Holes

Sam and Mary Lou-TMT

"By the end of the first semester, Onion Sam had turned the old run-down schoolhouse into a well-crafted, freshly painted jewel of a building that the whole town was proud of." (page 110)

It amazes me that at one moment the townspeolpe were so grateful to Sam, and then in an instance they destroy the school and murder him and Mary Lou because he is seen kissing Kate.  I think that his story is a realistic depiction of what life was like between the two races during that time.

Zero times 100- KLW

Stanley watched him write it over and over again. Zero Zero Zero Zero Zero Zero Zero... In a way, it made him sad. He couldn't help but think that a hundred times zero was still nothing. (pg 119)

This passage really helped me realize that as society (teachers, peers, etc.) tells each of us what we are worth and who we are, over and over again, that is what we let ourselves become. This passage is sad, but a great illustration of something that we face all the time. The literal and symbolic meaning is so significant. 

Hard Heart -KLW

"You don't have to teach me to write," said Zero. "Just to read. I don't have anybody to write to." "Sorry," Stanley said again. His muscles and hands weren't the only parts of his body that had toughened over the past several weeks. His heart had hardened as well. 

I thought this was a very unique and illustrative way for the author to explain the changes that had been happening to Stanley since he had been at Camp Green Lake. It also broke my heart for Zero, a quite little boy who is reaching out for help.  

Zero's Mom - JLW

On the last page of the book, p.233 it reads,

"A woman sitting inthe chair behind Hector was absentmindedly fluffing his hair with her fingers.  She wasn't very old, but her skin had a weathered look to it, almost lide leather.  Her eyes seemed weary, as if she'd seen too many things in her life that she didn't want to see.  And when she smiled, her mouth seemed too big for her face."

I think this is Zero's (Hector's) mother.  I think with the money that Stanley's family had, they were able to find Zero's mom and help support her and Zero.  The passage says that she had seen many things she didn't what to.  I think this means she has struggled so much to support herself that she did things she regreted in order to stay alive.  But now she is happy to be back with her son. 

Holes and Race -- RLH

Upon reflection of Holes, I realize that there are several underlying themes that could be discussed in the classroom.  In several instances, race becomes an issue at Camp Green Lake.  Sachar even goes as far as pointing out the ethnicity of each member of Green  Lake, which really took me off-guard.  In this day and age, you would think that race would no longer be an issue but I suppose in some environments that is not true.  I think this will be good for students who attend schools that do not have a diverse population because they may not be aware of how some are mistreated.  I found Sam's story especially tragic; he and his beloved onion-eating mule were murdered because of who he loved.  I was surprised that this book would have such a powerful message behind it but I have to say that I am glad to see this issue treated so candidly and honestly.

Holes - MIW

p. 230   But it would be boring to go through all the tedious details of all the changes in their lives.  Instead, the reader will be presented with one last scene, which took place almost a year and a half after Stanley and Hector left Camp Green Lake. 

You will have to fill in the holes yourself.

I loved this passage in the book!  It was probably my favorite paragraph because it wraps everything in the book up by using the title and making a play on words.  We read this whole book to see what would happen with Stanley, yet we have to fill the holes ourselves.  This author is so incredibly creative!

Stanley's Letter From Mom - MIW

Dear Stanley,

It was wonderful to hear from you.  Your letter made me feel like one of the other moms who can afford to send their kids to summer camp.  I know it's not the same, but I am very proud of you for trying to make the best of a bad situation.  Who knows?  Maybe something good will come of this. 

Your father thinks he is real close to a breakthrough on his sneaker project.  I hope so.  The landlord is threatening to evict us because of the odor. 

I feel sorry for the little old lady who lived in a shoe.  It must have smelled awful!

Love from both of us,

I thought that this passage was very insightful to Stanley's relationship with his mother.  She never flat out said it, but she knew that Camp Green Lake was not how Stanley described it in his first letter.  She seems very supportive of both Stanley and his father, as well as very optimistic that something will come of the sneaker recycling business.  When she said that something good may come of this, it may be the author providing foreshadowing something that will happen in this story. 

Pig Latin - TMT

I believe that the following passage is interesting:

"You're new here, right?"  said X-Ray.  "I've been here for almost a year.  I've never found anything.  You know, my eyesight's not so good.  No one knows this, but you know why my name's X-Ray?"

Stanley shrugged one shoulder.

"It's pig latin for Rex. That's all.  I'm too blind to find anything.  (Pages 52-53)

I think that this passage can lead to a discussion about the use of these words in pig latin, in the classroom.  I have no clue how it's used.  What do you think?

 

Stanley's great-great-grandfather ??? - JLW

I am confused on the bottom of p.28.   Stanley's great-great-grandfather was named Elya Yenats.  He was born in Latvia.  When he was fifteen years old he fell in love with Myra Menke.(He didn't know he was Stanley's great-great-grandfather.) What does the part in parethesis mean?  Who is he?  Stanley?

Bad Teacher!!! RLH

Poor Stanely!  When I read the paragraph on page 7 about how his teacher used him in a ratio lesson as the "heaviest kid" I couldn't believe it!  Unfortunately, I have heard of real-life teachers that thought lessons like this were a good idea.  Yuck!