A good children’s book is the one that promises that something will happen. The children read it to see what is due next in the story. A book that has a strong element of suspense early on and continues to maintain it will make the book ‘unputdownable’ for the children.
Holes by Louis Sachar, is one such book. Childhood memories: A cruel and memorable event happened in the life of Stanley. “On his last day of school, his math teacher, Mrs. Bell, taught ratios. As an example, she chose the heaviest kid in the class, and had them weigh themselves.
Stanley weighed three times as much as the other boy.Mrs. Bell wrote the ratio on the board, 3:1, unaware of how much embarrassment she had caused both of them. ”(Sachar, 2000, p.
7)
...The same day he was arrested on a false charge of stealing a famous baseball player's valued sneakers and sent to Camp Green Lake, where the punishment for the internees was peculiar one. Dig a hole every day in the sun to turn one into a good boy. Stanley forgot the circumstances that brought him to the detention centre and quickly assimilated himself in the Camp Green Lake routine; Woke up early in the morning to dig a 5 ft. by 5ft. ole; he was assigned to Group D, Lord of the Flies! Stanley soon realized that holes were not dug to build character.
The warden had a hidden agenda, some specific goals about those holes! Why Stanley is an easy target for bullies. He is an overweight boy. He had no friends in the school and often taunted for no reason b
the classmates and the school bully, Derrick Dunne. Stanley is not a confident boy by nature, but he is not depressed either.
In the Camp also, a tough boy Squid, often taunts and makes fun about Stanley receiving letters from his mother and his deep reverence for her.Stanley replies his mother’s letters promptly. They think that he is a mama’s baby, thumb-sucker etc. Another boy, Armpit pushes Stanley to the floor, when Stanley fails to call him by his pet name. According to Stanley, Zigzag is the cruelest amongst the boys. Once he hits Stanley in the head with a shovel and does not apologize.
How do the guys view Stanley at the end of the novel? By the time that he leaves Camp Green Lake, Stanley has a made a mark. He wields tremendous influence on others. Now everybody knows that he is physically and emotionally strong.On his honorable acquittal from the Court and Camp, Squid feels sorry for his behavior and says that he too loves his mother and requests Stanley to call on her with his apologies.
The school bully Derrick Dunne, also gives testimony that Stanley is innocent of stealing Clyde Livingston’s shoes. How might Stanley be considered a hero? The life the Camp Green Lake was the real test for Stanley’s grit and determination. Gradually, Stanley develops both, physical and personal strength. It is his moral courage that makes him stand up against the most feared Warden.He fights for his own rights and the rights of his friends. He wriggles out of the company of his opportunistic friends to develop a deep friendship with Zero.
They are willing to do
sacrifice for each other. At what point in the novel does Stanley begin feeling that he is a part of the group? Who is the leader? The unofficial head of the group of boys in tent D at the Camp is X-ray. When Stanley began his routine at the camp, along with other boys, Zero, X-Ray, Armpit, Squid, Magnet and Zigzag, he did not feel much inspired.Added to his psychological hurt, X-Ray announces that Stanley will be called a Caveman. When Stanley did something nice to X-ray, he was nice to him, otherwise not.
When Stanley became friend with Zero, X-ray feels that his position is threatened and turns hostile to Stanley. Discussion in the Class: Stanley is not yet another boy who dug holes and returned to his family/school, at the end of his punishment term. The tales of his escapade and rescue of his friend Zero are talk of the town.The entire school is ready to welcome him with open arms, and listen to his adventures in his own words. Many children feel that they too would like to spend a term in the detention camp. Nobody minds about his overweight; much of it has melted anyway.
His muscles are trim due to the hard labor that he put in digging the big holes, under tough conditions. There are thick rumors about the hidden treasure, a suitcase, but nobody, except Zero, his trusted friend knows the complete details. The curse-free Stanley looks radiant and brilliant!
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