1. General Impressions

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

• Stanley is not always a very likable character, but he changes in important ways during the story. Did you have sympathy for him from the beginning, or did you develop more sympathy as he changed? Why?
• Even though Holes deals with some serious subject matter, its tone is often darkly humorous. Did you find this tone appropriate for the book’s subject matter? How did the book’s humor impact your reading experience?
• Have you seen the film version of this book? How would you compare the two versions?

2. Personal Reflection and Connection

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

• The plot of Holes involves fate and curses. Do you believe in things like this? How do your beliefs impact your enjoyment of the novel?
• Have you ever been falsely accused of doing something wrong or forced in some other way to pay for someone else’s actions? Do you think that experiences like this influence your emotional reaction to the story?
• Stanley’s experiences are in some ways determined by the family he comes from. Based on your own observations of the world, how realistic is this? Do you think that the family you come from plays a strong role in how your life turns out?
• Zero’s friendship contributes significantly to the changes in Stanley’s character.