Chapter 1
• What do you learn in this chapter about the setting of the story? Based on its name, what would you imagine a place called Camp Green Lake to be like? What is it really like?
Chapter 2
• Do you think it’s true that digging holes can turn a bad person into a good one? What are some other unpleasant things you’ve heard about that are supposed to “build character”?
Chapter 3
• Stanley’s father, an inventor, says, “I learn from failure.” What do you think this means? Have you ever learned from failure?
Chapter 4
• What kind of tattoo does Mr. Sir have? What does this tell you about him?
Chapter 5
• Why do the boys call Mr. Pendanski “Mom”? Does this nickname suit him?
Chapter 6
• Why don’t the boys believe Stanley when he tells them he stole the sneakers?
Chapter 7
• What does Stanley learn from digging his first hole? Why do you think he feels proud when his hole is finished?
Chapter 8
• Do you believe in curses? Why or why not?
Chapter 9
- How do you feel about the nickname X-Ray gives Stanley? Do you have a nickname? If so,
how did you get it?
Chapter 10
• Why do the boys always line up for water in the same order? What’s the significance to this order?
Chapter 11
• What does X-Ray ask Stanley to do? Why does Stanley agree to this? What would you have done?
Chapter 12
• Mr. Pendanski tells Stanley: “You messed up your life, and it’s up to you to fix it.” Do you agree with this?
Chapter 13
• What does Stanley gain when he agrees to help X-Ray? What does he lose?
Chapter 14
• Were you surprised to discover that the Warden is a woman? What else do you find out about the Warden in this chapter?
Chapter 15
• Do you think Zigzag and the other campers are correct in believing that the Warden is always watching them, or are they just being paranoid?
Chapter 16
• Can you think of some reasons why Zero might not be familiar with any nursery rhymes or the show Sesame Street?
Chapter 17
• What does Stanley find out about Zigzag in this chapter?
Chapter 18
• Why do you think Stanley continues lying to his mom and dad in his letters?
Chapter 19
• Why does Stanley tell Mr. Sir that he stole the sunflower seeds? What would you have done?
Chapter 20
• The Warden does not raise her voice, and she usually speaks in seemingly polite phrases. What makes her so menacing?
Chapter 21
• Why do you think Zero finishes Stanley’s hole for him?
Chapter 22
• Does Stanley seem like a good teacher? Have you ever tutored anyone? What did you learn from the experience?
Chapter 23
• Does the portrait the author paints of Green Lake seem realistic? Can you point to any details that strike you as too good to be true?
Chapter 24
• How does Mr. Sir get back at Stanley? Do you think it is Stanley’s fault that Mr. Sir got scratched?
Chapter 25
• Does it seem like Sam is a respected member of the Green Lake community? Why or why not?
Chapter 26
• Based on the facts the author gives you, can you answer the question, “Whom did God punish?”
Chapter 27
• Why don’t the other boys approve of Stanley and Zero’s arrangement? Do you think it is fair to both boys?
Chapter 28
• Who else has turquoise-studded boots like Kate Barlow’s?
Chapter 29
• What do you think is the significance of Stanley’s vision of the giant thumb?
Chapter 30
• Why doesn’t Stanley fight back when Zigzag taunts him? What would you do in his position?
Chapter 31
• Why doesn’t Stanley go after Zero?
Chapter 32
• Thinking about Zero,“what worried Stanley the most...was the fear that it wasn’t too late.” What does this mean?
Chapter 33
• Does Stanley approach his predicament intelligently? Is his logic sound? What would you do in the same situation?
Chapter 34
• When Stanley sees Big Thumb, “He kept walking toward it, although he didn’t know why.” Why do you think Stanley keeps going?
Chapter 35
• How would you describe Stanley and Zero’s relationship at this point in the story?
Chapter 36
• What does Stanley learn about himself as they climb the mountain? What does he learn about Zero?
Chapter 37
• Why do you think Stanley suddenly calls Zero Hector?
Chapter 38
• “[Stanley] thought only about each step, and not the impossible task that lay before him.” Have you ever attempted anything that seemed impossible? How did you approach it? What did you learn from the experience?
Chapter 39
• Why do you think Zero chooses this moment to confess about the stolen shoes?
Chapter 40
• Why is Stanley surprised to find the sack of jars and the shovel so far down the mountain?
Chapter 41
• Zero says, “If I had just kept those old smelly sneakers, then neither of us would be here right now.” Do you think he’s right? Is there anything positive about their situation?
Chapter 42
• Stanley believes it was his destiny to be hit by those falling shoes. What’s the difference between coincidence and destiny? Do you believe in destiny?
Chapter 43
• When he hears Zero’s stories, how does Stanley feel about his own family? How do these stories make you feel?
Chapter 44
• How do you think Stanley and Zero feel when the Warden confronts them?
Chapter 45
• What do you learn about the Warden in this chapter? How does it influence your feelings about her?
Chapter 46
• Why do you think Zero gives Stanley the thumbs-up sign?
Chapter 47
• The Warden’s name is Walker; who else in the story has the same last name? Why might this be important?
Chapter 48
• Why won’t Stanley leave without Hector?
Chapter 49
• The chapter ends with these words:“...and for the first time in over a hundred years, a drop of rain fell into the empty lake.” Does this seem important to you? Why do you suppose the author chose to end Part II here?
Chapter 50
• How has Stanley changed in the course of the story? Do you think Stanley had a “hole” in his life before attending Camp Green Lake? Does he have one now?
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