Chapter 5

Holes

Trailblazers · 4th–6th

Copywork

“I want you to know, Stanley, that I respect you,” Mr. Pendanski said. “I understand you’ve made some bad mistakes in your life.

Read the passage aloud. What does the opening “I want you to know” do before the counselor says anything else?

Discussion

Narration Tell back what happens from the moment Stanley is shown to D tent to the moment he walks away from Armpit, in order.

1. Mr. Pendanski says Mr. Sir “isn’t really so bad” and that the Warden is the one to worry about. How might that change how Stanley feels about the camp?Inference

2. Stanley decides it is pointless to tell Mr. Pendanski he is innocent, because everyone probably says that. Was keeping quiet wise or a mistake?Moral reasoning

3. Mr. Pendanski prefers the boys' real names, but Squid and X-Ray correct him. Why might the boys hold on to their nicknames?Character

4. Mr. Pendanski smiles and shakes Zero's shoulder as he says there is “nothing inside his head.” What does the smile do to those words?Tone

5. The chapter ends with Stanley wondering if “Armpit” could be “a term of respect.” Why might the author end on his guess?Author's choice

Make a Connection Tell about a nickname you know of, a person's or a pet's. How did it start, and how does it feel to the one who has it?

Vocabulary

Crossword

1
		2
3			4
	5
6
	7

Across

Across 1. To think well of someone and treat them with honor.
Across 3. Wrong things done by accident or poor choice.
Across 4. In a tired way.
Across 6. Having no use or purpose.
Across 7. Clean and free of germs.

Down

Down 2. Very badly frightened.
Down 4. Spun around quickly.
Down 5. Given a place or a job by someone in charge.
Down 6. Especially; more than usual.

The words in the chapter

respect “I want you to know, Stanley, that I respect you,” Mr. Pendanski said.
mistakes “I understand you’ve made some bad mistakes in your life.
wearily The boys glanced wearily at Stanley.
pointless It seemed pointless to try and tell his counselor that he was innocent.
assigned Stanley was assigned to D tent.

particularly He wasn’t particularly thrilled about sleeping in the same cot
sanitary complain about the need to keep their “home” sanitary
whirled Theodore whirled and grabbed Stanley by his collar.
terrified Stanley stared up at him, terrified.

Critical thinking

1. Armpit grabs Stanley and throws him down when Stanley calls him Theodore. Using two pieces of evidence, explain why Armpit might react so strongly.

2. When a boy calls him “Mom,” Mr. Pendanski answers, “go ahead and call me Mom.” Using two pieces of evidence, explain why he answers that way.

3. Mr. Pendanski tells Stanley, “I understand you’ve made some bad mistakes.” Using two pieces of evidence, explain whether Stanley should trust Mr. Pendanski by the end of the chapter.