Chapter 11

Holes

Trailblazers · 4th–6th

Copywork

If he was 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.

Read the passage aloud. Which two things is Stanley comparing, and which one does the sentence save for last?

Discussion

Narration Tell back what happens after Stanley returns to his hole: X-Ray's visit, what he asks for, and what Stanley thinks about while he digs.

1. X-Ray asks for anything Stanley finds, and says his own eyesight is bad. What do you make of how X-Ray asks?Character

2. Armpit is the biggest and Zigzag the tallest, yet they do what X-Ray asks. Why might they follow him?Inference

3. X-Ray says it would only be fair for him to get a day off before Stanley does. What would make that fair or unfair?Moral reasoning

4. Stanley is glad they call him Caveman, and would be glad even of Barf Bag. What do you hear in that?Tone

5. Stanley says only “I guess” to X-Ray, but the author tells us much more of what he thinks. Why might the author share his thoughts?Author's choice

Make a Connection Tell about a time you went along with something so a group would accept you. How did you feel afterward?

Vocabulary

Crossword

1		2		3



4

	5

			6

7

	8

		9

Across

Across 1. To stay alive through danger or hardship.
Across 4. Without doubt; plainly.
Across 5. Worth noticing; surprising.
Across 7. In a way anyone can see.
Across 8. Pain or hardship.
Across 9. Pleased with oneself in an annoying way.

Down

Down 2. Mattering a great deal.
Down 3. Welcomed as one of a group.
Down 6. Ready to do something.

The words in the chapter

survive If he was 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.
important it was far more important that X-Ray think he was a good guy than it was for him to get one day off
clearly X-Ray was clearly the leader of the group
obviously since he obviously wasn’t the biggest or the toughest
remarkable It was really quite remarkable to him.

accepted It meant they accepted him as a member of the group.
willing seemed to be willing to do whatever X-Ray asked of them
smug as he slams his hands into Derrick Dunne’s smug face
suffering It helped him dig his hole and ease his own suffering.

Critical thinking

1. Stanley tells himself he does not expect to find anything else. Using two pieces of evidence, explain how sure he can be.

2. Stanley imagines the boys beating up Derrick Dunne, and the daydream is written in the present tense. Using two pieces of evidence, explain what the daydream does for him.

3. The chapter opens with “It wasn’t fair” and ends with Stanley daydreaming. Using two pieces of evidence, explain whether his anger goes away.