Holes

Journey up the Mountain-TMT

From page 160 to 172, Louis Sachar discusses Stanley and Zero's journey to God's Thumb. They begin their journey after consuming the sploosh. As they walk, they decide to climb the ledges alongside of the cliff. Zero becomes sick and passes out. Stanley has to carry Zero up the mountain in search for water.  It is during this time that Stanley realizes that he is now able to do things that he never believed he could do before coming to Camp Green Lake.

The section really shows Stanley's maturity.

Tracking Past and Present- KLW

In chapter 23 the author starts filling in the stories holes by providing some background. He tells of Green Lake 110 years ago and introduces the only school teacher in town, Katherine Barlow. In chapter 24 Louis Sachar jumps back to the present day when Mr. Sir is punishing Stanley with no water for the mishap he caused with the Warden. Chapter 25 continues the legend of Kissin' Kate.

The author does a great job of infusing the past with the present to keep the book interesting while adding layers to its meaning.

The Sunflower Seed Catastrophe- KLW

While Stanley takes the blame for Magnet's "sticky fingers," the action of the story takes off. Mr. Sir comes back to investigate the missing sunflower seeds (pg 84). Stanley gets caught with the burlap bag in his hand and takes the blame once again for his fellow campers. He is escorted off  in the watertruck (pg 87). Mr. Sir and Stanley report to the Warden in her nice, air conditioned cabin (pg 88). She tortures the two of them and then lets Stanley return to his hole after she makes her point about not disturbing her, making an example of Mr. Sir and her poisonious nail polish (pg 91).

This is the most action we have seen since Stanley's arrival at Camp Green Lake. Things are getting interesting!    

Travel Tracker to the End -JLW

I am going to track Stanley and Zero's path after they found each other under the boat.  The two boys tried to make it to what Stanley thought was a thumb.  It seemed closer than it was but still the two boys kept going.  When the boys reached the end of the lake, they had to climb up a steep rock wall, as if trying to "climb out of a frying pan."  Once the boys were over the wall, Stanley had to carry Zero up the mountain to where they finally reach the "thumb".  There they found water and onions to eat.  After a few days, they decided they had to return to the camp to find the treasure of Kissin' Kate.  They made if back to the camp were they were caught.  Once the attorney general found Stanley and rescued Zero, they were taken back to Stanley's home where they both lived.

Travel Tracker - MIW

I wanted to track Stanley running away from Camp Green Lake, pgs. 149-159:

1. He left Camp Green Lake after driving the truck into a hole, with his empty canteen, looking for Zero.
2. He was walking in the desert and found a burlap sack with one sunflower seed in it.
3. He kept walking in the desert and saw a mirage.
4. Stanley noticed a large object on the lake, and he walked towards it. He thought it was a pile of dirt or rocks.
5. He turned to a different direction to see what it was, heading away from the Big Thumb.
6. He discovered it was a boat, and the name of it was "Mary Lou."
7. There was someone under the boat, and Stanley discovered it was Zero.
8. He got under the boat with him for shade.
9. Stanley decided he was going to take Zero back to the camp for help because he was sick.

Tracking Stanley.. RLH

I want to track Stanley on the day he was arrested. 

1.  He went to school where he was ridiculed for his weight.

2.  He had to fish his notebook out of the toilet after school.

3.  He missed his bus b/c of #2 and had to walk home.

4.  He was under a bridge when he was hit with the shoes. 

5.  He was arrested carrying the shoes home and brought to the police station.