the lizards, which thrive in the dry desert sun, it's also
forward.
possible to read this as another way in which the natural world
punishes its inhabitants for misdeeds by making its desert even
more dangerous. GOD'S THUMB
Stanley clearly reads the land as sentient. He makes note of the God's Thumb, which Stanley also refers to as Big
rock formation he refers to as "God's Thumb," where the first Thumb, is a rock formation in the mountains
Stanley supposedly survived for seventeen days after Kissin' several miles away from Camp Green Lake. It looks like a fist
Kate abandoned him in the desert. As Stanley and Zero make making a thumbs-up sign on a massive scale. It comes to
their way across the desert towards the mountains, they keep represent the sentience of nature within the world of the novel,
an eye on the formation and feel as though the land itself is especially as Stanley and Zero begin their journey towards it.
giving them a thumbs-up to urge them on. When they finally Stanley in particular feels as though the rock is encouraging
arrive, Stanley and Zero find the land (which is implied to be him and urging him on. Stanley, Zero, and the first Stanley all
Sam's onion field) truly life-giving: they're able to dig to find survive thanks to the water and onions available around the
water, and the steady diet of onions that both boys eat for rock formation. This suggests that nature's benevolence is
several days not only brings Zero back to some semblance of reserved for those who are willing to look for it and respect the
health—it keeps the boys safe when they find themselves in a natural world. On the other hand, God's Thumb is barely visible
nest of yellow-spotted lizards upon their return to Camp Green from Camp Green Lake, an area that has been effectively
Lake. abandoned by nature, unless one is specifically looking for it.
Taken together, the end of the novel clearly reinforces the
power of the natural world and its interest in human events:
Stanley's act of carrying Zero up the hill, helping him drink, and QUO
QUOTES
TES
singing him Madame Zeroni's lullaby appears to break the
Note: all page numbers for the quotes below refer to the
curse, while rains finally come to Green Lake and turn the lake
Random House edition of Holes published in 1998.
into an actual lake again following the Warden's removal from
the land. When the narrator explains that Camp Green Lake is
slated to become an actual Girl Scout camp within a few years, Part 1, Chapter 3 Quotes
it suggests that Green Lake itself is turning over a new leaf and Stanley was not a bad kid. He was innocent of the crime for
will be presumably be managed by better stewards with the which he was convicted. He'd just been in the wrong place at
power to impart an appropriate sense of respect and reverence the wrong time. It was all because of his no-good-dirty-rotten-
in the campers to come. pig-stealing-great-great-grandfather! He smiled. It was a family
joke. Whenever anything went wrong, they always blamed
Stanley's no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing-great-great-
SYMBOLS grandfather.
Symbols appear in blue text throughout the Summary and
Analysis sections of this LitChart.

©2018 LitCharts LLC v.006 www.LitCharts.com Page 11

 Get hundreds more LitCharts at www.litcharts.com

Related Characters: Stanley Yelnats, Elya Yelnats, Madame the work of destiny. Later, these will come to the forefront
Zeroni and help the novel to flesh out the idea that all of these little
things are actually extremely consequential.
Related Themes:

Page Number: 7 Part 1, Chapter 4 Quotes

Explanation and Analysis "I see you're looking at my gun. Don't worry. I'm not going
Stanley is on the bus to Camp Green Lake as the narrator to shoot you. "He tapped his holster. "This is for yellow-spotted
explains that Stanley is innocent and goes on to introduce lizards. I wouldn't waste a bullet on you."
the Yelnats family curse to the reader. At this point, Stanley
and the rest of his family don't believe in the curse, though Related Characters: Mr. Sir (speaker), Stanley Yelnats
they're able to use it like Stanley does here to help them
assign meaning to their difficult situations. This suggests Related Themes:
that even if someone doesn't believe in fate or destiny,
referencing those ideas is one way to help achieve a sense Page Number: 14
of control and meaning in regards to one's life. Specifically in
Explanation and Analysis
regards to Stanley's character, the fact that he's able to
smile right now points to his overwhelmingly positive and As Mr. Sir points out how deadly the desert surrounding
optimistic nature, which helps to develop him as a "good Camp Green Lake is, he insists that the teenage inmates
kid" who is fundamentally kind and hopeful. aren't worth shooting. This is one of the first ways that Mr.
Sir tells Stanley that Stanley doesn't matter to him—he's
Further, when the narrator insists that Stanley is innocent, it
merely a body to verbally abuse, no more. This also provides
introduces the idea that the justice system at work in the
some evidence for the possibility that the camp itself is
novel isn't exactly the best way to get justice. It suggests
merely using the inmates as inexpensive labor for ulterior
that the system is rigged, difficult, and uninterested in
motives, given how little the adults in charge seem to care
helping someone like Stanley.
about the boys. Mr. Sir's mention of the yellow-spotted
lizards also impresses upon both Stanley and the reader
that the natural world is a dangerous place that commands
All of them had something else in common. Despite their respect from those who live with it. Clearly, the lizards are
awful luck, they always remained hopeful. As Stanley's more consequential to Mr. Sir than the human lives he's at
father liked to say, "I learn from failure." But perhaps that was camp to protect.
part of the curse as well. If Stanley and his father weren't
always hopeful, then it wouldn't hurt so much every time their
hopes were crushed. Part 1, Chapter 7 Quotes
He wasn't afraid of the curse. He thought that was a lot of
Related Characters: Stanley Yelnats, Elya Yelnats, Stanley's nonsense. He felt bad because he knew Madame Zeroni had
Father wanted to drink from the stream before she died.

Related Themes:
Related Characters: Elya Yelnats, Madame Zeroni
Page Number: 9
Related Themes:
Explanation and Analysis
The narrator explains the Yelnats family curse and notes Page Number: 37
that the Yelnats men in particular are all extremely hopeful Explanation and Analysis
individuals. By suggesting that this quality may be part of
The narrator tells the story of Elya Yelnats and notes that
the family curse, the narrator shows how fate and destiny
when Elya realized he'd broken his promise to Madame
have the potential to infiltrate all parts of Stanley and his
Zeroni, he was upset only because he knew he'd let down a
family's lives. This becomes even more important later, as
friend. This begins to impress upon the reader the
this introduces the idea that every element of the story,
importance of kindness and following through on one's
even these seemingly inconsequential character traits, are

©2018 LitCharts LLC v.006 www.LitCharts.com Page 12

 Get hundreds more LitCharts at www.litcharts.com

promises. Using this model, the curse on the Yelnats family told Stanley that his bullets are reserved for yellow-spotted
is a punishment for not keeping a simple promise, and in this lizards; this confirms for the reader that the lizards are
way, it can be seen to exist entirely separately from the indeed real. By conflating the lizards with curses as a whole,
implied magic of the stream and the special song. Elya's the narrator suggests that, just as the lizards are hardly
unwillingness to take the curse seriously also sets up the believable and yet real, curses are also real. This helps frame
rest of his family, including all his descendants, to not the world of the novel as one in which destiny plays a major
believe in the curse. Because of this, the Yelnats family has role, specifically in terms of how Stanley and his family
far less power to right Elya's wrongs. handle their family curse.

Stanley waited for him to drive away, then took another Part 1, Chapter 11 Quotes
look at his hole. He knew it was nothing to be proud of, but The more he thought about it, the more he was glad that
he felt proud nonetheless. He sucked up his last bit of saliva and he agreed to let X-Ray have anything he might find. If he was
spat. going to survive at Camp Green Lake, it was far more important
that X-Ray think he was a good guy than it was for him to get
one day off.
Related Characters: Stanley Yelnats, Mr. Pendanski

Related Themes: Related Characters: Stanley Yelnats, The Warden, X-Ray/

Rex
Page Number: 40
Related Themes:
Explanation and Analysis
After Stanley finishes his first hole, he feels strangely proud Page Number: 53
and engages in the custom of spitting in the finished hole.
Stanley's strange sense of pride begins to show how the Explanation and Analysis
specific environment of Camp Green Lake warps the After Stanley promises X-Ray whatever interesting things
campers’ perceptions of what's normal and reasonable. This he might find out on the lake, Stanley reasons that the
is exactly because Camp Green Lake exists outside of the easiest way to make his time at camp better is to get on X-
normal Texas justice system and indeed, well outside of any Ray's good side. This suggests that, even at this early stage
civilization at all. This isolation allows it to create a system (Stanley has only been at camp a few days), Stanley is
based on hard manual labor and cruelty. The consequences already acutely aware of how the social structure functions.
of this are Stanley's strange sense of pride, as well as the For the boys, it's based on their own desires to climb the
boys' inability to truly care for or about each other as they totem pole and gain some modicum of power over their
go about their days at camp. lives. In turn, this shows that Stanley is willing to play the
game in order to do well and get ahead. However, it's also
notable that Stanley believes that his own welfare will be
Part 1, Chapter 8 Quotes directly influenced by X-Ray's happiness. This is another
way that the novel suggests that Stanley is, at heart, a kind
A lot of people don't believe in curses. A lot of people don't
and thoughtful person. For him, it's just icing on the cake
believe in yellow-spotted lizards either, but if one bites you, it
when being nice also benefits him.
doesn't make a difference whether you believe in it or not.

Related Themes: Part 1, Chapter 16 Quotes

It was wonderful to hear from you. Your letter made me feel
Page Number: 41 like one of the other moms who can afford to send their kids to
summer camp.
Explanation and Analysis
The narrator takes a short chapter to introduce the reader
to the yellow-spotted lizards and explain how deadly they Related Characters: Stanley's Mother (speaker), Stanley
are and outline their semi-mystical place in the culture of Yelnats
the Green Lake area. Remember that Mr. Sir has already

©2018 LitCharts LLC v.006 www.LitCharts.com Page 13

 Get hundreds more LitCharts at www.litcharts.com

each other. In other words, Zigzag is far more concerned

Related Themes:
with making sure that Stanley does his fair share, even if it
kills him, than he is in taking care of one of his tent mates,
Page Number: 75
something that would be encouraged in a less toxic
Explanation and Analysis environment.
When Stanley reads a letter from his mother, he reads that
his letter about swimming on the lake and learning to water
ski (none of which is true) is helping his mom escape from Part 1, Chapter 18 Quotes
her own poor financial situation. This first reinforces just "Sorry," Stanley said again. His muscles and hands weren't
how poor Stanley's family is, especially since it equates the only parts of his body that had toughened over the past
camp with wealth. Stanley's mom implies that the Yelnats several weeks. His heart had hardened as well.
family is nowhere near well-off enough to send Stanley to
camp, and it's a wonderful fantasy for her that Stanley is
Related Characters: Stanley Yelnats (speaker), Zero/
indeed at camp.
Hector Zeroni
This also helps develop Stanley as a kind and caring
character, as it's clear that he knew this letter would go over Related Themes:
well with his mom and make her feel better about the
situation. Similarly, the act of writing about all the "fun Page Number: 82
things" he's not actually doing likely helps Stanley mentally
Explanation and Analysis
escape from his horrible situation, something that the
narrator suggests is part of the Yelnats family curse. When Zero asks if Stanley would teach him to read, Stanley
insists that he can't. When the narrator notes that Stanley's
heart has hardened since arriving at Camp Green Lake, it
Part 1, Chapter 17 Quotes illustrates just how toxic the environment is. Even someone
as caring and as kind as Stanley isn't immune; everyone is at
"That's your dirt," Zigzag said. "You have to dig it up. It's
risk of adapting to the toxicity and accepting it as normal.
covering up my dirt." Stanley felt a little dizzy. He could see a
small pile of dirt. It took him a moment to realize that it was the By refusing to teach Zero to read, Stanley is also refusing to
dirt which had been on his shovel when he was hit. He scooped help Zero develop a way to stand up for himself. Though the
it up, then Zigzag dug his shovel into the ground underneath novel never says outright why Mr. Pendanski and the other
where "Stanley's dirt" had been. boys dislike Zero and pick on him, it's possible that they look
down on him because of his lack of education. That Stanley
has noted this before but still decides to not stand up for
Related Characters: Zigzag/Ricky (speaker), Stanley Zero shows that Stanley is becoming someone very
Yelnats different than the person who arrived at camp, and that
someone isn't nearly as nice.
Related Themes:

Page Number: 79
Part 1, Chapter 19 Quotes
Explanation and Analysis Stanley kept his mouth shut most of the time. He didn't
While Group D is engaged in working on the Warden's talk too much to any of the boys, afraid that he might say the
massive hole, Zigzag accidentally hits Stanley in the head wrong thing. They called him Caveman and all that, but he
with his shovel. First, it's telling that Mr. Sir sends Stanley couldn't forget that they were dangerous, too. They were all
back into the hole after such an injury, as Stanley's dizziness here for a reason. As Mr. Sir would say, this wasn't a Girl Scout
indicates that he's clearly not well enough to be doing this camp.
kind of hard manual labor. This is again indicative of the
cruelty of Camp Green Lake and the fact that the adults in
Related Characters: Stanley Yelnats, Zero/Hector Zeroni,
charge care little for the boys in their care. Then, Zigzag's
Mr. Sir, X-Ray/Rex, Zigzag/Ricky, Squid/Alan, Magnet/José,
petty insistence that Stanley pick up "his" dirt shows just
Armpit/Theodore
how the adults' lack of care poisons the way that the
inmates think about justice and their relationships with Related Themes:

©2018 LitCharts LLC v.006 www.LitCharts.com Page 14

 Get hundreds more LitCharts at www.litcharts.com

Page Number: 84 uneducated but interested individuals; her desire to teach

suggests that Stanley will also come around and decide to
Explanation and Analysis try to teach Zero.
After Stanley attempts to make sure that Squid is okay
when he hears him crying, the narrator explains that Stanley
stays quiet at camp. Specifically, Stanley's willingness to Everyone in town had seen—and heard—the Walkers' new
invoke Mr. Sir's catchphrase suggests that he's beginning to boat. It made a horrible loud noise and spewed ugly black
take some of Mr. Sir's core beliefs to heart: namely, that the smoke all over the beautiful lake.
boys at camp must be extremely masculine and not show
any softness in order to survive at camp.
Related Characters: Miss Katherine/Kissin' Kate Barlow,
It's also important to note that Stanley thinks of himself as Charles "Trout" Walker
being very different from the rest of the boys at Camp
Green Lake. This shows that even though Stanley is a kind Related Themes:
and generous person at heart, he still struggles to
empathize with those who are different from him. This is, Page Number: 103
for example, why he's still struggling at this point to bring
himself to teach Zero to read: he views Zero as being so Explanation and Analysis
different as to be not worth the time of day. After Miss Katherine declines Trout Walker's invitation to
go out on the boat, the narrator describes the motorized
boat itself. The description of the boat suggests that it
Part 1, Chapter 23 Quotes destroys the idyll that is Green Lake in the 1880s. This turns
the boat itself into a way for Trout Walker and his family to
A lot of men in town were not educated. This didn't bother
exert control over the land, and sets up the idea of man
Miss Katherine. She knew they'd spent most of their lives
versus nature as the real conflict at play here. This shows
working on farms and ranches and hadn't had much schooling.
that the coming conflict is very human, but it's also very
That was why she was there—to teach them. But Trout didn't
much rooted in a conflict between those who respect and
want to learn. He seemed to be proud of his stupidity.
love nature (such as Miss Katherine and Sam) and those
who wish to dominate it (specifically, Trout Walker).
Related Characters: Stanley Yelnats, Zero/Hector Zeroni,
The Warden, Miss Katherine/Kissin' Kate Barlow, Charles
"Trout" Walker Part 1, Chapter 26 Quotes
Related Themes: Miss Katherine jerked her hand free. As she hurried to the
door, she heard the sheriff say, "The law will punish Sam. And
Page Number: 103 God will punish you."

Explanation and Analysis

Related Characters: The Sheriff (speaker), Miss Katherine/
The narrator describes the role of Miss Katherine, the Kissin' Kate Barlow, Sam, Charles "Trout" Walker
schoolteacher in 1880s Green Lake, and that of Trout
Walker, the nasty eligible bachelor. Most importantly, this Related Themes:
passage places Trout Walker in direct opposition to
education, which becomes important later when the Page Number: 114
Warden forbids Stanley from teaching Zero to read. As
Trout Walker's descendant, the Warden appears to share Explanation and Analysis
his disdain for the power of education to change lives. After the sheriff refuses to help Katherine stop Trout
Similarly, his distaste for education and his disrespect for his Walker's mob, she leaves his office as he insists that God will
fellow students shows that, like the Warden, Trout Walker punish her for kissing Sam. The sheriff's words show that, as
cares only for himself and what the world can offer him. far as he's concerned, the formal legal system and the moral
Miss Katherine, on the other hand, shows what can be system upheld by Christianity are two ways to achieve the
accomplished when one looks at the potential in same kind of order—namely, an order that is racist, sexist,
and supports people like him and Trout Walker. This

©2018 LitCharts LLC v.006 www.LitCharts.com Page 15

 Get hundreds more LitCharts at www.litcharts.com

illustrates how the sheriff is able to use his power to corrupt Related Characters: Stanley Yelnats, The Warden, Mr. Sir,
the justice system. These abuses make him feel comfortable Mr. Pendanski
propositioning Katherine for a kiss and invading her space
and privacy as punishment for her "transgression" of kissing Related Themes:
Sam.
Page Number: 116

Explanation and Analysis

These are the facts: The Walker boat smashed into Sam's After the Warden scratches Mr. Sir with rattlesnake venom,
boat. Sam was shot and killed in the water. Katherine Mr. Sir begins depriving Stanley of water. Mr. Pendanski
Barlow was rescued against her wishes. When they returned to attempts to make up for this cruelty by giving Stanley extra.
the shore, she saw Mary Lou's body lying on the ground. The This suggests that, of all the adults in charge, Mr. Pendanski
donkey had been shot in the head. That all happened one may not be as cruel or as horrible as the others. It suggests
hundred and ten years ago. Since then, not one drop of rain has at the very least that he's still aware of the toxicity of Camp
fallen on Green Lake. You make the decision: Whom did God Green Lake and recognizes that it goes too far regularly, a
punish? realization that Mr. Sir and the Warden don't seem to have
made. Stanley's thankfulness reinforces just how
Related Characters: Miss Katherine/Kissin' Kate Barlow, dysfunctional the social structure at Camp Green Lake is, as
Sam, Charles "Trout" Walker, The Sheriff it's undeniably cruel—not to mention dangerous—to
deprive people of water, especially given the kind of work
Related Themes: the inmates are doing. This then comes to illustrate another
incidence in which the adults in charge seem to care little
Page Number: 115 for their charges.
Explanation and Analysis
The narrator takes a step back from telling the story of
Zero wrote the letters as Stanley said them. "Zero," he
Katherine and Sam's escape attempt from the mob in Green
said, looking at his piece of paper. His smile was too big for
Lake to give a brief overview of the facts. The narrator's
his face. Stanley watched him write it over and over again. Zero
assessment of these events, in particular the note that rain
Zero Zero Zero Zero Zero Zero... In a way, it made him sad. He
hasn't fallen in Green Lake since Sam's murder, suggests
couldn't help but think that a hundred times zero was still
that the natural world isn't something indifferent to human
nothing.
events—rather, it's sentient, extremely tuned into human
events, and possesses a firm sense of morality that's not in
line with that of the sheriff and Trout Walker. As the Related Characters: Stanley Yelnats, Zero/Hector Zeroni
narrator implies, this means that the fact that Green Lake is
a desert in the present is divine punishment for Sam's Related Themes:
murder. This then becomes a curse of sorts on the land, just
as Stanley struggles with Elya Yelnats's curse. However, by Page Number: 119
placing the two curses together, it offers hope that Stanley
Explanation and Analysis
will be able to right the wrongs that caused both curses in
the first place. Stanley and Zero continue their reading lessons and, finally,
Zero learns to write his name. Stanley's thoughts about how
sad Zero's name is points to the dehumanizing nature of the
Part 1, Chapter 27 Quotes boys' nicknames. Though for the other boys they're a way to
gain some semblance of control over their lives, identities,
Fortunately, Mr. Pendanski delivered the water more often and how they're seen at Camp Green Lake, for Zero, his
than Mr. Sir. Mr. Pendanski was obviously aware of what Mr. Sir nickname is seen as both a solid reason to dehumanize him
was doing, because he always gave Stanley a little extra. He'd fill and a way in which to carry out that dehumanization. When
Stanley's canteen, then let Stanley take a long drink, then top it Stanley still has these thoughts, it shows that he's not yet
off for him. able to think of Zero as anything more than what his
nickname connotes. This is especially true given that
Stanley hasn't even considered that Zero does indeed have

©2018 LitCharts LLC v.006 www.LitCharts.com Page 16

 Get hundreds more LitCharts at www.litcharts.com

a given name and an identity outside of being Zero, a boy Related Characters: Stanley Yelnats, Zero/Hector Zeroni
who loves to dig holes.
Related Themes:

Part 2, Chapter 30 Quotes Page Number: 141

"He's a genius, all right!" said Mr. Pendanski. "He's so Explanation and Analysis
stupid, he doesn't even know he's stupid." Stanley didn't know After Zero leaves camp and heads off alone into the desert,
why Mr. Pendanski seemed to have it in for Zero. If Mr. Stanley feels complicit in the events that precipitated Zero's
Pendanski only thought about it, he'd realize it was very logical decision to go. It's telling that Stanley recognizes where he
for Zero to think that the letter "h" made the "ch" sound. went wrong and also what he must do; this suggests that
even though the camp has absolutely tainted some of
Related Characters: Mr. Pendanski (speaker), Stanley Stanley's sense of justice, fairness, and morality, his
Yelnats, Zero/Hector Zeroni, The Warden, Zigzag/Ricky friendship with Zero reminded him of the importance of
kindness and care. He also is finally forced to recognize just
Related Themes: how motivated Zero was to learn, as Zero was willing to do
a great deal more manual labor in order to get some
Page Number: 138 semblance of an education from Stanley. This in turn shows
that Stanley also underestimated just how much Zero was
Explanation and Analysis
disadvantaged by being unable to read. For Stanley, who is
After the Warden tests Zero on his spelling and Zero very literate, he simply doesn't understand how difficult life
pronounces "hat" as "chat," Mr. Pendanski becomes is for someone who cannot read even street signs.
especially nasty to Zero. Mr. Pendanski's nastiness suggests
first that, as comparatively kind as Mr. Pendanski may be
among the authority figures at camp, he's still awful and
"I don't think I can erase him completely from all the state
cruel—and isn't afraid at all to show it. In particular, the fact
files, said Mr. Pendanski. "Too many cross-references. But I
that Mr. Pendanski is willing to be so cruel in front of his
can so make it so it would be very difficult for anyone to ever
boss as well as in front of Zero suggests that there are no
find a record of him. Like I said, though, no one will ever look.
consequences at Camp Green Lake for behaving with this
No one cares about Hector Zeroni." "Good," said the Warden.
kind of cruelty.
On the other side, Stanley's ability to see that Zero's
pronunciation is very logical for someone who hasn't yet Related Characters: The Warden, Mr. Pendanski (speaker),
learned what sound "h" makes shows that helping Zero Stanley Yelnats, Zero/Hector Zeroni, Mr. Sir
learn to read is one way for Stanley to reclaim some of his
humanity and his ability to think and act kindly and Related Themes:
generously. In short, teaching Zero to read is making it so
Page Number: 144
that Stanley doesn't suffer quite as badly as the other boys,
who all overwhelmingly have warped senses of justice due Explanation and Analysis
to the cruelty they suffer at the hands of those like Mr. When Mr. Pendanski, Mr. Sir, and the Warden come to ask
Pendanski. Stanley about Zero's whereabouts, they discuss in front of
Stanley the possibility of erasing Zero's records to the best
of their ability. Notably, the Warden and Mr. Pendanski feel
Part 2, Chapter 31 Quotes as though they're able to do this because they believe that
He knew he never should have let Zero dig part of his hole there's no family in particular to care about Zero. This
for him. He still could've taught him to read. If Zero could dig all suggests that they place far more importance on familial
day and still have the strength to learn, then he should have relationships than on relationships that aren't
been able to dig all day and still have the strength to teach. familial—namely, Stanley's friendship with Zero. This opens
What he should do, he thought, was go out after Zero. But he it up for Stanley to be able to help Zero, as it's clear that
didn't. none of the adults in charge expect that their inmates will
ever stand up for each other.

©2018 LitCharts LLC v.006 www.LitCharts.com Page 17

 Get hundreds more LitCharts at www.litcharts.com

Part 2, Chapter 34 Quotes

due to his exhaustion or lack of food and water; it's likely
He kept walking toward it, although he didn't know why. that God's Thumb is actually encouraging Stanley in his
He knew he'd have to turn around before he got there. But climb. This reinforces the sentience of nature. Further, the
every time he looked at it, it seemed to encourage him, giving novel draws a number of similarities between Stanley and
him the thumbs-up sign. between Elya Yelnats, who carried a pig up a mountain
every day to fulfill part of a promise to Madame Zeroni.
Related Characters: Stanley Yelnats, Zero/Hector Zeroni Stanley's journey of becoming stronger through digging
holes, and then carrying his dear friend up the hill, suggests
Related Themes: that he may be accomplishing Elya Yelnats's task, more than
a hundred years after Elya broke his promise to Madame
Related Symbols: Zeroni.

Page Number: 153

Part 2, Chapter 41 Quotes
Explanation and Analysis
"I didn't go to the homeless shelter very often," Zero said.
After Stanley walks out into the desert after Zero, he feels
"Just if the weather was really bad. I'd have to find someone to
as though God's Thumb and the mountains are giving him
pretend to be my mom. If I'd just gone by myself, they would
the strength to keep walking, even though he believes he
have asked me a bunch of questions. If they'd found out I didn't
needs to turn back. This begins to give more credence to the
have a mom, they would have made me a ward of the state."
novel's insistence that the natural world is something
"What's a ward of the state?" Zero smiled. "I don't know. But I
sentient and involved in human events. Stanley's sense that
didn't like the sound of it."
God's Thumb is encouraging him could very well be because
the rock formation is indeed doing so; sentience like that
makes perfect sense within the logic of the novel. In turn, Related Characters: Stanley Yelnats, Zero/Hector Zeroni
this also suggests that Stanley will find something important (speaker), Zero's Mother
at God's Thumb, or that there's some reason that he needs
to go there. Essentially, this feeling reintroduces the idea of Related Themes:
destiny to Stanley's story, as it's also possible to read his
Page Number: 183
sense as destiny itself leading him on.
Explanation and Analysis
As Zero recovers on God's Thumb, he begins to share
Part 2, Chapter 38 Quotes
stories of his life before Camp Green Lake with Stanley.
Higher and higher he climbed. His strength came from Here, Zero implies that he's a deeply independent person
somewhere deep inside himself and also seemed to come from who, more than anything, wishes to control the trajectory of
the outside as well. After focusing on Big Thumb for so long, it his life himself. Being a ward of the state would've allowed
was as if the rock had absorbed his energy and now acted like a the state of Texas to put Zero in foster care and take away
kind of giant magnet pulling him toward it. some of the freedom he experienced while living on the
streets, which reinforces just how little power Zero has as a
Related Characters: Stanley Yelnats, Zero/Hector Zeroni child and as a homeless person to advocate for himself. This
adds more nuance to the novel's exploration of power, as it
Related Themes: shows that children especially are easy to victimize and
control simply because they're not given as many rights in
Related Symbols: society with which to defend themselves. For someone like
Zero, who also can't read, he is extremely disadvantaged
Page Number: 170 because of this.

Explanation and Analysis

As Stanley carries an unconscious Zero up the mountain
towards God's Thumb, he feels as though the land itself is
helping him move forward. Per the logic of the novel,
Stanley's sense that the land is helping him is likely not just

©2018 LitCharts LLC v.006 www.LitCharts.com Page 18

 Get hundreds more LitCharts at www.litcharts.com

Part 2, Chapter 43 Quotes

After Stanley and Zero manage to climb out of the yellow-
"Then later a boy asked me if I wanted a piece of cake, but spotted lizard nest, Zero points out that the suitcase they
then that same mother told me, 'Go away!' and she told all the dug out of the hole has Stanley's name on it. This moment
kids to stay away from me, so I never got the piece of cake. I ran brings the novel's insistence on the power of education to
away so fast, I forgot Jaffy." "Did you ever find him—it?" For a the forefront, as Zero's ability to read Stanley's name is
moment, Zero didn't answer. Then he said, "He wasn't real." what allows Stanley and Zero to triumph and escape the
Warden's clutches. This also suggests that it doesn't take
Related Characters: Stanley Yelnats, Zero/Hector Zeroni full literacy to be able to reap the benefits of being able to
(speaker), Zero's Mother read; Zero has only been reading for weeks and is still
capable of tapping into those benefits. In this way, the novel
Related Themes: shows that education offers individuals the power to best
even those who appear to have an inordinate amount of
Page Number: 195 power for no good reason, such as the Warden.
Explanation and Analysis
Zero tells Stanley about a time when his mother left him for Part 2, Chapter 48 Quotes
several weeks in a park, where a mother chased Zero away
"Will you do me a favor?" asked Squid. "I guess," Stanley
from a birthday party. When Zero admits that his beloved
agreed, somewhat hesitantly. "I want you to—" He turned to
stuffed giraffe Jaffy wasn't actually real, it suggests that he
Ms. Morengo. "Hey lady, you have a pen and paper I can
and Stanley have a great deal in common: the novel began
borrow?" She gave it to him, and Squid wrote down a phone
with Stanley thinking about his own imaginings as a child,
number which he gave to Stanley. "Call my mom for me, okay?
which also helped him cope and come to terms with his
Tell her...Tell her I said I was sorry. Tell her Alan said he was
family's poor financial situation. However, in Zero's case, the
sorry."
way he speaks about Jaffy suggests that Jaffy was a way for
Zero to feel more normal by creating a stuffed animal for
himself. Again, this reinforces just how disadvantaged Zero Related Characters: Stanley Yelnats, Squid/Alan (speaker),
was by living on the streets and the many ways he has to pay Ms. Morengo
for that disadvantage, as he had to create for himself
something as simple as a stuffed toy for comfort. Related Themes:

Page Number: 221

Part 2, Chapter 47 Quotes Explanation and Analysis
"It's got his name on it," said Zero. Stanley's lawyer pushed When Group D realizes that Stanley is being released, Squid
past the tall man to have a look. "See," Zero showed her. asks Stanley to call his mom for him. When Squid makes this
"Stanley Yelnats." Stanley looked, too. There, in big black letters, request and specifically, when he asks Stanley to use his real
was STANLEY YELNATS. name instead of his nickname, it redeems the rest of Group
D and shows that they're not actually the bad boys that
Related Characters: Zero/Hector Zeroni (speaker), The Stanley thought they were. Squid clearly still cares about his
Warden, Mr. Sir, Mr. Pendanski, The First Stanley Yelnats, mother, even though he puts on a show of being impossibly
Ms. Morengo, The Attorney General tough. Squid's decision to make this request suggests that
the climate and social structure at Green Lake is changing
Related Themes: and, possibly, that these kinds of requests will become more
normalized now that Stanley and Zero have set things right
Page Number: 216 in terms of the family curses and the curse on Green Lake
itself.
Explanation and Analysis

©2018 LitCharts LLC v.006 www.LitCharts.com Page 19

 Get hundreds more LitCharts at www.litcharts.com

SUMMARY AND ANAL

ANALYSIS
YSIS
The color-coded icons under each analysis entry make it easy to track where the themes occur most prominently throughout the
work. Each icon corresponds to one of the themes explained in the Themes section of this LitChart.

PART 1, CHAPTER 1
The narrator explains that there's no camp or lake at Camp Using the word "owned" to describe the Warden's relationship to the
Green Lake. 100 years ago, it was the largest lake in Texas, but shade shows that she's a person who seeks to dominate the natural
the lake and the town dried up. Temperatures hover at 95 world and use it for her own means, rather than coexist with it. It
degrees, and the only shade is under two oak trees with a also suggests a domineering nature, which introduces the Warden
hammock strung between—though that shade is "owned" by herself as a dangerous and controlling character. The mention that
the Warden. There are rattlesnakes and scorpions around, but bitten campers have only a day to rest implies that the camp pays
being bitten or stung by them isn't the worst thing that could little attention to the welfare of the campers there.
happen. Campers who are bitten spend a day recovering and
then return to digging holes. However, if someone is bitten by a
yellow-spotted lizard, death is guaranteed.

PART 1, CHAPTER 2
The narrator notes that the reader is certainly curious why Stanley's reasoning for choosing Camp Green Lake over jail
anyone would even go to Camp Green Lake. They explain that illustrates one way that his family's financial situation hurts him:
Camp Green Lake is a camp for "bad boys," and the people camp under any circumstances seems preferable to jail, but this is
there believe that if bad boys dig holes every day, they'll turn probably incorrect reasoning, given what readers know about this
into good boys. Most boys there weren't given a choice about camp.
whether or not to go, but Stanley Yelnats was. He chooses
Camp Green Lake over jail because his family is poor and he's
never been to camp.

PART 1, CHAPTER 3
Stanley is the only passenger, aside from the driver and the Stanley's reverie sets up camp as a marker of economic success,
guard, on the bus to Camp Green Lake. He sits handcuffed to while his family's attempts to pretend that Camp Green Lake is a
his armrest, sweating in the heat. Stanley and his parents had real camp indicate that they desperately do want to do better
tried to pretend that he was actually going to camp like rich economically. Note that Stanley is already the victim of cruelty and
kids, and Stanley remembers pretending as a kid that his unkindness; this suggests that he may be coming to camp already
stuffed animals were going to Camp Fun and Games. He hopes unwilling to stand up for himself.
he'll make friends and swim in the lake when he arrives. Stanley
doesn't have friends at home, as he's overweight and the object
of merciless bullying at the hands of teachers and kids alike.

The narrator explains that Stanley is innocent; he was This explanation introduces the possibility that Stanley is the victim
convicted because of his no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing- of bullying (and his dad is an unsuccessful inventor) not because of
great-great-grandfather. Supposedly, Stanley's grandfather any fault of their own, but because of something well outside their
stole a pig from a "Gypsy" and she cursed all of Stanley's control. Similarly, this also suggests that Stanley's family is paying
descendants. The family, of course, doesn't actually believe this, for his great-great-grandfather's transgression, illustrating one way
but things do seem to go wrong a lot. Stanley's father is an that justice is served.
inventor, though none of his inventions have been successful.

©2018 LitCharts LLC www.LitCharts.com Page 20

 Get hundreds more LitCharts at www.litcharts.com
Stanley's mother often points out that not every Stanley The fate of the first Stanley Yelnats suggests that the possible curse
Yelnats has been a failure—Stanley is the fourth Stanley on the family doesn't necessarily mean that no family members can
Yelnats—and this is technically true, as the first Stanley made a ever experience success—their successes just aren't things they get
fortune in the stock market. However, the bandit Kissin' Kate to keep. This is another way that Stanley's family becomes
Barlow robbed him as he tried to move to California. Stanley disadvantaged economically.
thinks this is kind of cool. His reverie is interrupted when the
bus arrives at Camp Green Lake.

PART 1, CHAPTER 4
As Stanley steps off the bus, the driver tells him to be careful. When Stanley thanks the driver, it shows that Stanley is, at heart, a
Stanley thanks the driver for the ride, feeling parched and kind person who understands the power of acknowledging everyone
sweaty. The guard leads Stanley to a small building. Inside, a for the work they do. This casts Stanley as a direct foil to the
man wearing a cowboy hat and sunglasses sits at a desk, eating Warden, who thus far appears to be someone who thinks only of
sunflower seeds and drinking soda. When the guard comments herself. Mr. Sir's actions show that he's more in line with the
on the seeds, the man explains they help him quit smoking. The Warden, as he seems to care little for Stanley.
man gives the guard sodas and sends him away. Finally, the man
turns to Stanley and introduces himself as Mr. Sir. He tells
Stanley that he's not in the Girl Scouts anymore.

Stanley changes into an orange jumpsuit and orange tee shirt, The set up of Camp Green Lake positions manual labor as being in
and is also given an orange cap and an empty canteen. Mr. Sir direct opposition to education or other types of reform. This
explains that Stanley will be expected to dig a hole every single suggests that at camp, one's ability to perform this manual labor is
day that's five feet deep and five feet across, beginning at all they'll be valued for. Mr. Sir's assurance that the gun is for the
4:30am. Mr. Sir says that this is to escape the heat of the day, lizards again makes it very clear that Mr. Sir doesn't value the lives
and he tells Stanley to report anything "interesting" to him or of the campers, as he basically says that it's not even worth
another counselor. With this, Mr. Sir leads Stanley outside. He attempting to keep them at camp with violence. This shows that
asks if Stanley sees any fences or guard towers (there are selfishness and cruelty reign at Camp Green Lake.
none). He then explains that they don't need them—Camp
Green Lake has the only water for miles around. Noticing
Stanley eyeing his gun, Mr. Sir assures him he won't shoot him:
the gun is for the yellow-spotted lizards and Stanley doesn't
warrant wasting a bullet.

PART 1, CHAPTER 5
Stanley is assigned to D tent and meets his counselor, Mr. Stanley's decision to not even try to talk to Mr. Pendanski about his
Pendanski. He doesn't look nearly as scary as Mr. Sir, though he innocence shows that, at this point, Stanley believes that nobody
assures Stanley that Mr. Sir is only cranky because he quit will ever help him get justice: his resignation to his fate suggests that
smoking. He does say that the Warden is the only person to he's given up entirely on the formal justice system, which in turn
worry about. As Mr. Pendanski tells Stanley that he knows he's indicates that he'll need to rely on other forms of justice.
not a bad kid, even if he has made mistakes, Stanley thinks it's
not even worth it to tell him he's innocent.

©2018 LitCharts LLC www.LitCharts.com Page 21

 Get hundreds more LitCharts at www.litcharts.com
Two boys, caked in dirt and dripping with sweat, enter the The nicknames (which the boys choose themselves or assign to each
compound. Mr. Pendanski calls them over and they're so dirty other) allow the boys to differentiate themselves from the adults,
that Stanley can barely tell that one boy is black and the other suggesting that there's a divide between the adults who go by their
is white. Mr. Pendanski introduces Stanley to Rex and Alan, but real names and the kids who don't. It's important to note that even
the boys introduce themselves as X-Ray and Squid. Mr. as Mr. Pendanski seems nicer than Mr. Sir, he's still extremely callous
Pendanski assigns Stanley a cot that X-Ray says was previously towards Zero and clearly thinks little of him. This suggests that even
inhabited by a boy named Barf Bag. Squid fetches four other "kindness" at Camp Green Lake is tainted and not to be taken at
boys, three of whom Mr. Pendanski introduces as José, face value.
Theodore, and Ricky (but they call themselves Magnet, Armpit,
and Zigzag). The boys and Mr. Pendanski call the last boy Zero,
and Mr. Pendanski explains that Zero has nothing in his head.
Finally, Armpit introduces Mr. Pendanski as “Mom.”

Mr. Pendanski gives the campers a speech about taking care of By insisting that Stanley use his nickname, Armpit is asking Stanley
Stanley and then leaves. The other boys head out to shower for a kindness of sorts: to see Armpit how Armpit wants to be seen.
and as they go, Stanley asks Theodore where he can fill his However, the way he goes about asking for this again shows that
canteen. Theodore angrily grabs Stanley's collar, spits that kindness in pure form doesn't exist at Camp Green Lake.
Stanley has to call him Armpit, and tells him where the water
spigot is.

PART 1, CHAPTER 6
Because of the scarcity of water, campers are only allowed to The fact that nobody believes Stanley when he says anything about
take cold four-minute showers. Stanley uses his four minutes his crime reinforces the novel's insistence that the formal justice
getting used to the water. At dinner, another camper asks system is somewhat absurd; this suggests that the absurdity of
Stanley what he did to end up at Camp Green Lake. The boy Stanley's story essentially renders the justice system unable to
doesn't believe Stanley when he says he stole Clyde function effectively.
Livingston's sneakers. Stanley thinks it's funny that nobody
believes anything he says about his "crime"—nobody believed
him either when he said he didn't steal them.

Clyde "Sweet Feet" Livingston is a famous baseball player Stanley's optimism and positive outlook on life shines through when
whom Stanley idolized; he had a poster of him on his wall until the narrator says he was excited to get to meet Clyde Livingston; it
the police took it away as evidence. When Stanley learned that appears as though it's possibly part of the family curse when
Livingston would be at his hearing, he was excited to meet his Livingston then calls Stanley a terrible person. This also shows how
hero. Livingston testified that he'd donated his shoes to raise Livingston, who is wealthy and famous, feels as though he has the
money for a local homeless shelter. The worst part for Stanley power to say this sort of thing to an innocent teenager.
was that Livingston stated that Stanley must be a horrible
person to steal from homeless children. Stanley mulls this over
as he carefully turns on his cot, hoping it won't collapse under
his weight.

At school, a bully named Derrick Dunne tormented Stanley Again, that Stanley's first thought when the shoes fall from the sky is
regularly and the teachers did nothing. The day that Stanley of his dad shows that even as Stanley is consistently bullied, he still
was arrested, Derrick had dropped Stanley's notebook in the has a good heart and wants to do nice things for others—the justice
toilet. Poor Stanley missed the bus while he was fishing it out system just gets in the way. This shows up too when the teachers do
and was walking home from school when the sneakers fell from nothing about Derrick's bullying.
the sky. Stanley took it as a sign and raced home with the smelly
shoes to his father, though he was arrested before he got
home. He only found out later what the shoes were for and
who they belonged to.

©2018 LitCharts LLC www.LitCharts.com Page 22

 Get hundreds more LitCharts at www.litcharts.com
Because of Clyde Livingston's baseball schedule, the trial was When the judge pressures Stanley and his family into making a
delayed for more than a month. Stanley's parents couldn't quick decision, it again shows how Stanley's family's poor economic
afford to hire a lawyer and this proved damning: the judge standing disadvantages them. Being able to afford a lawyer
didn't believe the shoes fell from the sky. He suggested that would've meant that Stanley could've made a more informed
Stanley agree to go to Camp Green Lake instead of prison and decision.
encouraged Stanley's parents to make a quick decision, saying
that vacancies don't last long there.

PART 1, CHAPTER 7
The next morning, Stanley eats his lukewarm cereal, fills his Forcing teenagers to dig holes like this is far beyond what any
canteen, and chooses a shovel before the sun comes up. He normal or reasonable punishment would be; this again helps to
tries to dig the point of the blade into the ground, but it's baked situate Camp Green Lake as a place that functions outside of the
hard. Stanley helplessly watches Zero, who already has a large formal Texas justice system. Especially given Mr. Pendanski's
pile of dirt next to his hole. Mr. Pendanski had told Stanley to caginess regarding "interesting finds," it suggests that the camp itself
report anything "interesting or unusual" to him, as interesting has ulterior motives for making the campers dig holes and is abusing
finds earn campers a day off—though he insisted that they're its power to obtain cheap labor.
not actually looking for anything. Stanley wedges his shovel in a
crack and finds that being overweight is helpful, as he can more
easily sink his shovel in the ground. He marks the perimeter of
his hole, and soon blisters form on his fingers.

The narrator jumps back in time to tell the story of Elya Yelnats. Igor's age is intended to evoke a sense of disgust in the reader and
He was born in Latvia and at age fifteen, fell in love with make it seem as though, to any sensible person, Elya is clearly the
fourteen-year-old Myra Menke. Myra's father decided that more appropriate suitor based on age alone. When Myra's father
when Myra turned fifteen, she should be married. Both Elya doesn't see it this way, it again shows how he's able to use his power
and 57-year-old pig farmer Igor Barkov went to ask for Myra's to promote what appears to be an unjust status quo.
hand. Myra's father insisted he'd rather have one of Igor's pigs
than Elya's "heart full of love," so Elya went to see Madame
Zeroni, an old Egyptian woman with only one foot.

Elya told Madame Zeroni about his plight, but she was Madame Zeroni's decision to help Elya is a very kind one; it shows
unsympathetic. She insisted that Elya was too young to marry that even if she doesn't necessarily agree with him, she wants him to
and that Myra was silly, foolish, and spoiled. She encouraged be happy and is glad to use her implied magical powers to help him
Elya to go to America like her own son did, but Elya remained achieve happiness. The stream in particular introduces the idea that
unmoved. Finally, Madame Zeroni led him to her pigsty, where nature itself can be magical and unnatural(and can be helpful to
her sow had just given birth to piglets. She handed him the runt humans at times).
and instructed him to carry the piglet up the nearby mountain
every day to drink from the stream. She said he also had to sing
the piglet a special song.

Madame Zeroni said that Elya should carry the pig up the At its heart, Madame Zeroni and Elya's agreement is designed to
mountain for the last time on Myra's fifteenth birthday, at instill in Elya the belief that it's important to follow through on one's
which point it would be fatter than Igor's pig. She assured Elya promises—it's one of the easiest and most effective ways to show
that as the pig grew, he'd grow strong enough to carry it. another person kindness and care. Thus, this sets up he idea that
Finally, she asked that he carry her up the mountain and sing to Stanley will learn the importance of follow-through in his journey as
her on the last day. She explained that she'd curse his he deals with the aftermath of Madame Zeroni's curse.
descendants forever if he didn't do this. Elya thought nothing of
it, though he did think he'd be happy to carry Madame Zeroni
up the mountain right then if only he were strong enough.

©2018 LitCharts LLC www.LitCharts.com Page 23

 Get hundreds more LitCharts at www.litcharts.com
Stanley's hole grows to about three feet deep as the sun peeks It's worth noting that in the case of the holes, Stanley has no choice
over the horizon. His hands are covered in blisters, and Stanley but to follow through and finish, no matter how badly it hurts.
can tell that everyone else's holes are far bigger. When he Again, this shows how power can be corrupted to taint things that
notices a moving cloud of dust following a red pickup truck, he even the novel suggests are fundamentally positive actions. Mr. Sir's
lines up with the other boys to get water. X-Ray is first, while spitting is a way for him to tell Stanley he doesn't actually care
Stanley is last in line behind Zero. Mr. Sir fills their canteens and about him, even as he offers encouragement.
then follows Stanley to check his progress. As he encourages
Stanley to hurry up, he spits sunflower shells into Stanley's
hole.

Elya did as he was told and as the pig grew big and strong, so The fact that the pigs weigh exactly the same provides some weight
did he. The pig was massive by Myra's birthday, so instead of to the realness of Madame Zeroni's curse; it suggests that had Elya
carrying it up the mountain one last time as Madame Zeroni followed through, his pig would weigh more and he'd win outright.
had told him to, Elya took a bath. Then, he presented his pig to
Myra's father. Elya boldly asked to marry Myra, but her father
insisted on weighing Elya and Igor's pigs. They weighed exactly
the same.

As Stanley digs, his blisters rip open and new ones form. He Because of what Stanley is being asked to do, nature is his enemy
tries to use his cap to cushion his hands, but the sun is hot on right now. This shows how even good characters can be placed in
his neck. Stanley realizes he'll need to move his dirt piles—he's situations in opposition to nature; it's not the realm of villains alone.
going to run out of room.

Myra's father examined the pigs, declared them fine pigs, and Myra's character shows the consequences of being given absolutely
couldn't decide whose pig to accept. When Elya suggested that no power over one's own life, seeing as she's wholly unable to make
Myra choose, both Igor and Myra's father were shocked, but a very important decision for herself. Further, the fact that she
Myra's father agreed on the grounds that he didn't care whom doesn't even seem aware that this isn't a good thing indicates that
she married. He called Myra, explained the situation, and asked living without power can be normalized and in doing so, those such
her to decide. She was extremely confused and couldn't decide, as Myra's father gain even more power.
so she secretly chose a number and asked her suitors to choose
a number between one and ten. Disgusted, Elya told Myra to
keep his pig as a wedding present and marry Igor.

At lunchtime, Mr. Pendanski drives the water truck out with Magnet's assurance suggests that there could be a sense of
sack lunches. While the boys eat, Magnet assures Stanley that camaraderie among the boys; his encouragement shows that they
the first hole is the hardest. Stanley wonders what they'd do to may be able to care for each other.
him if he just quit.

Elya wandered aimlessly until he ended up on a pier. He was Madame Zeroni's curse may be even worse simply because Elya
heartbroken; he thought that Myra loved him. Madame Zeroni doesn't show it (and by extension, Madame Zeroni) an appropriate
was right. Elya read a sign asking for deck hands on a ship to degree of respect. This reinforces that part of the curse has to do
America, and the captain signed Elya up even though he didn't with punishing Elya for not following through on his promises and
have any sailing experience. Elya didn't realize until the ship not being a good friend to Madame Zeroni.
was in the open water that he'd broken his promise to carry
Madame Zeroni up the mountain. He wasn't afraid of the curse,
but he did feel bad for breaking a promise to a friend.

©2018 LitCharts LLC www.LitCharts.com Page 24

 Get hundreds more LitCharts at www.litcharts.com
Even though Zero is the smallest boy in Group D, he finishes When Stanley feels like he's digging his own grave, he's developing
digging first. In awe, Stanley watches Zero measure his hole, the mindset that the natural world is his enemy, is out to get him,
spit in it, and head back to camp. Zigzag declares Zero a "weird and is dangerous. Notably, this does begin to instill a sense of
dude," but Stanley thinks that Zigzag is objectively weirder: his respect for the natural world in Stanley, as he begins to learn how to
neck is long and skinny, and he has wild, frizzy blond hair. One work with the earth to dig holes more efficiently in the future.
by one, the other boys of Group D finish and head back to
camp. After a while, Stanley realizes he'll need to move his dirt
piles again. He feels as though he's digging his grave.

In America, Elya fell in love with a woman named Sarah Miller. Overwhelmingly, Holes suggests that it doesn't really matter
She was smart and strong, and she and Elya loved each other whether Sarah believes in the curse or not; the fact of the matter
very much. However, bad luck seemed to follow Elya. He persists that Elya appears to be extremely unlucky. This again
remembered that Madame Zeroni mentioned having a son in suggests that, within the world of the novel, fate and destiny
America, so he began approaching people asking if they knew absolutely hold sway. When Sarah translates the lullaby and sings it
anyone named Zeroni. Finally, after Elya's barn was struck by to the first Stanley, she ensures that the song will remain family
lightning for the third time, he told Sarah about the curse. She knowledge and be passed down to the present.
was unconcerned but asked Elya to sing her the "pig lullaby."
She loved it and a year later, when the first Stanley Yelnats was
born, Sarah made the song rhyme in English and sang it to her
baby.

Stanley discovers that his hole is very close to big enough. He When Mr. Pendanski offers Stanley acknowledgement, it suggests
digs out a few more shovelfuls and finally, he can lay his shovel that he does recognize how difficult survival is at Camp Green Lake
flat on the bottom. He feels a strange sense of pride and can't and may take his role of counselor somewhat seriously. This
wait to show whomever is in the approaching water truck his suggests that not all of Camp Green Lake is overtly evil; kindness
hole. Stanley has to dig himself steps to climb out and discovers can still exist and when placed next to Mr. Sir's cruelty, for example,
Mr. Pendanski, out to check on him. Mr. Pendanski asks for a Mr. Pendanski seems even less offensive.
high-five, but Stanley doesn't have the energy. Mr. Pendanski
praises Stanley and offers him a ride back, though Stanley
insists he'll walk. He spits in his hole before he starts for camp.

PART 1, CHAPTER 8
The narrator notes that lots of people don't believe in curses or The yellow-spotted lizards are another way that the novel suggests
yellow-spotted lizards, but in the case of the lizards, it doesn't that nature requires respect: the lizards require humans to
matter if you believe or not if one bites you. The narrator understand that they're dangerous and not to be messed with if
explains that the yellow-spotted lizards are named for their they mean to survive. The mention that they eat sunflower seeds
spots, though the spots are their least obvious feature. They're casts Mr. Sir's habit of spitting seeds into holes in an especially
between six and ten inches long with red-rimmed, yellow eyes. sinister light. Though it's unclear if he knows this, he is definitely
They have black teeth and white tongues. If anyone gets close attracting lizards to where the boys are digging.
enough to see the spots, they're as good as dead. The lizards
live in holes and leap out to attack live prey. They also eat the
shells of sunflower seeds.

©2018 LitCharts LLC www.LitCharts.com Page 25

 Get hundreds more LitCharts at www.litcharts.com

PART 1, CHAPTER 9
Stanley doesn't use soap in the shower; he's too tired. After The Wreck Room is indicative of the boys' position at Camp Green
putting on his clean set of clothes, he grabs his stationery and Lake. They have so little power to stand up for themselves or make
heads to the rec room. The sign on the door says "WRECK any of their own decisions, and the only place they have control over
ROOM" and everything inside is broken. X-Ray and Armpit play anything is in the Wreck Room. The fact that they destroy it makes
pool on a pitted pool table as Stanley heads towards them. He it clear that cruelty and violence reign at camp, given that they
trips over someone's leg, and the kid turns out to be big and choose to act destructively in the one place in which they have a
belligerent. X-Ray and Armpit step to Stanley's side and say choice.
that nobody should mess with the Caveman. They finally lead
Stanley to a couch and tell him that Caveman is tough.

Squid joins the boys and asks Stanley how his day was. Stanley X-Ray's suggestion that every kid wants to dig to China makes it
parrots that the first hole is the hardest, but X-Ray says the clear that the boys at Camp Green Lake are actually just boys, not
second one is harder: Stanley will hurt before he's even begun. adults—they're being robbed of their childhoods as they serve their
X-Ray says the fun is gone too; he thinks that every kid secretly sentences. When Stanley is in awe that the Wreck Room is
wants to dig a hole to China, but the fun wears off fast. When destroyed, it sets him apart from the other boys and shows that, at
Squid asks about Stanley's stationery, Stanley explains he's this point, he's still a good, kind kid who doesn't yet struggle with
going to write to Stanley’s mother. Stanley looks around the anger.
room, in awe of the fact that the boys destroyed the one place
at camp where they could enjoy themselves.

Stanley writes in his letter that he's making friends and learning When Stanley pretends that camp is fun for his mother's sake, it
to swim. He stops when he senses that someone is reading over again shows how kind Stanley is: he wants to make his mother feel
his shoulder, so he turns to find Zero behind him. Stanley better about Stanley's fate, especially since she was unable to
explains he doesn't want Stanley's mother to worry. Zero looks protect him from the justice system. Note too that Stanley assumes
serious and possibly angry as he asks if "the shoes" had red X that Zero saw Clyde Livingston in a TV commercial; this suggests
marks on the back. Stanley realizes he's talking about Clyde that Stanley isn't aware that anyone at Camp Green Lake may have
Livingston's shoes and wonders if Zero may have seen lived in dire poverty, as he'll eventually learn that Zero did.
Livingston in a commercial for the brand. Armpit calls Caveman
for dinner, and Stanley realizes that he's Caveman. He reasons
it's a better name than Barf Bag.

PART 1, CHAPTER 10
When Stanley wakes in the morning, he can barely get out of Stanley's conception of the sun as his sworn enemy suggests that
bed because he's so sore. He only gets up because he knows he's beginning to develop the view that nature is something to be
the rising sun is his sworn enemy. As he begins his second hole, fought, not something that could help him. Notably, the Warden
he's careful to dump his dirt far away and tries to protect his cultivates this view very carefully, and it will later come to light that
raw hands with his cap. At one point, Stanley drops his shovel. this is because the Warden's entire family is positioned opposite
As he reaches to pick it up, he notices a rock with a fossilized characters who are aligned with nature.
fish in it. Stanley hopes the Warden will find the fossil
interesting.

©2018 LitCharts LLC www.LitCharts.com Page 26

 Get hundreds more LitCharts at www.litcharts.com
Stanley digs slowly as he waits for the water truck. When it The fact that the Warden isn't interested in objectively interesting
arrives, he realizes that Group D always lines up in the same fossils suggests that the Warden may be looking for something
order: X-Ray first, then Armpit, Squid, Zigzag, Magnet, Zero, specific, regardless of what Mr. Pendanski and Mr. Sir told Stanley.
and finally Stanley. When Mr. Pendanski fills Stanley's canteen, This also suggests that finding things may be far more difficult than
Stanley hands over the fossil and points out the fish. Mr. Stanley initially thought, given that it's unclear what they're even
Pendanski agrees that it's interesting, but says the Warden isn't looking for.
interested in fossils. The other boys pass the fossil around and
admire the fish.

PART 1, CHAPTER 11
Stanley returns to digging, seething about how unfair not being When Stanley recognizes that it's important to cozy up to X-Ray,
rewarded for his fossil is. Soon, he notices X-Ray watching him. even if it means never getting a day off, it shows that he recognizes
X-Ray asks to talk and explains that he's been at Camp Green that the social structure among the boys at Camp Green Lake is
Lake a year, but he's found nothing. He admits his eyesight is based on low-key bullying and intimidation, not necessarily
poor and explains that his nickname doesn't have to do with his camaraderie. This trickles down from the way that the adults treat
sight; it's just his real name, Rex, in pig Latin. X-Ray asks Stanley the boys; the boys are learning by example that intimidation and
to give him anything interesting that he finds, as he's more cruelty are the only ways to gain power over their lives.
deserving of a day off. Stanley agrees. As Stanley resumes
digging, he thinks he made the right choice: it's more important
for X-Ray, the group leader, to like him than it is to get a day off.

Stanley marvels that X-Ray is the leader, since he's the smallest Stanley's realization that he's the biggest suggests that he may be
aside from Zero. Stanley thinks that Armpit is the biggest coming to terms with the fact that if he chooses to take it, he may
before realizing that he himself is actually bigger. He thinks he have more power than he gives himself credit for. This implies that
likes his nickname, as it means the group has accepted him. he's beginning to understand the way that the social structure
Stanley thinks of how scared Derrick Dunne would be of any of works at camp, and that possibly, he's becoming less kind.
the boys here, and imagines his new "friends" standing up for
him against Derrick. It eases Stanley's pain to know that in his
mind, Derrick is suffering worse.

PART 1, CHAPTER 12
Stanley is again the last boy to finish digging. When he arrives The tenor of this conversation suggests that Mr. Pendanski is forcing
at Tent D, he finds Mr. Pendanski and the other boys sitting in a the issue somewhat, but Magnet's willingness to participate
circle. Mr. Pendanski invites Stanley to join their discussion of reinforces the fact that he's just a child who thinks animals are cool.
what they want to do with their lives after Camp Green Lake. The idea of life after Camp Green Lake also situates the camp as
Mr. Pendanski carefully calls the boys by their given names as being a part of the formal justice system, as a main tenet of the
he asks Magnet what he likes to do. When Magnet offers that justice system in the U.S. entails seeing prison or punishment as
he likes animals, the other boys suggest different jobs involving rehabilitation.
animals. Magnet likes Stanley's suggestion of training animals
for movies.

When X-Ray laughs at Magnet, Mr. Pendanski insists they Again, it's worth noting that Mr. Pendanski is able to give such
"don't laugh at people's dreams" and points out that someone inspirational speeches only because he actually has some power
has to train the animals. X-Ray insists that Magnet will never be and agency over his own life; for X-Ray and Magnet, they'll have
an animal trainer, to which Mr. Pendanski offers an inspirational comparatively little power even after camp given that they've
speech about not giving up even when life is hard. Stanley already been convicted of crimes as teens.
thinks of what he'll say if Mr. Pendanski asks him what he likes
to do, reasoning that his desire to work for the FBI won't go
over well with this group.

©2018 LitCharts LLC www.LitCharts.com Page 27

 Get hundreds more LitCharts at www.litcharts.com
Mr. Pendanski turns to Stanley, comments on his new Mr. Pendanski's insistence that Stanley is the only one to blame for
nickname, and asks Stanley who's responsible for landing him his actions reinforces the absurdity of the justice system and of
at Camp Green Lake. Everyone, including Zero, laughs when Stanley's conviction in particular; per the logic of the novel, it
Stanley suggests it's the fault of his no-good-dirty-rotten-pig- absolutely was Elya Yelnats's fault that Stanley was convicted for a
stealing-great-great-grandfather. Mr. Pendanski tells Stanley crime he didn't commit. This begins to allow the reader to put pieces
that it's his own fault, and he's the only one responsible for together in a way that feels satisfying, since the characters aren't
fixing it. Zero's smile disappears when Mr. Pendanski says that fully aware of this logic.
even Zero isn't totally worthless and has something to offer.
When Mr. Pendanski asks Zero what he wants to do with his
life, Zero glares back and says he likes digging holes.

PART 1, CHAPTER 13
As Stanley digs holes, he loses track of the days. He thinks he's When Stanley appears to give equal weight to the possibility of
probably lost five pounds and reasons that in a year and a half, being either dead or very fit by the end of his sentence, it shows that
he'll either be dead or in excellent condition. His hands grow he does still have his positive outlook on life, though it is being
calluses and the shovel isn't as painful to hold. One morning, as tainted by the toxic structure of Camp Green Lake. The discovery of
Stanley digs, he notices something shiny in his dirt. He the tube shows the natural world bestowing a gift upon Stanley, as
deliberates whether or not he should investigate but finally nature has been hiding the tube for years.
gives in to his curiosity. He discovers a thin, finger-length gold
tube that's open at one end. On the closed end, he finds the
initials KB inscribed in a heart.

Stanley tries to figure out how to get out of giving it to X-Ray. X- The fact that Stanley spends so much mental energy figuring out
Ray's hole is almost finished, unlike Stanley's, and by the time how to get out of keeping his promise to X-Ray suggests that he's
the Warden deems the find interesting, X-Ray might already be taking to heart that justice is something that can be molded to meet
done. Stanley wonders if he could take the tube directly to the one's own needs. It also shows that he has a long way to go to learn
Warden, who might then make up a story to protect him from the lesson that Elya Yelnats didn't learn when he broke his promise
X-Ray. As Stanley is trying to figure out what the object even is, to Madame Zeroni.
Zigzag notices Stanley and asks what he has. Stanley takes the
tube directly to X-Ray.

All of Group D crowds around X-Ray to inspect the tube. Squid When Stanley is rewarded with moving up one spot in line, it
thinks it looks like a shotgun shell, but Magnet insists it's too impresses upon him the importance of carrying through with his
long. Stanley suggests that X-Ray wait to show Mr. Pendanski promises. However, it's also worth noting that the line order is a
until the next day so he can have a whole day off, not just an show of power, not anything that's actually based on merit, which
hour. X-Ray thanks Stanley for his excellent idea and when the illustrates the way that the camp co-opts things and makes them
water truck comes, he tells Stanley to get behind Magnet in cruel.
line.

©2018 LitCharts LLC www.LitCharts.com Page 28

 Get hundreds more LitCharts at www.litcharts.com

PART 1, CHAPTER 14
That night, Stanley tries to figure out what he could've done X-Ray's inexplicable behavior shows Stanley that even though he's
differently. He decides he was absolutely in the right place at been at camp for a few weeks, he's still the new guy and doesn't
the right time, but it didn't help him at all. The next day at know everything. This then becomes another way for X-Ray to exert
breakfast, he asks X-Ray if he has the tube. X-Ray feigns power over Stanley. When Stanley begins to notice the mountains in
ignorance and eventually snaps at Stanley. Mr. Sir marches the the distance, it suggests he's becoming more interested in or curious
boys to the lake a while later and as Stanley begins his hole, he about the natural world around him. Per the logic of the novel, this
can't figure out why X-Ray snapped at him. When the water could be in part because of the trajectory of destiny it sets out.
truck arrives just after sunrise, Stanley notices the mountains
in the distance before getting in line. Just as Mr. Pendanski is
about to drive away, X-Ray yells that he found something. Mr.
Pendanski examines the tube and says the Warden will like it.
He encourages Rex to not dig too hard.

Mr. Pendanski drives back to camp and returns a short while The Warden's behavior shows that her power over the camp is far
later with a tall, red-haired woman. The Warden approaches X- greater than that of any other adult; she even has the ability to cow
Ray, confirms where he found the tube, and tells Mr. Pendanski Mr. Pendanski. When she calls Stanley Caveman, it suggests that
to drive X-Ray back to camp after filling the other campers' she's aware that the simple kindness of learning someone's name
canteens. When Mr. Pendanski remarks that he just filled the and using it is a valuable and powerful tool: in this case, it seems to
canteens, the Warden softly reminds Mr. Pendanski that it's scare Stanley a bit in part because it means that she's far more
hot and "these fine boys" probably had a drink since he filled involved somehow in the camp than he gave her credit for.
their canteens. She calls Stanley to her, calling him Caveman, Essentially, it begs the question of how much she does or doesn't
and asks if he's had anything to drink since Mr. Pendanski filled know about her charges.
his canteen. Stanley has, and the Warden tells Mr. Pendanski to
follow instructions or he'll end up digging and Caveman will fill
canteens.

PART 1, CHAPTER 15
After Mr. Pendanski fills canteens, the Warden picks through X- This setup indicates that the Warden is absolutely looking for
Ray's pile of dirt with a pitchfork. She asks Mr. Pendanski to something, while the fact that she wants them to sift the dirt
drive X-Ray back to camp and then return with three suggests it may not be very large. Remember though that this isn't
wheelbarrows. As he drives away, the Warden turns to Group actually where Stanley found the tube; this can be seen as the work
D and explains that they'll be working in pairs; one will excavate of fate and suggests that the Warden shouldn't yet find whatever
the hole while the other will put the dug-up dirt into she's looking for in order to move the story forward.
wheelbarrows and cart it away. Stanley is assigned to work with
Zero. The Warden stays at the site all day and makes sure the
campers never run out of water. Stanley thinks this is much
easier than digging his own hole.

The boys dig until their holes are more than six feet deep and It's worth noting that the possibility of hidden cameras and
wide, and then the Warden returns to her cabin. As the boys microphones is, over the course of the novel, not something that any
return to the compound, Stanley remarks that the Warden of the boys can truly confirm or deny. This begins to turn Camp
knew all of their names. Zigzag and Armpit explain that the Green Lake itself into a surveillance state in which the inmates are
Warden has hidden microphones and cameras all over, and never sure if or where they're being watched. In turn, this heightens
Stanley realizes this is why X-Ray didn't want to talk that their anxiety and makes them even less willing to push back on
morning. Stanley also realizes they're not just digging to build unjust treatment.
character; they're looking for something. He makes a note of
the hole in which he actually found the tube.

©2018 LitCharts LLC www.LitCharts.com Page 29

 Get hundreds more LitCharts at www.litcharts.com

PART 1, CHAPTER 16
When Stanley slouches into the Wreck Room later, X-Ray is When compared to the other boys' exhaustion, X-Ray's behavior
animated and talking loudly. Stanley joins Squid on the couch shows just how mentally, emotionally, and physically difficult
and as X-Ray shouts, Zigzag grouses for X-Ray to be quiet so he digging is. It reinforces how cruel the camp is, as it clearly deprives
can watch TV. Stanley is perplexed and a little worried; Zigzag is the boys of their humanity.
staring intently at the broken television.

The next morning, the Warden walks Group D to the holes When Group D is the last group in, it shows again that the Warden
again. Stanley spends most of the day dumping wheelbarrows makes the rules at Camp Green Lake and can break them just as
and thinks a lot about the tube. He thinks it looks familiar and easily: making them keep digging shows her breaking the contract of
wonders if it's the lid of a fancy gold pen. The Warden starts sorts between the adults and the inmates and reinforces her power.
getting impatient by lunchtime and even tells Mr. Sir that if the Her threat to Mr. Sir shows too that she can and will weaponize
boys don't dig faster, he'll have to dig with them. After this, the absolutely anything to get what she wants.
boys work extremely fast and Stanley almost runs with his
wheelbarrow, especially when Mr. Sir is around. He reminds
them they're not Girl Scouts. They're the last group in that
afternoon.

Later, Stanley wonders if there's a way he could tell the Warden X-Ray's suggestion that the letter came from a girlfriend suggests
where the tube actually came from. As he's turning it over, Mr. that the inmates at camp may actually be more willing to look out
Pendanski comes into the Wreck Room with a letter for for each other than the novel has thus far let on. Note, however,
Stanley. Squid gives Stanley a hard time about receiving a letter that X-Ray's suggestion does indicate that he's been listening to Mr.
from Stanley's mother, but X-Ray suggests the letter is Sir's refrain about the Girl Scouts. It's likely that Mr. Sir would deem
probably from Stanley's girlfriend. Stanley waits to read it until a letter from one's mother girly, while a letter from one's girlfriend
later. His mother writes that Stanley's letter made her feel like connotes masculinity and power.
a parent who can afford to send her kid to summer camp. She
also explains that while Stanley's father is close to a
breakthrough with his sneaker project, the landlord is
threatening to evict them because of the smell. She makes a
joke about feeling sorry for the little old lady who lived in a
shoe.

Zero startles Stanley asking him what's funny. Stanley initially Stanley's reaction here shows that, at this point, he's pretty
refuses to tell Zero what Stanley's mother wrote, but unwilling to think about people's experiences that are very different
eventually gives a basic explanation of Stanley's father's project from his own, which Zero's lack of familiarity with the nursery
and his mom's joke. Zero seems to not recognize the reference rhyme suggests. When Stanley simply leaves, it also implies that he's
to the nursery rhyme about the little old lady who lived in a becoming less interested in others.
shoe, which amazes Stanley. Zero asks Stanley to recite it, but
Stanley just goes to dinner.

©2018 LitCharts LLC www.LitCharts.com Page 30

 Get hundreds more LitCharts at www.litcharts.com

PART 1, CHAPTER 17
Group D digs in the area around where X-Ray supposedly The Warden's behavior here is horrifying, but it does drive home
found the tube for a week. Eventually, the holes all connect. The that for her, the inmates are absolutely a means to find whatever
Warden becomes less and less patient and snaps one afternoon she's looking for--essentially, she doesn't care about the boys
when Armpit returns from a bathroom break. With her themselves. Again, this suggests that Camp Green Lake itself exists
pitchfork, the Warden jabs at Armpit, pushing him backwards outside the realm of the formal justice system that technically
into the hole and leaving three bloody spots on his chest. The forbids these abuses.
Warden also tells Mr. Pendanski that he's giving the boys too
much water.

That afternoon, Zigzag's shovel hits Stanley in the head. Zigzag’s petty behavior illustrates poignantly how the cruelty of
Magnet calls for Mr. Sir, who bandages Stanley's bloody head Camp Green Lake creates a system in which the boys feel they can't
and sends him back to the hole. When Stanley returns, Zigzag actually look out for each other: doing so would mean doing more
points to the bit of dirt that fell off of Stanley's shovel when he backbreaking work than is absolutely necessary.
fell. He insists that it's Stanley's dirt and is covering up his own
dirt. After Stanley moves it, Zigzag begins digging again.

PART 1, CHAPTER 18
The next morning, Mr. Sir assigns the boys to a new section of Note that Stanley is growing strong as he digs just as Elya Yelnats
the lake to dig their own holes. Stanley is relieved, though his grew strong as he carried the growing piglet up the hill. This suggests
head is swollen and painful where Zigzag's shovel hit him and it that Stanley is unwittingly being prepared for a task of some sort,
makes digging difficult. Otherwise, Stanley isn't sore—the just like his great-great grandfather.
digging has made him strong, and calluses cover his hands. He's
still slow, but not that much slower than Magnet.

After Stanley showers, he stays in the tent to write to his Zero's illiteracy is possibly one reason why Mr. Pendanski and the
parents. As he begins a letter telling them about swimming and rest of Group D pick on him so much; he doesn't have the power
rock climbing, Zero walks in and stands behind Stanley. When afforded to someone via education to stand up for himself. When
Stanley asks him not to read his letters, Zero admits he doesn't the narrator notes that Stanley's heart is hardening, it shows the
know how to read and asks Stanley to teach him. Stanley laughs consequences of existing in such a cruel environment long-term: it's
in surprise. He tells Zero he doesn't know how to teach and now unthinkable for Stanley to consider anyone but himself.
thinks he doesn't have the energy to teach Zero anyway. Zero
insists he only needs to learn to read, as he has nobody to write
to. Again, Stanley refuses. The narrator notes that Stanley's
heart has hardened over the last few weeks.

PART 1, CHAPTER 19
One night, Stanley wakes to a strange noise. He eventually Stanley's belief that his tent mates are dangerous and
realizes it's Squid crying and asks Squid if he's okay. Squid sniffs fundamentally different from him is again indicative of the cruel and
that he's fine. In the morning, Stanley checks on Squid. Squid selfish environment that Camp Green Lake promotes. This thought
informs Stanley that he has allergies and if Stanley says also suggests that Stanley isn't fully aware that he's changing to
anything else, he'll break his jaw. Stanley complies, though he become more accepting of the camp’s social structure, while
doesn't say much anyway, as he's afraid of saying the wrong checking on Squid suggests he's not fully hardened yet.
thing. He knows his fellow campers are dangerous. Stanley is
thankful and surprised that there aren't racial tensions
between the campers.

©2018 LitCharts LLC www.LitCharts.com Page 31

 Get hundreds more LitCharts at www.litcharts.com
One day, Stanley sees the water truck coming and takes his Note that Stanley doesn't blame his own lack of hand-eye
place in line. Mr. Sir fills their canteens and as the truck pulls coordination; by blaming his family's bad luck he's able to make
away, Magnet asks Group D if anyone wants sunflower seeds. more sense out of the event and feel as though it's something that
Magnet tosses Mr. Sir's bag of seeds to X-Ray, Armpit, Squid, was bound to happen. This also tells the reader that even though
and then Zigzag. Stanley has no interest—he knows the salty Stanley thinks the curse is far-fetched, something will probably
seeds will get them in trouble at worst and at the very least, happen that will lead Stanley closer to his destiny.
make them thirsty. When Zigzag tosses the bag, the seeds spill
all over Stanley's hole. As Stanley tries to gather the seeds,
Zigzag shouts that the truck is coming back. Stanley feels
extremely unlucky.

Stanley is unable to cover the sack properly by the time Mr. Sir Though the rest of Group D's teasing is a way for them to help
arrives. Mr. Sir observes that Stanley found something, and corroborate Stanley's story, it's also telling that Stanley is willing to
suggests that they take it to the Warden. Stanley explains that take the blame. This suggests that he fears the social backlash of
he stole the sack himself and ate the sunflower seeds all by ratting out Magnet more than he fears dealing with Mr. Sir.
himself. Armpit, X-Ray, and Magnet shout to Stanley that he
was rude to not share. Stanley follows Mr. Sir to the truck and
thinks it feels good to sit in the shady cab.

PART 1, CHAPTER 20
Stanley thinks the shade of the oak trees feels wonderful, and By setting this terrifying scene someplace that's physically more
he wonders if this is how condemned men feel on their way to comfortable (with shade and air conditioning), the novel insists
the electric chair. Stanley is surprised to see holes all around again that nothing at Camp Green Lake can be trusted to be good or
the Warden's house as Mr. Sir knocks on the door. The Warden just. There is, in short, nothing good about the camp.
frostily invites Mr. Sir and Stanley into the air conditioning. She
sits down and asks Stanley to tell her what happened. Stanley
does, and Mr. Sir explains that he thinks that Stanley is covering
up for another boy.

The Warden points Stanley to a dressing room of sorts and The venomous nail polish shows that the Warden has been able to
asks him to fetch a small flowered case. He does as he's told harness the natural world, though the fact that she's using this
and when the Warden opens it, he realizes it's a makeup case. power to instill terror and inflict pain suggests again that she's not
She pulls out a bottle of dark red nail polish and explains that properly using the natural world. Her methods show, once again,
she has to make the color herself with rattlesnake venom. She that Camp Green Lake exists well outside the formal justice system,
begins painting her nails and says that it's only toxic when it's which is the only way these injustices can happen.
wet. When she's finished painting both hands, she approaches
Stanley and touches his face. One nail brushes Stanley's injury
and a sting of pain sends Stanley backwards.

The Warden turns to Mr. Sir. As he begins to explain again what The Warden's parting words to Stanley tell the reader that she's well
he thinks happened, she strikes him across the face, leaving aware that Mr. Sir is going to punish Stanley for this—and, most
three red marks. After a moment, Mr. Sir screams and clutches tellingly, that she doesn't really care. This again illustrates how the
his face. The Warden tells him that she doesn't care about his camp creates an environment built on terror and cruelty where both
sunflower seeds; she preferred his smoking. Turning to Stanley, are wholly unavoidable.
she sends him back to his hole. Stanley has to step over Mr. Sir
on his way out. The Warden tells Stanley that, unfortunately for
him, Mr. Sir won't die.

©2018 LitCharts LLC www.LitCharts.com Page 32

 Get hundreds more LitCharts at www.litcharts.com

PART 1, CHAPTER 21
As Stanley walks, he hopes that he can finish his hole before Mr. The fact that the rattlesnake does indeed warn Stanley suggests
Sir recovers, as he doesn't want to be out in the lake with Mr. that not all of nature that appears scary and terrible is actually out
Sir alone. He thinks about the first Stanley, who was robbed by to get people. The snake represents a side of nature that's capable of
Kissin' Kate Barlow and left in the desert. Stanley reasons their coexisting with humans—and most importantly, doesn't actually
situations aren't so different. When two rattlesnake hunters want to hurt them. When compared to the Warden's venomous
found the first Stanley, he was insane and only said that "he polish, this again shows that she's on the opposite side in this
found refuge on God's thumb." After he recovered, he had no relationship to nature.
idea what that meant. Stanley hears a twitching sound and
looks down to see a rattlesnake. He turns around, runs away,
and mentally thanks the snake for warning him.

When Stanley returns to the group, he says simply to his As Zero begins to appear more and more like a full-fledged, feeling
curious fellow campers that the Warden just got mad at Mr. Sir human being to Stanley, it reinforces Stanley's own growing
for bothering her. Stanley is surprised to see that his hole is callousness for the reader. It suggests that Stanley will need to think
nearly finished and as a smile crosses his face, he thanks the more about these changes he's undergoing if he wishes to learn to
group for digging his hole. None of the boys take credit for see Zero as a real person.
digging. Stanley notices Zero's hole is smaller than all the
others.

PART 1, CHAPTER 22
Stanley finishes his hole first and heads back to camp to mull "The sneakers" presumably refers to Clyde Livingston's sneakers,
over why Zero dug his hole for him. Later, Armpit, Zigzag, X- which makes Zero appear as though he has far more information
Ray, and Squid suggest that Zero just likes digging holes. than Stanley gave him credit for—something that aligns him with
Stanley waits in the tent for Zero to return from his shower. the likes of Madame Zeroni and the novel's idea of fate and destiny.
When Zero walks in, Stanley thanks him and asks why he did it.
Zero notes that Stanley didn't steal the seeds or the sneakers.
Stanley is confused, but calls after Zero. He offers to try to
teach him to read and Zero smiles.

Stanley and Zero return to the tent and pull out Stanley's box of The fact that Zero is somehow a math whiz shows Stanley that he
stationery. They begin with reciting the alphabet, which Zero clearly didn't know Zero at all before this. In turn, this reinforces the
memorizes quickly. Zero seems extremely proud. Then, Stanley dangers of turning someone into a one-dimensional figure rather
prints a capital A and Zero copies it. Stanley explains the than treating them as a living, breathing, feeling human. This in turn
difference between capitals and lowercase letters and when to will begin to show Stanley that there's power to be had in kindness
use each, which he knows Zero doesn't understand. Zero states and in friendship.
that there are then actually 52 letters. Stanley is perplexed,
especially when Zero can't explain how he did the math.

Zero suggests that Stanley teach him ten letters per day, five When Zero says he doesn't like answering questions, it suggests that
capitals and five lowercase, and after five days he'll know them he absolutely has more that he's hiding from both Stanley and the
all. Stanley is perplexed again by how Zero did the math. Zero reader. The fact that he appears aware that this can make him look
continues and says he'll dig part of Stanley's hole each day in less smart brings up the possibility that Zero finds looking
exchange. Stanley agrees. He asks Zero how he figured out how uneducated to be useful at times, though maddening at others.
many letters he'd need to do each day, but Zero again says it's
just what it is. He says he's not stupid; he just doesn't like
answering people's questions.

©2018 LitCharts LLC www.LitCharts.com Page 33

 Get hundreds more LitCharts at www.litcharts.com
Stanley thinks about the deal later. He knows that X-Ray won't Stanley's mental gymnastics here suggests that he's aware that his
like it, but he reasons that he still needs a break from digging to agreement with Zero isn't exactly fair, though he's trying to make it
teach Zero. He thinks about the Warden's cabin and the seem fair so that he can live with it.
mysterious gold tube. Suddenly, Stanley realizes it's half of a
lipstick container and wonders if KB might be Kate Barlow.

PART 1, CHAPTER 23
The narrator explains that 110 years ago, Green Lake was the In particular, the fact that Miss Katherine presumably spends her
largest lake in Texas. Every Fourth of July, the town would host whole day teaching (kids during the day and adults at night)
a picnic and award prizes for the best peach pies and jams. Miss suggests that she's a firm believer in the value of education. Her
Katherine Barlow always won a special prize for her delicious spiced peaches suggest also that she has a good and respectful
spiced peaches. She was the only schoolteacher and even relationship with nature, given that she can use nature's bounty in a
though the schoolhouse was poorly maintained, her students noninvasive way to do well in the manmade world.
loved her. In addition to teaching children, she taught adults
during the evenings. The young men were all interested in Miss
Katherine romantically, but she made sure they learned.

One of these young men was Charles "Trout" Walker, whose The way that the narrator describes Trout Walker's motorized boat
nickname came from his incurable foot fungus that made his positions him and his family as being somewhat in opposition to
feet smell like dead fish. Most people in Green Lake expected nature; the motorized boat, by its very nature, pollutes the air and
Miss Katherine to marry Trout Walker, as his family was the the water and apparently destroys the peace and quiet of the lake.
wealthiest in the area. However, Trout never paid attention When combined with Trout's disdain for education, it suggests that
during the night classes. He was loud and stupid. Miss Trout, like the Warden, seeks to gain power through money,
Katherine didn't care that her other adult pupils were exploitation, and reputation alone.
uneducated since most of them still wanted to learn, but Trout
was proud to be uneducated. One evening, he invited her out
on his new motorized boat. She declined; the boat was noisy
and spewed black smoke. Trout was angry, as he'd never been
denied anything he wanted before.

PART 1, CHAPTER 24
The next morning, Stanley is wide awake as soon as he sees Mr. Mr. Sir's willingness to lash out at any boy, not just Stanley, shows
Sir's face at breakfast. Half his face is the size of a melon, and that Mr. Sir's power makes him feel as though he doesn't even need
there are three angry, dark purple lines running down it. to adhere to some form of justice. Not that this kind of abuse is ever
Nobody in Stanley's tent says anything, but another boy asks acceptable, but it's telling that Mr. Sir appears to blame the entire
what happened to Mr. Sir's face. Stanley hears a crash and inmate population for his fate, not just the person he probably
turns around to see Mr. Sir holding the boy's head against the blames for the incident.
oatmeal pot, asking him if there's something amiss with his face.
Mr. Sir lets the boy fall to the ground with a thud, and the boy
agrees when Mr. Sir says he's handsome.

Stanley refuses to talk about Mr. Sir's face the rest of the day. By depriving Stanley of water, Mr. Sir turns the landscape into even
He looks forward to his break, which Zero said he could have more of an enemy. Along with the lack of guard towers or fences,
whenever he's ready. When the water truck comes around the this illustrates how the adults in charge at Camp Green Lake
second time, Mr. Sir is driving. Stanley is extremely thirsty. Mr. manipulate the natural world to help them achieve their own
Sir takes Stanley's canteen, but holds it to the side of the terrible goals.
stream of water. Stanley watches the water evaporate but
thanks Mr. Sir anyway.

©2018 LitCharts LLC www.LitCharts.com Page 34

 Get hundreds more LitCharts at www.litcharts.com

PART 1, CHAPTER 25
110 years ago, the people of Green Lake went to both Doc Because the residents of Green Lake go to both Sam and Doc
Hawthorn and Sam, the onion man, for their maladies. Sam Hawthorn, it suggests that the town as a whole has a relatively good
grew onions on the opposite side of the lake. He claimed that relationship with both nature and the manmade world. Sam's
his donkey, Mary Lou, was 50 years old thanks to her steady potions in particular suggest that he's very tuned into nature and is
diet of onions. Nobody was sure they believed Sam, as Sam able to use it to his advantage, though not exploit it.
himself was only twenty. Sam sold all manner of ointments,
pastes, and lotions made out of onions. Doc Hawthorne even
used one to cure baldness.

When Katherine bought onions, she often bought one for Mary Katherine's surprise at learning about Sam's love of poetry mirrors
Lou, as well. One afternoon, Katherine lamented the coming Stanley's surprise at Zero's mathematical prowess; this suggests
rain, explaining to Sam that the schoolhouse leaked. He offered that these two are becoming friends in much the same way that
to fix it in exchange for six jars of spiced peaches. It took him six Stanley and Zero are. Similarly, Sam's interest in poetry makes the
days, as he could only work in the afternoons. As a black man, injustice of not being able to attend school appear even worse, as he
he wasn't allowed to attend school—he could only fix the clearly has a desire to learn.
building. He and Katherine spoke at length while he worked,
and she was surprised by his love of poetry. After the roof, Sam
fixed the windows, the wobbly desk, and the crooked door.
Within a few months, the schoolhouse was all fixed.

Katherine, however, was sad, as she had nothing else for Sam to To a contemporary audience, Hattie Parker is intended to read as
fix. One afternoon as she cried and rain poured outside, she impossibly racist for her remark. Notably, however, her remark
heard Sam selling onions. She raced outside, hugged Mary Lou, suggests that she believes that racial differences are set out and
and told Sam her heart was breaking. Sam kissed her. Nobody upheld by the divine, an idea that the novel will test soon.
else was in the street except for Hattie Parker. She whispered
that God would punish them.

PART 1, CHAPTER 26
The story spread like wildfire through Green Lake, and no By burning the schoolhouse and insisting that books are poison,
children showed up for school the next day. Katherine Trout Walker shows that he believes education absolutely has a
wondered if she'd gotten her days mixed up when, suddenly, a great deal of power to create change in the world—presumably, he
mob led by Trout Walker burst into the schoolhouse. He called believes education would make the children question their parents'
her the "Devil Woman" and yelled that she was poisoning racism. In this way, leaning on his power and money is a way to
children with books as the mob began piling desks in the middle impede kindness and social progress.
of the schoolhouse. Katherine managed to escape the
schoolhouse and ran to the sheriff's office.

The sheriff, drinking whiskey, greeted Katherine pleasantly and When the sheriff insists that God will punish Katherine for the kiss,
told her to calm down. She began to tell him about Trout he shows clearly that he believes that the divine powers are on his
Walker's mob, but he refused to hear anything bad about Trout. side and share his view of morality. However, remember Trout
He told her she was pretty and asked her to kiss him, since she Walker's terrible boat. The boat alone suggests that these views are
kissed Sam. Horrified, Katherine accused the sheriff of in opposition to the divine and to nature, which the novel tends to
drinking. He explained that he always drinks before a link to each other. In short, this tells the reader that the sheriff is
hanging—Sam will hang for kissing her, as it's illegal for a black wrong.
man to kiss a white woman. He asked Katherine for a kiss in
exchange for sparing Sam's life, but Katherine ran away. The
sheriff called out that God will punish her.

©2018 LitCharts LLC www.LitCharts.com Page 35

 Get hundreds more LitCharts at www.litcharts.com
Katherine found Sam and told him they needed to leave. Sam The lack of rain on Green Lake after Sam's unjust death shows that
agreed to leave Mary Lou behind and they started off in Sam's the sheriff and Hattie Parker weren't correct; God and nature are
boat, rowing across the lake. However, he couldn't escape linked and have a very different idea of right and wrong than most
Trout Walker's motorized boat. The narrator states the facts: of the inhabitants of Green Lake. Katherine's decision to become an
Trout shot Sam in the water and rescued Katherine, even outlaw brings up the idea of vigilante justice, as she saw firsthand
though she didn't want to be rescued. When they returned to that the formal justice system wasn't actually that just. When she
shore, Katherine saw that Mary Lou had been shot, as well. kills the sheriff, she's able to do a small thing to atone for Sam's
Since then, rain hasn't fallen on Green Lake, and the narrator death and begin to recalibrate the scales.
asks the reader whom God actually punished. Three days later,
Katherine shot the sheriff, applied fresh lipstick, and kissed
him. She became Kissin' Kate Barlow and spent the next twenty
years terrorizing the West.

PART 1, CHAPTER 27
Stanley glances at his canteen, uncertain if he can take a drink Stanley was once relieved that there were no "racial issues," but the
of water. Mr. Sir has continued to dump Stanley's water on the way the other boys specifically conceptualize Stanley and Zero's
ground, though Mr. Pendanski has been making a point to give agreement shows that, clearly, he was wrong. Again, this implies
Stanley extra. It also helps to have Zero digging, but the other that Stanley may have more power than he thought he did based
boys don't like it. They mock Stanley and insist that he's a solely on his skin color. The fact that the other boys don't like this
master, while Zero, who is black, is his slave. The mocking agreement again shows that they're far more interested in
intensifies when he insists he needs to save his strength to upholding a system in which everyone has to be miserable.
teach Zero to read. Though this is true, Stanley also knows that
Zero is a fast learner. He sometimes hopes the Warden is
watching them so she'll know that Zero isn't stupid.

Stanley sees the water truck approaching. Mr. Sir is driving, so Just as with the Warden's possible surveillance of the boys, when
Stanley doesn't finish his canteen. When he hands it to Mr. Sir, Mr. Sir possibly puts something in Stanley's water, it means that
Mr. Sir fills it and then takes it to the cab of the truck. After a Stanley has to live in a state of constant fear.
few minutes, he returns and hands Stanley his full canteen.
Stanley is afraid to drink, but takes it back to his hole. Finally, he
dumps the water out.

Once Zero learns the alphabet, Stanley teaches him to write his Hector's last name is notably the same as Madame Zeroni's; this
name. Zero smiles hugely and seems very proud as he writes it offers more evidence that there's more to Zero than Stanley initially
over and over again. Stanley is sad to think that even those allowed. Stanley's thoughts on Zero writing his name also allude to
hundred zeros still equal nothing. As they head for dinner later, how dehumanizing the nickname system is.
Zero explains his real name is actually Hector Zeroni.

PART 1, CHAPTER 28
Kate Barlow returned to Green Lake twenty years after Sam's Remember that Trout Walker's family was the wealthiest in town.
death. It was a ghost town at that point, and the lake was little The fact that he now feels the need to bully Kate for her treasure
more than a puddle. The peach trees were gone, but there were suggests that perhaps Trout Walker’s newfound poverty is his
oak trees around an abandoned cabin. She lived there, listening punishment, by God or nature, for killing Sam in cold blood.
to Sam's voice in her head. After three months, Kate woke one
morning to a rifle in her face. It belonged to Trout Walker, and
he wanted to know where Kate's treasure was.

©2018 LitCharts LLC www.LitCharts.com Page 36

 Get hundreds more LitCharts at www.litcharts.com
Kate noticed the woman with Trout as one of her former Linda's unkempt appearance suggests that even just associating
students, Linda. She'd been a beautiful red headed child, but with the likes of Trout Walker can destroy a person, especially when
she looked unkempt and blotchy as an adult. Linda spat she one also considers her combative nature here. This suggests that
married Trout and they're desperate for money—all of the both Linda and Trout still believe in their own righteousness and
Walker family's money disappeared with the lake. Linda that the town's wealth should be theirs, even though they've done
shouted that Kate must've buried the treasure, and Trout fired nothing to deserve it.
the rifle to intimidate Kate. Kate told him to kill her, and said
that his grandchildren will still be digging—they'll never find it.

Linda and Trout pulled Kate out of bed in her pajamas, leaving When Kate dies by yellow-spotted lizard, it recalls the chapter in
her boots by the bed. They tied her legs together loosely and which the narrator insists that it doesn't matter if one believes in
made her walk across the hot ground until she showed them curses or the lizards—this is visible proof that the lizards are deadly,
where the treasure was. Kate's feet blistered, but whenever and it also suggests that curses (or the Yelnats family curse, at least)
she stopped, Linda hit her with the shovel. Suddenly, Linda are very real within the world of the novel.
jumped as a yellow-spotted lizard jumped towards them. It
landed on Kate's leg and bit her. She died laughing after telling
Trout to start digging.

PART 2, CHAPTER 29
The weather becomes unbearably humid and Stanley hears Remember that there's been no rain on Green Lake since Sam's
thunder across the lake, near the mountains. He's surprised death; the storm in the distance near the mountains now acts as a
that he can even see the mountains, as they usually aren't signal that in order to set things right, one must find the rain and the
visible through the haze. X-Ray and Zigzag joke about building mountains first. This is supported by the existence of God's Thumb
an ark as a strike of lightning illuminates a rock formation that there, as well, as that landmark in particular indicates that the
Stanley thinks looks like a fist making a thumbs-up sign. He divine is also involved in making the mountains a magical place.
thinks of the first Stanley, who said he survived on God's
Thumb in the desert. Nobody knows how he did so without
water or food. The image of the thumb remains in Stanley's
mind, though in his mind, the lightning comes out of the thumb
itself as if the thumb truly belongs to God.

PART 2, CHAPTER 30
The next day, Zigzag declares that it's July 8, his birthday. He It's worth noting that Mr. Sir's kindness to Zigzag may appear at
sleeps in and cuts in front of Squid in the breakfast line. Stanley first glance to be real kindness. However, this is likely incorrect,
doesn't even know what day of the week it is, but he attempts especially given that Stanley seems surprised at this turn of events.
to figure out how long he's been at Camp Green Lake. Zero This illustrates how such a cruel environment makes even these
does the math for him; if it's indeed July 8, Stanley has been small favors seem monumental.
there 46 days and has dug 44 holes. Surprisingly, Mr. Sir gives
Zigzag an extra carton of juice when Zigzag says it's his
birthday.

As Stanley digs his shovel into the dirt, he thinks that the 45th Stanley's realization suggests that the cabin where the Warden lives
hold is the hardest. However, he knows it's not true: he's now is possibly the same cabin where Kate Barlow lived when Trout
stronger now and better adapted to the heat, Mr. Sir isn't Walker found her. Again, this allows the reader to make these
depriving him of water anymore, and Zero digging part of his connections that are satisfying and seem to make sense, which
hole helps. He still feels awkward about it, though. As the sun helps Sachar develop the way that destiny helps move the plot
rises, Stanley looks for God's Thumb in the distance. He forward.
realizes that he's probably close to where Kate Barlow robbed
the first Stanley.

©2018 LitCharts LLC www.LitCharts.com Page 37

 Get hundreds more LitCharts at www.litcharts.com
When Zero takes his turn in Stanley's hole, Zigzag, X-Ray, and The reader is aware that, as far as Zero and Stanley are concerned,
Armpit again suggest that Stanley get a whip to hit his slave they're both behaving kindly towards each other, but to the other
with. They ask Stanley if he's better than them and discuss that, boys their arrangement reads as a rejection of a carefully curated
since he is, they should all be digging Stanley's hole for him. social structure. This shows that true kindness is simply not
Stanley does his best to deflect and play along. When Mr. something that can happen in a place like Camp Green Lake, which
Pendanski arrives for lunch, X-Ray makes Stanley get in line thrives on selfishness and cruelty.
first, insisting that Stanley is better than them. Stanley hurries
away to eat in peace and wonders if he should stop letting Zero
dig for him.

Stanley looks up as Zigzag and Squid approach. Zigzag tries to Again, the events surrounding the beginning of this fight suggest
make Stanley take his cookie and then begins pushing Stanley that, while there's some belief in justice or deserving justice, the fact
while telling Stanley not to push him. Stanley insists he doesn't that Mr. Pendanski facilitates this kind of violence and strife
want trouble as he carefully steps backwards around the holes. suggests that it's not in his best interest to have the boys treat each
He's relieved when Mr. Pendanski walks over, but is shocked other kindly. Essentially, he and the other adults can maintain their
when Mr. Pendanski tells him to hit Zigzag to "teach the bully a power as long as the boys don't band together to stage an uprising.
lesson." Stanley makes a halfhearted attempt to hit Zigzag and
suddenly, Zigzag grabs Stanley and begins actually punching
him. Stanley falls and Zigzag continues punching, even after Mr.
Pendanski yells for him to stop.

Suddenly, Zigzag is lifted off Stanley. Stanley looks up to see Though Zero's behavior is undeniably violent, it's also extremely
Zero with an arm around Zigzag's neck, choking him. Zero important to note that he's standing up for Stanley—something that
refuses to stop, even when Mr. Pendanski shouts. Armpit runs seems unheard of given the way Camp Green Lake functions.
into the fray as Mr. Pendanski fires his pistol, and the boys fall Armpit and X-Ray's desire to downplay the situation is more
apart. The counselors and the Warden hurry over and Mr. evidence that this sort of thing may not be an everyday occurrence,
Pendanski explains that there was a riot. Armpit and X-Ray but it's still relatively normal for them.
attempt to play down the seriousness of the situation, but
Zigzag lets slip that the fight began because Stanley wasn't
digging his hole.

Stanley calmly explains his deal with Zero to the Warden and Stanley's ability to see how Zero got to "chat" from "hat" suggests
suggests that Zero learning to read is building his character, that, even though he began to become more callous and cold, his
just like digging holes. The Warden turns on Zero and asks him friendship with Zero is helping him remember to be empathetic and
to share what he learned yesterday. Mr. Pendanski laughs and understanding of others. Mr. Pendanski's horrible words about Zero
suggests that it'd be easier to teach a shovel to read, though again reinforce how cruel Camp Green Lake is, as this kind of abuse
Zero answers that he learned the "at" sound. The Warden from an authority figure would be unthinkable in most other
spells several words for Zero and he's able to sound them out, circumstances.
but Zero pronounces "hat" "chat." The counselors laugh, though
Stanley reasons that Zero's answer was perfectly logical, given
the way the letter "H" sounds.

©2018 LitCharts LLC www.LitCharts.com Page 38

 Get hundreds more LitCharts at www.litcharts.com
The Warden says that nobody will dig anyone else's hole and Mr. Pendanski and the Warden's reasoning closely mirrors what
that Zero's reading lessons must stop. Zero answers that he's Trout Walker said about Miss Katherine poisoning kids with books;
not digging another hole, which the Warden ignores. Stanley it admits that there's power to be had through education, power
asks why he can't teach Zero to read anyway, and the Warden that would be dangerous for them if Zero had it. Similarly, though
and Mr. Pendanski insist that the reading leads to trouble and whacking Mr. Pendanski with a shovel is objectively horrible, within
that Zero is too stupid to learn to read. Mr. Pendanski hands the system of Camp Green Lake, it's not that far-fetched: Zero
Zero a shovel but instead of returning to his hole, Zero swings lashed out the only way he knows how and the only way he's been
it at Mr. Pendanski's head. Mr. Pendanski is unconscious before shown how in this system.
he hits the ground. Zero says he hates digging holes and begins
backing away. Stanley notices Zero's abandoned canteen. The
Warden assigns counselors to act as guards for when Zero
inevitably returns for water, and tells Group D she still expects
seven holes.

PART 2, CHAPTER 31
Stanley digs angrily. He thinks he should've taught Zero to read When Stanley considers going to the Warden for help of some sort,
even without the deal. He knows he should go out after Zero, it again suggests that his friendship with Zero has taught him the
but he doesn't. He digs Zero's hole alone, wondering if maybe power of kindness and working together (though it's unlikely the
they could make it to God's Thumb where there's possibly Warden will go for any of this). This in turn shows that there are
water. Stanley thinks that even if they made it there, they'd still some people, like the Warden, for whom kindness is simply not
have to come back eventually and face the Warden. Stanley valuable or a motivator in the least.
wonders if he could somehow strike a deal with the Warden,
but figures she'd just scratch everyone with her rattlesnake
fingers.

Zero hasn't returned by the next morning. Stanley keeps an eye The Warden's logic here seems to imply that family are the only
out as he digs and even considers walking out to look. He hopes people who could possibly care about someone. This makes it clear
that Zero somehow found God's Thumb, just as the first how warped the Warden's views of love, kindness, and friendship
Stanley did. He hopes there's still water there. When Stanley are, as she's ignoring the friendship that Stanley and Zero formed in
returns to his tent after digging, he finds the Warden, Mr. Sir, this calculation. However, by ignoring their friendship, she also
and Mr. Pendanski waiting for him. They want to know where shows that she underestimates Stanley's willpower or actual power
Zero is, but Stanley honestly doesn't know. The Warden asks to do anything to help Zero, something that will prove a terrible
Mr. Pendanski if it's true that Zero has no family, and Mr. mistake on her part.
Pendanski replies that Zero is a ward of the state. The Warden
confirms again that there's nobody to care about him and then
asks Mr. Pendanski to destroy Zero's records so it will be like he
was never at Camp Green Lake.

PART 2, CHAPTER 32
Two days later, Group D gets a new boy named Brian, though X- Here, Stanley's private musings about his cot serve as a symbolic
Ray calls him Twitch. Twitch explains that he was arrested for representation of the way the camp normalizes toxic behavior,
stealing a car. As Twitch talks, Stanley lies on his cot and relationships, and situations. It reinforces that at Camp Green Lake,
wonders if it actually no longer smells or if he's just used to it. toxicity becomes a part of the background, just as the smell of the
He wonders if Zero might still be alive and thinks that he's most cot does.
worried that it's maybe not too late—Zero could somehow still
be alive in the desert, looking for water.

©2018 LitCharts LLC www.LitCharts.com Page 39

 Get hundreds more LitCharts at www.litcharts.com
The next morning, when the water truck arrives, Stanley It's notable that Twitch is the one to offer Stanley help in this
wonders if it's not too late to save Zero. He watches Mr. Sir fill situation; this is his first day, which suggests that Twitch probably
canteens and wonders if he left the keys to the water truck in isn't so acclimated to the toxicity of Camp Green Lake's culture yet.
the ignition. Carefully, Stanley steps around and observes that As a result, he's more willing to help someone else out than the other
the keys are right there. He takes a deep breath and reasons boys are. Stanley's decision to go out after Zero at all shows that
that driving can't be that hard. Quickly, Stanley climbs into the he's decided to reaffirm his belief in the power of kindness and
cab, starts the truck, and steps on the gas pedal. The truck friendship, as he recognizes that Zero can't survive out there by
doesn't move, and Twitch yells for Stanley to put it in gear. himself. Note too that at this point, Stanley still sees the natural
Stanley does and the truck jumps forward. Stanley picks up world as being against him, given his lack of water.
speed until suddenly, the truck bounces and the airbag inflates.
He realizes he drove into a hole and reasons he can't even
blame his no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing-great-great-
grandfather for this. Stanley abandons the truck and runs into
the desert with his empty canteen.

PART 2, CHAPTER 33
Stanley slows down when he realizes nobody is chasing him. He As minimal as the positive events here are (not dying by yellow-
heads towards God's Thumb, but decides he will return to spotted lizard; finding a speck of food), it's possible to read these
camp after everyone has calmed down. He reasons he needs to events, particularly the lizard sighting, as the natural world helping
go half as far as he thinks he can, then turn back. Then he'll Stanley along on his journey. This also suggests that Stanley might
make a deal with the Warden. Stanley is surprised to see holes not have as hard of a time finding water as he seems to think he will.
so far away and not dug systematically, like at camp. Stanley Stanley's decision to try to cut a deal with the Warden is again
starts checking in holes, though he won't admit he's looking for indicative of his optimistic nature and his belief in the goodness of
Zero. He finds a family of yellow-spotted lizards in one and runs people.
away, terrified. He collapses a ways away and catches his
breath. Stanley notices something on the ground and walks
towards it. It's an empty bag of sunflower seeds with one seed
still in it. He eats the seed for lunch.

PART 2, CHAPTER 34
When the sun is overhead, Stanley figures he can only go for The mirage here represents the power of the natural world to alter
another hour before turning back. He can't see anything, but humans' perceptions of it. Especially when combined with Stanley's
does notice a pool of water ahead. When he hurries towards it, sense that the mountains are urging him on, this suggests that
he realizes it's a mirage. Stanley holds onto the sack from the nature itself, and possibly God, are leading him on a pre-prescribed
sunflower seeds, just in case, and continues to walk towards journey towards something specific.
the mountains. God's Thumb and the mountains look
impossibly far away, though Stanley feels like the mountains are
giving him the thumbs-up sign to encourage him on.

Stanley notices a large object on the lake. He can't figure out The boat's name suggests that this boat is actually Sam's old boat.
what it is, so he decides to head to the right and investigate it. When Stanley discovers Zero hiding under it, it reads as though Sam
He decides that the object will be his halfway point, and then himself is helping Zero along. This opens up the possibility that
he'll turn back. When he finally reaches it, he discovers that it's Stanley's journey doesn't just mirror that of Elya's; he may also be
an old boat, half buried in the dirt. The boat's name is Mary Lou. able to take actions that help atone for the atrocities committed in
Stanley notices a tunnel leading under the boat, large enough Green Lake, as well.
for a big animal. He hears something inside and tries to shout to
scare the critter back in. However, the animal says "hey" back
and Zero's hand pokes out.

©2018 LitCharts LLC www.LitCharts.com Page 40

 Get hundreds more LitCharts at www.litcharts.com

PART 2, CHAPTER 35
Zero's face is sunken and droopy. Stanley admits his canteen is Just as Sam's boat appears to be helping Zero, the jars, which are
empty and says he tried to bring the water truck. He insists likely Miss Katherine's spiced peaches, are also helping Stanley and
they need to go back to camp, but Zero refuses and invites Zero along on their journey. This reinforces that the boys will
Stanley into the hole for "sploosh." Stanley squeezes through somehow help make up for Sam's murder as they go along. With
the hole, marveling at the fact that he can fit. He notices Zero's this, the novel suggests that destiny is circular in that the boys are
stolen shovel as Zero attempts to get a lid off of a glass jar. Zero going to at least attempt the same things that Elya, Miss Katherine,
explains there were sixteen jars buried under the boat and uses and Sam did.
the shovel to break the top off. Zero offers the broken jar to
Stanley. Stanley is afraid of the broken glass and whatever the
sploosh is, as he thinks it's probably 100 years old and could be
seriously contaminated.

Stanley wonders if Zero knows what bacteria are as he takes a The revelation that Barf Bag hurt himself on purpose to get out of
sip. The liquid is sweet and peachy and the boys drink the entire Camp Green Lake illustrates that the camp is capable of pushing
jar. Zero then admits it was the last jar, and Stanley insists that the inmates to drastic measures to escape the toxicity—but also,
they need to return to camp. He suggests that they'll probably that in that regard, the natural world is a friend, not a foe.
send Zero to the hospital, like Barf Bag. Zero admits that Barf
Bag stepped on a rattlesnake on purpose.

Zero asks what "Mar-ya Luh-oh-oo" is, and leads Stanley back Zero's question shows that he's taking his education very seriously,
aboveground to point at the boat. Stanley explains that Y can which implies that he understands that he'll gain a great deal of
act as both a vowel and a consonant. Suddenly, Zero groans, power just by being able to read and better understand the world
grabs his stomach, and falls to the ground. Stanley feels around him. When Zero agrees that God's Thumb looks like a
helpless. When Zero's episode passes, the boys again argue thumbs-up, it shows that nature isn't just out to help Stanley;
about whether to go back to camp. Zero says he'd rather die in essentially, he's not special.
the desert than go back. Stanley stares at the mountains for a
minute and then asks Zero to tell him if the fist-like mountain
looks like anything. Slowly, Zero forms his hand into a fist and
puts his thumb up.

PART 2, CHAPTER 36
Stanley and Zero put four unbroken jars in the sack, just in case. Now that Stanley and Zero are removed from the camp itself, the
Zero carries the shovel and is unworried when Stanley warns shovel becomes a lifeline instead of acting as the boys' sentence.
him that he's unlucky. Zero insists they can only go up from This again shows that the camp has the power to corrupt even the
where they are. Not long after they set off, Zero has another most normal and mundane of garden tools and turn them into
episode. Stanley feels as though God's Thumb isn't getting any something horrific and toxic.
closer and realizes that even if they do make it, they'll have to
climb it. Zero begins using the shovel as a cane as the boys
wonder who Mary Lou was.

©2018 LitCharts LLC www.LitCharts.com Page 41

 Get hundreds more LitCharts at www.litcharts.com
Zero has another episode and Stanley wonders if he'll have to It's worth noting here that as Stanley thinks about his own family
dig Zero's grave. He's surprised when Zero gets up again. Zero and Zero's lack thereof, he very clearly believes what the Warden
asks Stanley to spell words for him to sound out, and the says about Zero—even though she's proven herself to be
spelling seems to distract Zero from his pain. They stop when untrustworthy, nasty, and dismissive of non-blood relationships that
they're so parched it hurts to talk. Stanley wonders if the bad may be just as fulfilling. This offers hope that there is actually
bacteria only contaminated the jars that were easy to open. He someone besides Stanley who can care about Zero; whoever that
thinks he's not afraid of dying or the pain, but he is afraid of his person is just isn't on the Warden's radar.
parents not knowing what happened. He wonders if the
Warden will send out a search party and reasons that he at
least has a family who will care, unlike Zero.

Zero wonders what's at the top of God's Thumb, and Stanley Though the ledges and footholds are very difficult for Stanley and
suggests there's probably an Italian restaurant there. The boys Zero to scale, it's also important to recognize that there are, at the
joke about what they'd order. A few hours later, they reach the very least, ledges and footholds—in short, nature is helping them out
west edge of the lake. Unlike on the other side, this edge is a here by offering them a way up the lake bed.
steep cliff. They decide to try to climb up using a series of
ledges and Zero miraculously manages to keep up. When they
reach a large flat ledge, Stanley realizes that the next one is
several feet above his head with no footholds.

Zero suggests that Stanley boost him up, and then he can pull As the sun moves and gets closer and closer to God's Thumb, it acts
Stanley up with the shovel. Boosting Zero up works, and as a beacon that Stanley and Zero can follow. Again, this is another
Stanley uses the shovel handle to help him walk up the wall. way that the natural world appears to be helping the boys reach
Zero somehow helps pull him onto the ledge. Stanley notices God's Thumb. The boys' teamwork reinforces the power of their
blood and realizes that Zero cut his hands holding onto the friendship to achieve common goals.
blade of the shovel while Stanley climbed. Zero drinks the
blood. They rest and then climb the rest of the way up. The sun
looks like it's resting on the top of God's Thumb.

PART 2, CHAPTER 37
As God's Thumb looms overhead, Stanley feels afraid. He fears When Stanley is able to deduce that there must be water nearby, it
that if there's no water up there, he and Zero will have nothing. shows that he's developing more of an appreciation for the natural
The land gradually becomes steeper and steeper, forcing world and doesn't necessarily see it as his sworn enemy anymore.
Stanley and Zero to zigzag up the mountain. They begin to see This suggests that he's changing to become more like Sam in how he
weeds, which get thicker the higher they climb. The sun begins views the natural world; it is something benevolent, especially now
to set and gnats attempt to land on the boys. Zero and Stanley that he's following nature's signs towards God's Thumb.
resume their spelling game until Zero vomits. Stanley realizes
that they must be close to water if there are weeds and bugs,
and he tells Zero this. Zero smiles, flashes Stanley a thumbs-up,
and collapses. He doesn't move when Stanley shakes him.

©2018 LitCharts LLC www.LitCharts.com Page 42

 Get hundreds more LitCharts at www.litcharts.com

PART 2, CHAPTER 38
Stanley pulls a limp Zero upright and then onto his shoulder, Stanley's decision to carry Zero instead of abandoning him or
with Zero's legs dangling in front. He leaves the shovel and the staying put is a testament to Stanley's newfound appreciation for
jars behind and picks his way up the incline. Stanley feels as the boys' friendship, as he now sees leaving Zero as something
though God's Thumb is giving him strength and pulling him wholly wrong. His conception of the smell as foul shows that this is a
towards it. He begins to smell something foul in the air as the moment of doubt for Stanley; he hasn't yet learned to truly trust the
ground levels off. Stanley looks in front of him; the thumb no natural world to guide him.
longer looks like a thumb and it's far too big to climb. He feels
as though the smell in the air is the smell of despair. As Stanley
heads towards the thumb, he slips, drops Zero, and lands
facedown in a muddy gully.

As Stanley laments his fate, he suddenly realizes that one needs Splitting the onion in particular shows that Stanley truly values
water to make mud. He begins to dig in the wettest part of the Zero's life and their friendship; the presence of water and food
gully and in the darkness is able to fill a small hole with dirty suggests that Stanley's kindness, combined with nature's
water. When Stanley has a reasonably sized hole, he scoops benevolence, will have the power to bring Zero back to life and
water and splashes it on Zero's face. Zero begins to stir, so wellness.
Stanley pulls Zero closer and pours more into Zero's mouth. He
discovers an onion as he digs for water and eats half without
even peeling it. He gives the other half to Zero and tells him it's
a hot fudge sundae.

PART 2, CHAPTER 39
Stanley wakes up in a meadow, staring up at the thumb. Finally, Now, the shovel is even more of a life-saving implement than it was
he rolls over to look at his water hole and discovers two inches when Zero used it as a cane—near God's Thumb, it becomes
of brown water in the bottom. He tries to rinse his mouth of the something the boys can use to make use of nature, rather than a
dirty water with little success. Zero stirs, moans, and tells way for the Warden to try to exert dominance over the natural
Stanley he's not doing well. Zero crawls to the water hole, sips world like at camp. When Stanley goes to touch God's Thumb for
some water, and then has another painful episode. Stanley the sake of touching it, it shows that he's learned the importance of
considers going back down the mountain to look for the shovel following through on the things he's decided to do, even when it's
and the jars, but he's not sure he has the strength. He walks to only for his own satisfaction.
the thumb through a field of white flowers, touches it, and then
heads back to Zero. He realizes that he needs to look for the
shovel now while the trail is fresh, but he's afraid Zero will die
while he's gone.

With difficulty, Zero says that he needs to tell Stanley When Zero feels better after confessing, it suggests that this
something. Zero grits his teeth through the pain and tells personal acknowledgement of justice is one way to help right the ills
Stanley that he stole Clyde Livingston's shoes from the shelter. of the world. Stanley's song shows that he cares more for Zero now
This confession seems to make Zero feel better, and Zero falls than he does about looking cool.
asleep. Stanley sings him the old family lullaby.

©2018 LitCharts LLC www.LitCharts.com Page 43

 Get hundreds more LitCharts at www.litcharts.com

PART 2, CHAPTER 40
Stanley wonders if there are more onions around. He pulls up The juxtaposition of Stanley discovering onions with Mrs.
one of the white flowers, including the roots. The narration Tennyson's insistence that onions cured her daughter reinforces that
jumps back to the past; Sam is selling onions on the streets of onions are life-saving within the world of the novel. Onions contain
Green Lake. Mrs. Tennyson, a very proper woman, runs after chemicals that help the gut remain healthy, which is likely how and
Sam in her nightgown. She stops him and explains that her why they're able to help Zero and Mrs. Tennyson's daughter.
daughters will be okay, thanks to Sam's onion tonic. She
derisively says that Doc Hawthorn was useless, as he wanted
to use leeches.

Hattie Parker and other townsfolk gather, and Hattie asks Mrs. Hattie's derision falls right in line with her assertion that God would
Tennyson if her husband is aware of the way she's dressed. punish Katherine and Sam; her sense of right and wrong is focused
Mrs. Tennyson curtly explains that she and her husband have entirely on manmade systems and moralities at the expense of the
been up all night with their daughter, who ate bad meat—Hattie actual humans negatively impacted by that focus.
Parker's husband is the butcher. Hattie's face flushes. She
excuses herself and Mrs. Tennyson buys onions from Sam.
When she insists he keep the change, Sam asks her to buy
onions for Mary Lou with it.

Back in the present, Stanley and Zero take the next two days to Stanley's surprise at his own apparent strength suggests that he is,
recover. They eat onions and drink the dirty water. Since Zero to some degree, unaware of the power of kindness and of caring
seems to be feeling marginally better, Stanley decides to go about someone—his belief that Zero was worthy of care, coupled
look for the shovel. He feels strong as he heads down the with the help from the natural world, is what enabled Stanley to
mountain. After a while, he looks back and doesn't think he carry Zero up the hill in the first place. This shows that even though
could've carried Zero so far, so he reasons he must've missed the reader may make some of these connections, Stanley likely
the shovel. Regardless, he keeps going just in case. Finally, won't make all of them.
Stanley sits down and decides that if he's so tired after walking
down, he never would've been able to carry Zero up. However,
Stanley finds the shovel and the sack of jars right next to each
other.

PART 2, CHAPTER 41
Zero continues to improve. Stanley digs the water hole to Zero's declaration that he doesn't want to be a ward of the state
about the size of the holes at Camp Green Lake. The hole is full suggests that more than anything, Zero wants to be able to control
of murky water. Stanley is surprised that he hasn't gotten sick his own life. That is, notably, something that he wouldn't be able to
from something, as he used to get sick all the time. Zero begins do as a ward of the state, as that would give the government power
to tell Stanley about his life before Camp Green Lake. He says to likely put him in foster care. However, it's also worth noting that
he didn't go to the homeless shelter often but when he did, he had that happened, Zero may have had a better chance at an
had to find someone to pretend to be his mom. Otherwise, they education than he did on the streets.
would've made him a ward of the state. Zero says he isn't sure
what that means, but he doesn't like it. Stanley wonders if Zero
knows that he's now considered a ward of the state.

©2018 LitCharts LLC www.LitCharts.com Page 44

 Get hundreds more LitCharts at www.litcharts.com
Zero says he liked sleeping outside because he wanted to be a Zero's logic when he stole Clyde Livingston's shoes makes perfect
Cub Scout. He notes that his mother was once a Girl Scout. sense and reveals that even though Zero has technically lived his life
Zero says that he and his mother always had to steal, but it took as a criminal, he still has a very finely tuned sense of what's right,
him a long time to realize it was wrong. He and his mother took what's wrong, and how to commit "wrong" acts that do the least
just what they needed, so when he saw Clyde Livingston's amount of damage to others. This offers another side to Zero and
shoes at the shelter, he took them. Zero says he reasoned that suggests that, instead of a traditional education, he's received an
it was better to take old shoes than new ones. He says he was education in morality and justice.
wearing the smelly shoes when everyone realized they were
missing. Nobody noticed him. He just left them on the top of a
car. Zero says he should've kept the shoes; he was arrested the
next day for stealing a new pair of sneakers.

PART 2, CHAPTER 42
Zero grows strong enough to help dig the water hole. He makes The realization that he's acclimated to the onion smell suggests
it about six feet deep and puts rocks on the bottom to make the again, as it did with Barf Bag's cot, that Stanley is capable of
water cleaner, and then declares that it's the last hole he'll ever adapting to all manner of situations, not all of them positive. When
dig. Stanley knows they need to return to Camp Green Lake at Zero suggests the water must be in the thumb or running uphill, it
some point. There's nothing but desert for miles. Zero wonders draws a parallel between this stream and the Latvian stream of
out loud if there's a hole in the top of the thumb and that's Madame Zeroni. This in turn implies that this stream, like that one,
where the water is coming from, noting that water doesn't run has magical powers.
uphill. Stanley realizes that the onion smell doesn't bother him
anymore and he can't really taste them anymore either.

Two nights later, Stanley happily stares at the stars. He thinks Stanley's happiness and satisfaction at the way things have worked
that he has no real reason to be happy and wonders if he's out shows that he too will get to experience some of the satisfaction
going to die. He realizes he's never been truly happy, but now of the way that destiny works within the plot, even without knowing
he likes who he is. He watches Zero's breath blow a flower all the exact pieces. This suggests that, at its heart, the idea of
petal around and thinks that Zero had only been at Camp destiny allows people to make more sense of their world and feel
Green Lake a month or so more than Stanley. He thinks that more secure in the way things progress in their lives.
even though Zero is right that neither of them would be here if
he'd kept the shoes, Stanley is glad that Zero abandoned the
shoes and they fell on him. He remembers how he thought that
destiny struck him and thinks that it must've been true.

Stanley wonders if he and Zero could possibly sneak past the Given the way that Stanley's journey has mirrored Elya's thus far
camp and follow the road back to civilization. He reasons that (and especially since he's now uncharacteristically happy), it
nobody at Camp Green Lake is looking for them at this point. suggests that it's actually part of Stanley and Zero's destiny to dig
He dreams about living as a fugitive and getting a new identity, up Kate Barlow's treasure. It also implies that by doing so, they'll
and he realizes it's crazy but also thinks that it'd be easier if he somehow atone for Sam's murder.
and Zero could find Kissin' Kate Barlow's treasure to fund their
adventure. He wakes Zero up and asks if he wants to dig one
more hole.

©2018 LitCharts LLC www.LitCharts.com Page 45

 Get hundreds more LitCharts at www.litcharts.com

PART 2, CHAPTER 43
After spending the morning picking onions and preparing for The lullaby offers more evidence that Stanley and Zero are more
their journey back to Camp Green Lake, Stanley listens to Zero connected than they initially thought, whether or not they ever
talk about his mother. Zero says they used to live in a real realize that. That again acts as a way for the novel to show that fate
house, and his room was yellow. His mother used to sing the and destiny are at play in their lives.
same lullaby that Stanley sang to him. Zero isn't sure why they
had to move out and live on the street.

Stanley and Zero's plan is to leave early the next morning, When Stanley isn't sure if the camp told his parents that he's
arrive at Camp Green Lake before dark, and then dig in the hole missing, it suggests that he is coming to a better understanding of
where Stanley found the lipstick tube overnight. Then, the fact that Camp Green Lake doesn't exactly operate within
regardless of what they find, they'll leave after hopefully normal rules and regulations that govern the formal justice system.
stealing food and water. Stanley thinks about his parents and
wonders if they've been evicted for the smell of Stanley's dad's
experiments. He wonders if they'll be homeless, and wonders,
too, if the camp told them he's missing.

Stanley and Zero head down the mountain the next morning. The "miracle" of the jars remaining intact again suggests that
Stanley points out where he found the shovel, and Zero is destiny is on Stanley and Zero's side as they go on their quest. The
impressed that Stanley carried him so far up the mountain. fact that Stanley slips in the first place alludes to the possibility that
Stanley, who is carrying the sack of jars filled with water, slips this quest isn't going to be easy, even with nature on their side:
and begins to slide down the mountain. The onions spill but nature still has the power to ruin things for them.
finally, Stanley is able to stop himself. Miraculously, the jars
don't break, and the boys are able to collect the onions they
lost as they continue down the mountain.

At the bottom, Stanley and Zero ask each other if they're As Stanley and Zero engage in this argument, it's worth noting that
thirsty. Stanley lies and says he isn't, and he thinks that this is they're engaging more in a fight against each other than against
becoming a contest between them. Neither of them wants to nature itself. This shift suggests that Stanley and Zero will be
be the first to drink. They carefully climb down the cliff and tackling human foes in the next part of their quest rather than
again discuss drinking, feigning worry for the other. Finally, the natural ones.
boys decide to drink together. They find the Mary Lou before
noon and sit in its shade to rest.

Zero says that he has no idea why Zero's mother left him. As The relationship that Zero describes with his mother makes it clear
Zero talks, Stanley thinks that Zero is explaining this to himself that Zero absolutely had someone to care for him at this point in his
more than to him. Zero says that his mother used to ask him to life, even if the particular ways she cared for him were sometimes
wait for her while she went off alone. Zero would hug his questionable given their homelessness. Regardless, it opens it up for
stuffed giraffe, Jaffy, while she was gone. Then, he says, she left Zero's mother to still be out there to care for him.
him at a park and didn't come back for a month. The boys eat
onions and drink, and then discuss which direction to go to
reach Camp Green Lake.

©2018 LitCharts LLC www.LitCharts.com Page 46

 Get hundreds more LitCharts at www.litcharts.com
Zero continues his story as they walk. He says that once, a few With Zero's story, the novel suggests that when it comes to children,
weeks after Zero's mother left, some kids about his age had a they're naturally kinder and more accepting of difference; it's the
birthday party at the park. One girl invited him to play, though adults in charge who have the power to create an environment that
Zero knew he didn't belong. He noticed one mother who stared treats Zero like a monster. This suggests in short that cruelty is
at him as though he were a monster. When one boy offered something that people learn as they grow up, likely from their
Zero cake, the mother told Zero to go away and told the other parents. When applied to the Warden, this suggests that she may be
kids to stay away from him. Zero says he ran away so fast that so cruel because others were cruel to her.
he forgot Jaffy. Stanley asks if Zero ever found Jaffy, and Zero
admits that Jaffy wasn't real. Stanley thinks of how awful it
would be for his parents to not know if he was dead or alive,
and thinks that's how Zero must've felt.

Zero stops suddenly and insists they're going the wrong way. The cloud here is notable; remember that it hasn't rained over
He draws a map in the dirt proving his point and Stanley follows Green Lake in more than a century, and the clouds have taunted the
him, even though he doesn't think it's right. Later that boys at camp for the entire novel. The cloud's presence then
afternoon, a cloud rolls overhead and casts shade. Finally, Zero suggests that something important has shifted in nature, implying
stops Stanley and asks him to listen. They can hear Camp that change is on the way for Camp Green Lake. Stanley's fear
Green Lake and, specifically, Mr. Sir. As the boys approach illustrates how deeply he's internalized the terror of the camp, given
some holes, they decide to climb into them and wait. Stanley that he feels the terror even when he's not a victim.
and Zero wait until they can't hear anything and then creep
silently towards camp. Stanley feels a rush of fear as he sees
the camp, but he manages to point out the hole where he found
the lipstick tube. He and Zero hide and wait for nightfall.

PART 2, CHAPTER 44
Stanley struggles to sleep but is surprised when Zero wakes At this point, it seems the work of destiny that Zero is able to sneak
him up. There's one light on in the camp office and moonlight in and out of camp to fill the jars and steal food. The unnaturally
above as Stanley climbs down into the correct hole. He begins sweet cereal shows again how unnatural and negative the camp is,
to dig. Zero watches and then sneaks to camp to fill the water given that something that's normally positive (sweet cereal) now
jars. It's so dark, Stanley can't even see if he's digging up seems overly sweet and even unpalatable.
something valuable. He decides to make the hole wider as Zero
surprises him with breakfast. Stanley pours some cereal down
his throat and almost gags at how sweet it is after the onions.
Zero takes over digging and they switch several times.

Finally, Stanley's shovel hits something hard. Surprised, he Even though the novel led the boys and the reader to believe that
chips off dirt and discovers that it's a chest of some sort. He destiny was on Stanley and Zero's side, the Warden's appearance
carefully digs into the wall and discovers the object is about calls this into question. However, given the way the novel suggests
eight inches tall and two feet wide, though he has no idea how that destiny works, her appearance may also be something that's
far into the side of the hole it goes. Stanley fears making the foretold. This is supported by the fact that she and Stanley are now
side of the hole cave in, but he and Zero decide that Stanley on opposite sides of nature, which suggests that man versus nature
should try to wedge it free. It works, and Stanley pulls out a will be the next showdown.
heavy suitcase. He hands it to Zero. As Stanley tries to pull
himself out of the hole, the Warden turns on a flashlight and
thanks him for his help.

©2018 LitCharts LLC www.LitCharts.com Page 47

 Get hundreds more LitCharts at www.litcharts.com

PART 2, CHAPTER 45
Mr. Pendanski shines the flashlight on Zero, who sits with the The Warden's mention of digging holes herself as a child reinforces
suitcase on his lap. Mr. Sir points his gun at Zero. He's wearing the idea that violence and abuse are cyclical. Though the novel
nothing but pajama pants. The Warden starts to speak, but never says if she has children of her own, she's perpetuating this
stops and begins to back away. Two yellow-spotted lizards cycle of violence and hard physical labor by taking on teenage
crawl up on the suitcase as Zero sits perfectly still. Mr. inmates. This suggests that something will need to happen to break
Pendanski gasps and then shines the flashlight into the hole. the cycle and reintroduce kindness into Camp Green Lake, as it's
Stanley chokes back a scream as he realizes he's standing in a fairly clear that even if the Warden has found what she's looking for,
lizard nest. There are six in the hole, several of which are that doesn't mean she's going to stop being cruel.
climbing on him. The Warden tells Mr. Pendanski that they
won't have to wait long, and then they'll have a body to give
"that woman" (Ms. Morengo). She says that she doesn't care
what happens as long as she gets the suitcase, and recounts
having to dig holes every day as a kid.

PART 2, CHAPTER 46
Several hours later, Zero and Stanley are still alive. As a lizard Mr. Pendanski's shockingly callous statement betrays that even
springs towards Mr. Pendanski, Mr. Sir shoots it and then lights though he was the kindest counselor the narrator named, it was all
a cigarette. Mr. Pendanski suggests they shoot "them" anyway, a front: he's just as cruel and heartless as the Warden and Mr. Sir,
and another counselor asks if he's referring to the lizards or the and he likely acted kindly so that he could use it as a weapon as
boys. Mr. Pendanski points out that they have lots of graves to needed.
choose from, and the boys will die anyway.

The Warden tells the counselors that their story is simple: The adult conversation going on here suggests that things have
Stanley tried to run away, fell in a hole, and the lizards got him. changed at Camp Green Lake: it may be moving towards being
She says they won't even give "them" Zero's body. Mr. forced to comply with normal standards, given that the justice
Pendanski notes that it doesn't make sense for Stanley to run if system has apparently discovered that Stanley is innocent. As
he knew he was getting released, but the Warden retorts that Stanley escapes into his memory, it's notably one in which the
they couldn't release him yesterday because he was delirious. natural world provides a sense of wonder and helps him get through
She stares at Zero and asks why he isn't dead yet. Stanley is this ordeal, much in the same way that God's Thumb helped him
barely listening and doesn't know what they're talking about. and Zero to survive for a week in the desert.
Instead, he remembers a time when he and Stanley's mother
rolled down a snowy hill. Stanley is so caught up in his memory,
he doesn't hear Mr. Sir tell him he's innocent and his lawyer
came to pick him up.

Not long before 4:30am, the Warden sends the counselors to Stanley understands that his parents have very little power to truly
the tents to deal with the campers. Only Mr. Sir remains with take on the justice system and he's fairly certain that this is a fact
her. Stanley glances at Zero, who slowly gives Stanley a that's not up for debate. The possibility that this has changed
thumbs-up. Stanley wonders what Mr. Sir was talking about; he suggests that there may be more justice in the world than previously
knows his parents are too poor to hire a lawyer. thought.

©2018 LitCharts LLC www.LitCharts.com Page 48

 Get hundreds more LitCharts at www.litcharts.com

PART 2, CHAPTER 47
As the sun rises, Stanley counts eight lizards in the hole with When the lizards show that they're hungry, just not for Stanley and
him. Inexplicably, Zero says, "Satan." The Warden suggests that Zero, it again appears as though fate and destiny are helping the
Mr. Sir take the suitcase from Zero, as the lizards clearly aren't boys get through this ordeal—but also, that nature is conspiring to
hungry, but none of them move. Hours later, they watch a help. The lizards keep the Warden and Mr. Sir away, even as they
tarantula lumber along the ground. A lizard leaps from terrify the boys.
Stanley's head towards the tarantula, devouring it in one gulp.
Mr. Sir observes that the lizards are absolutely hungry.

The lizards move lower in the hole to escape the sun as the day When Zero asks Stanley about his last name, it again reinforces that
progresses. Stanley believes that there are two hiding between Zero isn't dumb; he's just uneducated. By making that distinction,
Zero's knees. The boys whisper to each other, and Stanley tries the novel is able to point to the ways that Zero, even as an
to climb out. He feels a claw dig in and gives up. Zero asks intelligent kid, is disadvantaged because of not getting an education,
Stanley if his last name is his first name backwards. Stanley is especially when even Stanley is surprised.
amazed that Zero could figure that out. They hear cars
approaching, and Mr. Sir says it's certainly not Girl Scouts with
cookies.

A short while later, Mr. Pendanski leads a short woman and a The Warden's decision to lie shows that she believes herself to be
tall man in a suit to the hole. When they're close enough to see, above the law or, at the very least, outside of it—the setup of Camp
the woman (Ms. Morengo) turns to the man, the Texas Green Lake itself is testament to that. This also shows that she
Attorney General, and says that if anything happens to Stanley, doesn't value Stanley or Zero's lives at all, given that if the Attorney
they're filing charges against the Warden as well as the state of General or Ms. Morengo believe her, Stanley and Zero will certainly
Texas. The Attorney General asks the Warden how long the be in deep trouble.
boys have been stuck. The Warden insists that the boys snuck
into her cabin, stole her suitcase, and then fell into the nest last
night. Stanley says it's not true, but Ms. Morengo advises him
not to speak. Stanley wonders who actually owns the suitcase.

Ms. Morengo angrily says that this wouldn't have happened if When the Warden insists that Stanley was delusional, she attempts
the Warden had released Stanley to her yesterday, but the to discredit him by creating an image of him that's not at all
Warden insists that this is Stanley's fault. The Attorney General credible—which is very similar to the way that Mr. Pendanski
asks why the Warden didn't release Stanley when asked, and thought of Zero as being wholly useless and unintelligent. This again
the Warden insists that Ms. Morengo didn't have proper shows that there's a great deal of power to be had by dehumanizing
authorization. She insists that she needed authentication from someone and making them seem uneducated.
the Attorney General before she could abide by even a signed
court order. She again says that Stanley has been delusional for
days.

Stanley carefully pulls himself out of the hole and the lizards It's fairly clear for the reader that the suitcase isn't Stanley's; it's
allow him to do so. He steadies himself and then helps Zero likely the one that Kate Barlow stole from the first Stanley. This
stand. As the last of the lizards skitter away, the Warden rushes shows that even the Yelnats's decision to name their sons Stanley
to Zero, hugs him, and tries to take the suitcase. Zero jerks it for generations is linked to destiny and was fated, as this will
away and says it belongs to Stanley. The Warden reminds him certainly help Stanley out of this pickle.
that it came from her cabin and threatens to press charges, but
Zero points to Stanley's name written in big black letters on the
suitcase. The Warden sputters.

©2018 LitCharts LLC www.LitCharts.com Page 49

 Get hundreds more LitCharts at www.litcharts.com

PART 2, CHAPTER 48
Stanley holds his suitcase, so tired he can barely speak. Mr. Sir From the way that Ms. Morengo and the Warden interact, it's clear
fetches Stanley's belongings while Mr. Pendanski grabs Stanley that the Warden hasn't spent much time with people who have far
and Zero food. Ms. Morengo assures Stanley that he'll see his more power than she does. This suggests that unlimited power is
parents soon. The Warden attempts to say that the suitcase actually a handicap in some cases, as it keeps her from arguing her
itself belongs to Stanley, but the contents are hers. Ms. case with any effectiveness.
Morengo tells Stanley not to open the suitcase so the Warden
can search it. The Warden is nearly hysterical as she argues
with Ms. Morengo.

The Attorney General tells Stanley he's free to go, so Ms. Calling Zero by his real name is a way for Stanley to tell Zero that he
Morengo bustles Stanley away. He turns around to look at Zero truly cares about him, as a person and as a friend—it's a way for him
and says he can't leave Hector. Zero looks from Mr. Pendanski to say that Zero is worth something, no matter what Mr. Pendanski
to the Warden and Mr. Sir, insisting he'll be fine. Stanley insists says. Notably, this kindness leads to an attempt to learn more about
that the Warden will kill Zero if they leave him behind, but the Zero and his dealings with the justice system, which suggests that
Attorney General assures Stanley he's taking control of the kindness and interest are important if one wants to truly receive
camp and investigating it. When Stanley refuses to move, Ms. justice.
Morengo asks for Hector's file. The Warden sends Mr.
Pendanski to get the file, though he returns to say the file is
missing. The Attorney General is enraged, makes a phone call,
and then calls the Warden into the office to talk.

Stanley turns when he hears Armpit and Squid coming out of Just as when Stanley called Zero by his name, Zigzag's request that
the Wreck Room. Soon, the other Group D boys gather around Stanley call his mom and use his given name is a way for Zigzag to
and congratulate Stanley on being released. Zigzag apologizes behave kindly towards his mother and show her that he's still her
for ratting out Stanley. Squid asks Ms. Morengo for paper, son. The fact that Ms. Morengo feels she has the power to take Zero
writes a phone number, and asks Stanley if he'll call his mom to away from Camp Green Lake in the absence of records suggests
tell her that Alan says he's sorry. The boys disperse when the that though the justice system crumbles without records, one can
Warden and the Attorney General return. The Attorney only get justice when the bad records disappear.
General explains that he can't find any of Hector's records,
including his release date or reason for incarceration. Enraged,
Ms. Morengo takes Zero's hand and pulls him away with her
and Stanley.

PART 2, CHAPTER 49
The narrator states that there weren't yellow-spotted lizards in Finally the narrator solves the mystery: onions provided Stanley and
Green Lake until after the lake dried up, but everyone knew Zero protection against the yellow-spotted lizards. This is another
about the "red-eyed monsters" in the hills. One afternoon, way that the natural world helped the boys, either inadvertently or
several men approached Sam. They said they were going on purpose, to best the Warden and complete their task.
rattlesnake hunting and wanted some of his "lizard juice." Sam
gave each man two bottles of onion juice and instructed them
as to when to drink it. He said that lizards don't like onion
blood.

©2018 LitCharts LLC www.LitCharts.com Page 50

 Get hundreds more LitCharts at www.litcharts.com
Stanley and Zero sit in Ms. Morengo's backseat, the suitcase When Derrick's bullying turns out to be one of the things that frees
between them. Stanley admits he has no idea what's in it. Ms. Stanley, it suggests that even though his cruelty was nonsensical
Morengo explains that she's a patent attorney helping Stanley's and awful, it too happened for a reason—it becomes Stanley's alibi.
father with his new invention, and she looked into the events Ms. Morengo's insistence that Zero not confess to the crime
that took place on the day the shoes were stolen. When she reinforces the idea that the formal justice system's provisions aren't
mentions interviewing Derrick Dunne, Stanley is surprised to enough to truly get justice; it takes human discretion to do that.
still feel ashamed about the bullying he suffered. Zero admits
that he stole the shoes, but Ms. Morengo says she didn't hear
that.

Ms. Morengo explains that Stanley's father invented a product Remember that Trout Walker had an incurable and smelly foot
to cure foot odor and passes the boys samples. Zero thinks it fungus; Stanley's father's invention then appears to be linked to the
smells familiar, and Ms. Morengo says people think it's peaches. way in which Stanley atoned for Sam's death, as evidenced by the
The boys fall asleep and it begins to rain at Green Lake. rain at Green Lake.

PART 3, CHAPTER 50
The narrator says that, despite the fact that Stanley's mother Here, the narrator confirms the reader's suspicions: Stanley's
doubts that there was ever a curse, it's true that Stanley's journey absolutely mirrored that of Elya Yelnats, and by carrying
father invented his foot odor cure the day after Elya Yelnats's Zero up the mountain, he broke the family's curse. In turn, this
great-great grandson carried the great-great-great grandson seems to have also made up for the atrocities committed at Green
of Madame Zeroni up the mountain. The Warden was forced to Lake in the 1880s given that the Warden, Trout Walker's
sell her family's land after the Attorney General closed Camp descendent, loses control of the land.
Green Lake. It's slated to become a Girl Scout camp.

The contents of the suitcase turned out to be several low- When the narrator shifts to calling Hector by his given name, it
quality gems and a stack of old stock certificates and deeds of suggests that the novel itself now recognizes Hector as a full person,
trust from the first Stanley. Stanley and Hector each got a little deserving of kindness and recognition. It's telling that both boys do
less than a million dollars. Stanley bought his family a house, nice things for their families with their money; this suggests that
and Hector hired private investigators. As a final offering, the they truly internalized what they learned about the power of
narrator recounts a scene that takes place a year and a half kindness.
after Stanley and Hector left Camp Green Lake.

On Super Bowl Sunday, there's a party at the Yelnats house. Clyde Livingston's presence in Stanley's living room, and the fact
Stanley and Hector are the only teens in attendance. As a that he's the spokesperson for Stanley's dad's invention, suggests
commercial comes on, everyone stops to watch. It shows Clyde that he and the Yelnats family were able to make up for Livingston's
Livingston, who's also sitting in Stanley's living room, playing heartbreaking testimony against Stanley during his trial. Now,
baseball. He explains that his nickname is Sweet Feet, but his Stanley has money, proximity to fame, and a robust, loving
feet didn't used to actually smell good. He pulls out a can of family—all things that are only available to him after breaking the
something called Sploosh and says it cured his foot smell. curse.
Everyone at the party claps their hands as Clyde Livingston's
wife makes jokes about how bad her husband's feet used to
smell.

©2018 LitCharts LLC www.LitCharts.com Page 51

 Get hundreds more LitCharts at www.litcharts.com
Stanley turns towards Hector, who's sitting on the floor in front The presence of Hector's mother indicates that he hired an
of a youngish woman. She looks weathered and weary, as investigator to find her with his money, thereby putting what he has
though she's seen too much. As Hector's mother runs her of his family back together. This suggests that Stanley breaking the
fingers through Hector's hair, she sings a song her curse has also freed the Zeronis; it provided relief for all.
grandmother used to sing to her—a version of the song that
Stanley's family has been singing for generations.

©2018 LitCharts LLC www.LitCharts.com Page 52

 Get hundreds more LitCharts at www.litcharts.com

HOW T
TO
O CITE
To cite this LitChart:

MLA
Brock, Zoë. "Holes." LitCharts. LitCharts LLC, 19 Oct 2018. Web.
19 Oct 2018.

CHICA
CHICAGO
GO MANU
MANUAL
AL
Brock, Zoë. "Holes." LitCharts LLC, October 19, 2018. Retrieved
October 19, 2018. https://www.litcharts.com/lit/holes.

To cite any of the quotes from Holes covered in the Quotes section
of this LitChart:

MLA
Sachar, Louis. Holes. Random House. 1998.

CHICA
CHICAGO
GO MANU
MANUAL
AL
Sachar, Louis. Holes. New York: Random House. 1998.

©2018 LitCharts LLC www.LitCharts.com Page 53