Upon completing Holes, I concluded that it was a highly motivating folklore with numerous conundrums that ultimately intertwined. I appreciated Sachar's themes as they encompassed the values shared by several primary students, including the yearning to blend in, assigning nicknames to one's closest pals, and opening up about one's personal history without fear of criticism. These are the primary principles I observed among the camaraderie at Camp Green Lake, especially apparent in Stanley's desire to fit in with the rest.
During his time in middle school, being a heavier boy made him a target of bullying from classmates and even some teachers, like Mrs. Bell who chose to use his weight as an example in her lesson on ratios. On his final day of school, she had him weigh himself along with the lightest student in the class.<
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Mrs. Bell wrote the ratio 3:1 on the board, causing embarrassment for both Stanley and the other boy, as Stanley weighed three times more than him. Stanley comes from a poor family and is not popular in his neighborhood. He discovers that none of the other campers had many friends either.
During camp, Stanley forms a genuine friendship with a fellow camper named Zero, and they become inseparable by the end of their time together. The boys at camp have created nicknames for themselves and others, including Stanley, who receives one upon his arrival. The boys' nicknames are often based on their crimes, actions at camp, or physical appearance. Although Stanley only refers to the boys by their nicknames, the mother figure in charge of the camp, Mr. Pendanski, introduces them by their real names.
The boys at Cam
Green Lake had various nicknames, including Squid for Alan, X-Ray for Ray due to his glasses, Barf Bag for Lewis for his constant vomiting in his bed which was now occupied by Stanley, Armpit for Theodore, Magnet for Jose, Zig Zag for Ricky based on his distinctive gait, Hector Zeroni from Zero's last name, and Caveman for Stanley because of his size. Stanley was pleased to receive his nickname after finishing digging his first hole because it showed he was part of the group. As he began to fit in with the other boys, he became friends with Zero and taught him how to read and write since Zero had little education. In exchange, Zero offered to dig Stanley's hole for an hour each day despite objections from some of the other boys.
Stanley and Zero became inseparable after Zero fled camp to the desert for being accused of digging Stanley's hole, hitting Mr. Pendanski with a shovel, and being ridiculed for incompetence. Stanley was compelled to steal the water truck and go after Zero in the desert, which marked a pivotal moment in the story. In doing so, he risked getting into trouble but chose to embark on a search for his friend. Once Stanley found Zero, their friendship became more profound as they had to rely on each other for survival.
While climbing up Big Thumb, the mysteries that have been told begin to unravel, particularly as Stanley and Zero support each other through little events that demonstrate their loyalty to one another. In a steep section, Zero is the first to climb and holds onto the shovel's metal blade so that Stanley
can ascend. Despite deep gashes in his hands, he persists. "Zero had deep gashes in both hands. He had held on to the metal blade of the shovel, keeping it in place, as Stanley climbed" (166). However, Zero experiences attacks due to a lack of water and food, causing Stanley to carry him to the summit of Big Thumb.
Upon arriving there, they took the opportunity to share water and onions as a source of strength, in a similar fashion to Stanley's great-grandfather. Zero's admission, "It's all my fault," (175) allowed Stanley to realize his innocence, with Zero being the one responsible for taking the shoes from the shelter. Despite this realization, the boys remained united and returned to the camp where they sought refuge in one of the holes. They waited until everyone was asleep, enabling them to resume digging Stanley's hole where he had previously discovered the lipstick tube.
Upon being discovered by the warden at Camp Green Lake, Stanley and Zero were surrounded by lizards and their return was witnessed by all the boys at camp. Despite this, the two friends remained loyal to each other throughout their trials. Familiar with the old generational song, they eventually uncovered the mysteries of Sam, Kate Barlow, and the warden at the conclusion of this tale. After carrying Zero up the mountain, Camp Green Lake was closed and transformed into a Girl Scout Camp. As a result of their adventure, Stanley and Zero became wealthy. Clyde Livingston's advertisement for Stanley's father's new product, designed to combat foot odor, tied everything together. Not only did both boys grow in character and self-confidence, but they also acquired an
even closer bond as best friends.
Scholastic Incorporated published Sachar's book "Holes" in 1998.
