Holes
Chapter 13 — Teaching Companion
Louis Sachar · Trailblazers 4th–6th
Coaching, not a script — and not an answer key: every question here has more than one defensible answer.
This chapter's big question
Stanley keeps his promise to X-Ray and hands over the tube, but he also persuades X-Ray to wait until tomorrow. Is Stanley being loyal, clever, or both?
The tension Stanley wants a day off for himself, yet he walks the tube to X-Ray anyway, and then moves his advice just far enough that the best of the day goes to X-Ray.
Today's focus
Notice what Stanley does with the tube, what he says about it, and what he tells himself while he decides.
Two core ideas
- Stanley finds a gold tube with a design engraved on it and weighs a promise to X-Ray against his own wish for a day off.
- He gives the tube to X-Ray and advises him to wait until tomorrow to show it, and then moves up one place in line.
The shape at a glance
Days of digging run together for Stanley. In his latest hole he sees something glisten, climbs out, and finds a gold tube with a heart and the letters K B on it. He thinks of ways to avoid giving it to X-Ray, but when Zigzag asks what he has, he brings it to X-Ray and advises him to wait until tomorrow. The chapter ends with Stanley moving up one place in the line.
A way in
Start with the promise: Stanley said he would give X-Ray anything he found. Ask the student what a promise like that costs once he has something worth keeping.
Lesson plan
Retell The student tells the chapter back in order: the days of digging, the cloud, the glisten, the gold tube, Stanley's thoughts, showing it to X-Ray, and the line at the water truck.
Imitate the author After copying the passage, the student writes three short sentences in the same pattern: one repeated action, then two sentences about what that action has changed.
Debate Take sides on the big question: is Stanley being loyal, clever, or both? Each side must use one quote from the chapter.
Purpose Close by asking why an author might end a chapter about a find with a boy's place in a line.
Easier Read the section where Stanley decides what to do with the tube aloud together and talk through discussion questions 2 and 4 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 Stanley says one thing and thinks another, and to add it to a critical-thinking answer.
Discussion
- The line “He dug his shovel into the dirt” returns several times in the opening. Why might the author repeat it?Author's choice
What it asks It asks why the author repeats a plain sentence, and what the repeating does to the way time feels.
One reading
The repeating makes the days feel endless, as they do to Stanley.
After a while he’d lost track of the day of the week, and how many holes he’d dug.
It all seemed like one big hole
Another reading
The repeating makes the reader feel the effort, one shovelful after another.
He dug his shovel into the dirt.
His skin had gotten tougher.
Listen for
- Reads the repeated line aloud and says how it sounds.
- Says what the repeating shows about Stanley's days.
If stuck
- How many times does the line come back in the first part of the chapter?
- What does Stanley say about the days and the holes?
- What happens in between the repeats?
A strong answer The same plain line comes back between Stanley's thoughts, and the sound of it is like the digging itself: one shovelful, then another. It matches how Stanley feels, since the days run together into one big hole. A strong answer reads the line aloud, says what the repeating does, and points to a place between the repeats where something changes.
- Stanley decides it isn't worth climbing out of his hole to check what he saw glisten, then does it anyway. What changed his mind?Character
What it asks It asks what pulls Stanley out of his hole after he decides not to go, and what that shows about him.
One reading
Curiosity is stronger than his reasons: he cannot leave it alone.
His curiosity had gotten the better of him.
Stanley stared at the pile a moment, unsure if he’d even seen it.
Another reading
He still hopes for a day off, and the promise has not quite killed that hope.
He wanted a day off.
He’d promised to give anything he found to X-Ray.
Listen for
- Says what Stanley decided and what he did instead.
- Names a reason that is not given by the chapter directly.
If stuck
- What does Stanley first tell himself about checking the pile?
- What does the chapter say got the better of him?
- What is Stanley still hoping for?
A strong answer Stanley first tells himself it is not worth the effort, since he has promised anything he finds to X-Ray. Then his curiosity gets the better of him, and the chapter says so plainly. A reader can also see that a small hope of a day off is still alive in him. A strong answer picks curiosity, hope or both and points to the words.
- Stanley says the tube is “prob’ly just a piece of junk” and does not mention the engraved design. Why might he hide it?Inference
What it asks It asks why Stanley downplays what he found, using his thoughts about X-Ray and the day off.
One reading
He wants to keep a thing that matters to him, or that he is unsure of, to himself.
He looked at it again. It looked familiar.
He decided not to mention the engraved design.
Another reading
He is hoping X-Ray will not think it is worth a day off, so Stanley can find some other way.
He tried to figure out some way that he wouldn’t have to give it to X-Ray.
It’s prob’ly just a piece of junk
Listen for
- Says what Stanley is protecting.
- Notices that he said it was a shotgun shell to agree with Squid.
If stuck
- What does Stanley notice about the tube that the others do not?
- What does he say to Squid about the shell?
- What does he think about X-Ray's eyes?
A strong answer Stanley notices the heart and the letters, thinks the tube looks familiar, and says nothing, so he may be hiding something he cares about or does not understand. He has also tried to find a way not to give it up, and calling it junk fits that. The chapter does not say which reason is the real one, and a strong answer admits that and uses his words.
- Stanley says it would be better for X-Ray to wait until tomorrow to show the tube. Why might he give that advice?Moral reasoning
What it asks It asks the student to judge Stanley's advice: helpful, self-serving, or an honest bit of good sense.
One reading
It is good advice: a whole day off is worth more than an hour or two.
Then you can get the whole day off, instead of just an hour or so this afternoon.
Your hole’s almost finished
Another reading
It is partly for himself: the delay keeps Stanley from having to hand over the tube too soon, and it keeps him in X-Ray's favor.
“Good thinking, Caveman.”
Stanley moved up one place in line.
Listen for
- Names what X-Ray gains and what Stanley gains.
- Gives a reason using Stanley's own thoughts about the hour left.
If stuck
- How much of the day is left when Stanley speaks?
- What does X-Ray say in reply?
- What changes about Stanley's place in line?
A strong answer Stanley's reason is plain: with only an hour or so left, X-Ray would get little from the day off, and waiting would give him a whole day. That is good advice. It also earns Stanley X-Ray's praise and a better place in line, so he may gain too. A strong answer says whether it is kind, self-serving or both, and uses one fact on each side.
- Stanley moves up one place in line at the end. Why might the author end the chapter on such a small change?Plot structure
What it asks It asks why a chapter about a gold tube ends with a place in line, and what the small change shows about the group.
One reading
It shows that the day's choice paid off in standing, even if not in a day off.
X-Ray told him to get behind Magnet, in front of Zero.
Stanley moved up one place in line.
Another reading
It shows that where a boy stands matters to the boys, and that X-Ray is the one who decides.
Stanley started to take his place at the end of the line, but X-Ray told him to get behind Magnet, in front of Zero.
Listen for
- Says who decides where Stanley stands.
- Says what the change shows about Stanley.
If stuck
- Where did Stanley stand in the line before?
- Who tells him where to stand?
- Who decides where Stanley stands this time?
A strong answer Stanley starts to take his place at the end of the line, but X-Ray tells him to stand behind Magnet, so X-Ray is the one who gives him the new place. The chapter has been about a tube and a promise, and ending on the line shows what the promise got him. A strong answer says what the line means and points to the change.
Critical thinking
- Stanley thinks about taking the tube straight to the Warden and decides against it. Using two pieces of evidence, explain why.
What it asks It asks the student to find Stanley's reasons for staying away from the Warden, and to see how they weigh on each other.
One reading
He is afraid of the Warden and would rather never meet.
The place scared him.
If he could go his entire year and a half without seeing the Warden, that would be fine with him.
Another reading
He is not sure the Warden would care about the tube at all.
Besides, he didn’t know if the Warden would find the tube “interesting.”
Listen for
- Two separate pieces of evidence, not one told twice.
- Says which reason seems stronger and why.
If stuck
- What does the chapter say about the cabin under the two oak trees?
- How long has Stanley been at the camp, and has he seen the Warden?
- Does Stanley think the Warden would find the tube interesting?
A strong answer One reason is fear: the place scared him, and he would be glad to go his whole time without seeing the Warden. The other is doubt, since he is not sure the Warden would find the tube interesting. A strong answer uses two different pieces of evidence and says which reason would be enough on its own.
- The cloud that Stanley and the boys watch all day only teases them. Using two pieces of evidence, explain what the cloud shows about how the boys feel.
What it asks It asks the student to read the boys' feelings from what they do about one small cloud.
One reading
It shows how badly they want relief from the sun.
He and the other boys had been watching it all day, hoping it would move in front of the sun.
It was the first cloud he could remember seeing since coming to Camp Green Lake.
Another reading
It shows how easily hope lets them down, since the cloud only teases.
Occasionally it got close, but it was just teasing them.
which was close enough to the sun that he had to squint to look at it
Listen for
- Two separate pieces of evidence, not one told twice.
- Says what a small hope can do to a boy in a place like this.
If stuck
- How long have the boys been watching the cloud?
- What do they hope it will do?
- What does it do instead?
A strong answer The boys watch the cloud all day, hoping it will cross the sun, which shows how much they want relief. The cloud comes close and does not help, and the narrator says it is only teasing them. A strong answer uses two pieces of evidence and says what a tiny hope can do to someone who has little else.
- Stanley imagines the Warden making up an excuse so X-Ray won't suspect. Using two pieces of evidence, explain what that plan shows about Stanley.
What it asks It asks what Stanley's secret plan shows: cleverness, worry about X-Ray, or both.
One reading
It shows he is afraid of X-Ray's reaction and works hard to protect himself.
so X-Ray wouldn’t suspect
He’d promised to give anything he found to X-Ray.
Another reading
It shows he can think up ways around a problem, even a long shot.
He tried to figure out some way that he wouldn’t have to give it to X-Ray.
the Warden might make up an excuse for giving him the day off
Listen for
- Two separate pieces of evidence, not one told twice.
- Says what the plan assumes about the Warden, and whether it is likely.
If stuck
- What did Stanley promise X-Ray?
- What does Stanley hope the Warden would do?
- What does the chapter say about Stanley and the Warden so far?
A strong answer The plan shows that Stanley is afraid of what X-Ray might think, since the whole thing is built so X-Ray will not suspect. It also shows a mind that looks for a way around, though the plan depends on a Warden he has never met. A strong answer picks a reading, uses two pieces of evidence, and says how likely the plan seems.