Chapter 32 · Holes

Copywork

What worried him the most, however, wasn’t that it was too late. What worried him the most, what really ate at his insides, was the fear that it wasn’t too late.

Read the passage aloud. What does the second sentence do with the words of the first?

Discussion

Narration Tell back what happens in this chapter, from Twitch's arrival to the moment Stanley runs.

What worried Stanley most was the fear that it wasn’t too late for Zero. Why would that fear be worse than believing it was? Inference
Twitch was arrested for stealing a car. Stanley climbs into Mr. Sir's truck without asking. Are these the same kind of act? Moral reasoning
Stanley says this time it was “his own fault, one hundred percent.” How is that different from how he used to blame his great-great-grandfather? Character
The words “what if it’s not too late” come back again and again before Stanley moves. What does the repeating do to us? Author's choice
The chapter ends with his canteen being “empty, empty, empty” as he runs. What mood does that ending leave? Tone

Make a Connection Tell about a time you acted fast on a hunch and were not sure if it was wise.

Vocabulary

worried: What worried him the most Troubled by fear that something bad will happen.
fear: was the fear that it wasn’t too late The feeling of being afraid.
vacancies: Vacancies don’t last long at Camp Green Lake. Empty places that are open to be filled.
fidgeting: because he was always fidgeting Moving about restlessly in small ways.
desperately: desperately crawling across the dirt searching for water With great need and little hope.
lurched: The truck lurched forward. Jerked suddenly.
accelerated: tightly gripped the wheel as the truck accelerated Went faster and faster.
lopsided: which stuck lopsided into the ground Leaning to one side.
miserable: his short and miserable life Very unhappy.

Critical thinking

Stanley asks how he could ever find Zero, then thinks of a pickup truck. Using two pieces of evidence, explain how he gets from "too late" to the truck.
Mr. Sir shouts and runs, but at the end he stays where he is. Using two pieces of evidence, explain what Mr. Sir does as Stanley takes the truck.
Stanley tells Twitch, “You get used to it.” Using two pieces of evidence, explain what Stanley has gotten used to and what he has not.