Chapter 28

Holes

Trailblazers · 4th–6th

Copywork

She walked one way, then the other, until her feet were black and blistered. Whenever she stopped, Linda whacked her with the shovel.

Read the passage aloud. What do the words "one way, then the other" make you picture?

Discussion

Narration Tell back what happens in this chapter, from Kate's return to Green Lake to the last thing she does.

1. Kate says, “There is no loot,” and later says Trout will never find it. What do you think she is doing?Inference

2. Kate says, “Oh, Linda, I’m so sorry,” then later tells her and Trout, “Start digging.” How can she feel both ways?Character

3. Linda says, “We’re desperate.” Does being desperate excuse what she and Trout do to Kate?Moral reasoning

4. Kate says, “I know it is hot, but I feel so very cold.” How does that line change the way we see this hot, empty place?Tone

5. The chapter ends with “Kate Barlow died laughing.” Why might the author end on those words?Author's choice

Make a Connection Tell about a story you know where a character is not afraid of a threat. Why was the threat weak?

Vocabulary

Crossword

1	2		3	4

					5	6
					7

		8




		9

Across

Across 1. Covered with sore, raised bubbles of skin.
Across 7. Left empty and no longer used.
Across 8. A long time with no rain.
Across 9. Hit hard.

Down

Down 2. Thin, messy and uneven.
Down 3. So much in need that you will try anything.
Down 4. Searching by moving things around roughly.
Down 5. A large, empty place where nothing grows.
Down 6. Poked hard with something pointed.

The words in the chapter

blistered until her feet were black and blistered
whacked Linda whacked her with the shovel
desperate We’re desperate.
drought The drought can’t last forever.
rummaging Kate could see her rummaging through the cabin

wasteland It’s a big vast wasteland out there.
scraggly her hair was dirty and scraggly
abandoned an old abandoned cabin
jabbed Trout jabbed her throat with the rifle.

Critical thinking

1. Linda says that by the time they are finished, Kate will wish she were dead. Using two pieces of evidence, explain how Kate answers that.

2. Trout and Linda both try to stop the lizard, and both miss. Using two pieces of evidence, explain what that moment shows about how their plan is going.

3. Kate remembers Linda Miller as a girl with beautiful red hair. Using two pieces of evidence, explain what has happened to Linda since then.