Published in 1998, Holes is a meaningful young adult novel written by American author Louis Sachar. Being sent to Camp Green Lake as a punishment, teenage boy Stanley Yelnat dug holes just like everyone else, except that he also dug up the dirty secrets behind this peculiar punishment.

What do ‘holes’ mean on a deeper level in this story? What ‘holes’ did Stanley bring with him to the camp, and are they still present in his life when he left?

Stanley blamed his cursed family for many things, but Mr Pendanski suggests instead that everyone is responsible for their own fate. Would you buy this theory of his? Do you think Stanley’s perspective changed in the end, and how can you tell?

Stanley had no friends back home, but he developed a genuine relationship with Zero at the camp. How did they prove their friendship to each other in the story? How does Zero play a role in helping Stanley fill up a ‘hole’ in his life? How is Stanley’s friendship with Zero similar to the one Kate and Sam share? Why did both relationships lack approval from others? 

When Hattie Parker saw Katherine and Sam kissing, she claimed that "God will punish you!" Considering the consequent events, who was punished in the end?