Print at 100% scale on letter paper, with no added margins.
Holes
Trailblazers · 4th–6th
When Zero says “I like to dig holes,” is he telling the plain truth, or answering Mr. Pendanski back?
The tension Mr. Pendanski asks each boy what he likes in a friendly circle, but he asks Zero right after calling him not completely worthless, and Zero answers after his smile is gone and his mouth is shut tight.
Notice what Mr. Pendanski says to each boy, how each boy answers, and what happens to Zero's face.
Stanley comes back from his second hole to find the boys in a circle with Mr. Pendanski, who asks what each of them wants to do with his life. Magnet names animals, the boys suggest jobs, and X-Ray laughs. Mr. Pendanski then singles out Stanley and Zero. The chapter ends with Zero's one-line answer.
Start with Zero's smile. Ask the student what the author wants the reader to notice about it before Mr. Pendanski speaks to him.
Retell The student tells the chapter back in order: Stanley's return, the circle, Magnet's turn, X-Ray's laugh, Mr. Pendanski singling out Stanley, Zero's smile and what happens to it, and Zero's answer.
Imitate the author After copying the passage, the student writes two sentences in the same pattern: how a person usually looks, then how they look in one surprising moment.
Debate Take sides on the big question: when Zero says what he likes, is he telling the plain truth, or answering Mr. Pendanski back? Each side must use one quote from the chapter.
Purpose Close by asking why an author might end a chapter on one short line from a boy who has not spoken all chapter.
Easier Read the circle scene aloud together and talk through discussion questions 1 and 3 only.
On level Talk through all five discussion questions, then have the student write one critical-thinking answer with two pieces of evidence from the chapter.
Harder Ask the student to find one more place where a character's face or body says something different from his words, and to add it to a critical-thinking answer.
1. X-Ray laughs at the idea of Magnet training monkeys. Is X-Ray being cruel, honest, or both?Moral reasoning
What it asks It asks the student to judge a laugh at someone's dream, and whether telling the truth can still be unkind.
He is cruel: he laughs at a boy who has just said what he likes, and Mr. Pendanski tells him to stop.
“Don’t laugh, Rex,” said Mr. Pendanski.
We don’t laugh at people’s dreams.
He is honest: he says what he thinks is likely, and Mr. Pendanski himself admits it will not be easy.
Magnet’s never going to be a monkey trainer.
I’m not saying it’s going to be easy.
A strong answer X-Ray laughs right after Magnet names a dream, and Mr. Pendanski says they do not laugh at people's dreams, so the laugh can fairly be called unkind. But X-Ray also says Magnet is never going to be a monkey trainer, and Mr. Pendanski admits nothing in life is easy, so there is some honesty in it. A strong answer says what it would take to be honest without being cruel.
2. Magnet answers “I don’t know” twice before he says he likes animals. What might make a boy answer that way?Inference
What it asks It asks why a boy might not name something he likes at first, and what the chapter shows about how Magnet handles the question.
He has never been asked, so he truly has no answer ready.
You need to think about that
“I don’t know,” said Magnet.
He is guarding himself: a joke or a shrug is safer than a real answer in front of the group.
“Hey, that’s great, Mom!” said Magnet. “They’re going to finally let you out of here?”
The other boys laughed.
A strong answer Magnet may truly not know, since Mr. Pendanski tells him he needs to think about it. But he also jokes with the group before he is asked, and the boys laugh at the joke and at his answer, so a shrug may feel safer than a real answer. A strong answer picks a reason, uses one of Magnet's lines, and admits the chapter does not say which is true.
3. Mr. Pendanski tells Zero, “You’re not completely worthless.” How might Zero hear those words?Tone
What it asks It asks the student to hear one sentence two ways, as a kind word or as a put-down, and to say which fits the scene better.
Zero might hear encouragement: Mr. Pendanski has just said every boy has something to offer.
You’re all special in your own way
You’ve all got something to offer.
Zero might hear an insult: the word worthless is hard to hear, and the smile leaves his face.
Even you, Zero. You’re not completely worthless.
The smile was now gone from Zero’s face.
A strong answer Mr. Pendanski has just said every boy is special and has something to offer, so the sentence may be meant as encouragement. But the word worthless is harsh, and the words not completely make it sound like a small allowance, and Zero's smile leaves right afterward. A strong answer says how Zero might hear it and points to the words and to his face.
4. Why might the author let Zero smile just before Mr. Pendanski speaks to him?Author's choice
What it asks It asks what the smile does for the reader, and why it comes before the harder moment instead of after it.
It sets up a contrast, so the smile's leaving is felt.
Even Zero smiled.
The smile was now gone from Zero’s face.
It makes the reader notice Zero, since a boy who usually looks angry has just joined in.
It was the first time Stanley had ever seen Zero smile.
He usually had such an angry expression on his face.
A strong answer The smile comes at the one moment the whole circle laughs together, and the chapter calls it the first time Stanley has seen Zero smile. Because the reader has seen it, the moment it is gone is clearer. A strong answer says what the smile does for the reader and points to both lines.
5. Mr. Pendanski says it is up to each boy to fix his own life. Where does that sound true, and where might it be too simple?Theme
What it asks It asks the student to test a big claim about responsibility against what the boys in the circle can actually do.
It sounds true: a person has to do his own changing, and effort can surprise him.
You messed up your life, and it’s up to you to fix it.
You’ll be surprised what you can accomplish if you set your mind to it.
It sounds too simple: the boys cannot choose their dreams freely here, and one is afraid to say his.
He used to think he wanted to work for the F.B.I., but this didn’t seem the appropriate place to mention that.
Otherwise you’re going to end up right back in jail.
A strong answer Mr. Pendanski says a boy has to fix his own life and that he can accomplish more than he expects, and part of that is plainly true: nobody can do his changing for him. But the boys have little room to follow a dream here, and Stanley decides the circle is not the place to mention his own. A strong answer says where it agrees and where it doubts, and uses one line from each.
1. Stanley decides the circle is not the place to mention wanting to work for the F.B.I. Using two pieces of evidence, explain what makes the circle a hard place to share a dream.
What it asks It asks the student to find what in the circle makes Stanley keep a dream to himself.
The boys laugh at dreams, so he risks being laughed at.
X-Ray laughed.
He belongs in the zoo
Mr. Pendanski's talk of goals comes with blame, so a dream might be turned against him.
So far you’ve all done a pretty good job at messing up your lives
Otherwise you’re going to end up right back in jail.
A strong answer One reason is the laughing: X-Ray laughs at Magnet's idea and Squid says Magnet belongs in the zoo, so a dream can become a joke. Another is that Mr. Pendanski's talk of goals comes with blame, since he says they have all messed up their lives. A strong answer uses two different pieces of evidence and says what Stanley would risk by speaking.
2. Magnet picks Stanley's idea of animal trainer over the others. Using two pieces of evidence, explain why that idea might appeal to him.
What it asks It asks why one suggestion is chosen from several, using what Magnet says and what the other boys suggested.
It fits what he likes and sounds like fun.
I like animals
I think it would be fun to train monkeys.
The other ideas came with jokes or little room for him, while this one did not.
He could work in a zoo
He belongs in the zoo
A strong answer Stanley's idea matches what Magnet said he likes, animals, and Magnet says it would be fun to train monkeys. The other ideas, such as a zoo job, were followed by a joke that Magnet belongs in the zoo, so Stanley's may feel safer to choose. A strong answer uses two pieces of evidence and explains why the idea seems to fit him.
3. Mr. Pendanski singles out Stanley: “So you’re Caveman, now, huh?” Using two pieces of evidence, explain what Mr. Pendanski seems to want to do.
What it asks It asks what Mr. Pendanski is after when he turns on Stanley: to put him in his place, or to teach him something.
He wants to take Stanley down a peg, since he knows the nickname pleases him.
I know you think you’re cool.
You like digging holes, Caveman?
He wants to teach Stanley that he is responsible for where he is.
That person is you, Stanley.
You messed up your life, and it’s up to you to fix it.
A strong answer The way he says Caveman, with a sly huh, sounds like a teacher putting a boy in his place, and he adds that he knows the boys think they are cool. But he also tells Stanley that the reason he is here is himself and that it is up to him to fix it, which sounds like a lesson. A strong answer picks one or holds both, using two pieces of evidence.