Chapter 43

Holes

Trailblazers · 4th–6th

Copywork

“I’m just drinking so you will,” said Zero. They clinked the jars together and, each watching the other, poured the water into their stubborn mouths.

Read the passage aloud. What does the phrase “each watching the other” add to the second sentence?

Discussion

Narration Tell back what happens in this chapter, from Zero's yellow room to the two boys waiting in holes near the camp.

1. Zero remembers a yellow room and his mother singing to him, but not why they left. Why might he hold on to those pieces?Inference

2. A girl asks Zero to play at the party. He wanted to, but didn’t. Why might he have said no?Character

3. Stanley follows Zero's diagram though it does not feel right to him. Was that wise?Moral reasoning

4. After Stanley's fall, Zero jokes, “Glad you didn’t do that when you were carrying me.” What does the joke show about the two boys?Tone

5. Stanley cannot bring back his feeling of destiny at first. Later, when a cloud covers the sun, he feels it again. What does that tell us about how he finds it?Theme

Make a Connection Tell about a time you had to wait a long time for someone or something. How did the waiting feel?

Vocabulary

Crossword

1

2

3		4

5			6





	7

Across

Across 1. Struck together with a light ringing sound.
Across 2. Not willing to give way.
Across 3. A contest to see who can do something.
Across 5. A simple drawing that shows how things fit.
Across 7. Empty-sounding, as if nothing were inside.

Down

Down 4. To make less heavy.
Down 6. Suddenly and without warning.

The words in the chapter

clinked They clinked the jars together
stubborn poured the water into their stubborn mouths
challenge it had become a kind of challenge between him and Zero
lighten it will lighten your load
diagram Zero drew a diagram in the dirt.

hollow His voice sounded suddenly hollow.
abruptly Zero said, stopping abruptly
adjacent They climbed down into adjacent holes
summoned summoned his courage, and continued

Define These Words

adjacent: Right next to each other.
summoned: Called up from inside.

Critical thinking

1. Zero says he is not thirsty and gives Stanley a reason to drink. Using two pieces of evidence, explain how Zero tries to get Stanley to drink.

2. Zero says his mother told him where to wait. Using two pieces of evidence, explain how the waiting changed as he got older.

3. Stanley listens to Zero's story about his mother. Using two pieces of evidence, explain what Stanley understands about Zero.