Characters
What is Zero's FULL name?
Hector Zeroni
Where does most of the novel take place? Describe what it's like there.
Camp Green Lake. It's hot, desolate, dusty, and very far from any cities. It's basically a desert that has nothing but dirt and rocks for miles.
What is a "canteen"?
a water bottle for the campers at Camp Green Lake
Why does Stanley go to Camp Green Lake?
Stanley goes to Camp Green Lake because he's falsely accused of stealing shoes.
What are the initials on the gold tube Stanley found while digging? What do they stand for?
KB, Kate Barlow
Why does the Warden make the boys dig holes, and what kind of person is she?
The Warden makes the boys dig holes to "teach them character", to search for something valuable, and she is strict and shows no mercy to anyone around her.
What state is Camp Green Lake in?
Texas
An optical illusion caused by heat, might look like a pool of water caused by refraction
mirage
What do the boys at Camp Green Lake have to do every day?
They have to dig holes every day as punishment.
This character loves to eat sunflower seeds.
Mr. Sir
Who is Madame Zeroni, and what connection does she have to Stanley's family?
Madame Zeroni is an elderly woman from Latvia who is friends with Stanley's great-great-grandfather, Elya Yelnats. She places a curse on Stanley's family due to Elya's failure to fulfill a promise.
How does the hot weather affect the characters at Camp Green Lake?
The hot weather at Camp Green Lake makes the characters sweat a lot and feel exhausted. They have to drink a lot of water to stay hydrated, and sometimes they even get sunburned.
What is "refuge"?
something that provides shelter or safety
Why does Stanley's family have a curse?
Stanley's great-great-grandfather, Elya Yelnats, didn't keep a promise to Madame Zeroni, so she placed a curse on his family.
What was the name of Sam's donkey?
What role does Mr. Pendanski play at Camp Green Lake, and how does he interact with the boys?
Mr. Pendanski is a counselor at Camp Green Lake who is responsible for overseeing the boys' work and well-being. He tries to act friendly and supportive towards the boys, but he can also be mean and rude to them.
Where do Stanley and the other campers sleep?
They sleep in tents, on cots.
What is an example of something "desolate"?
empty, abandoned, lonely
What does Stanley do to help Zero when he's in trouble?
Stanley carries Zero up a mountain to find water when Zero gets sick.
What does Stanley "steal" at the beginning of the novel?
Clyde Livingston's shoes that were donated to an orphanage.
Who was Kate Barlow, and why is she important to the story?
Kate Barlow was a schoolteacher turned outlaw who robbed Stanley's great-grandfather and left behind a hidden treasure, which becomes an important part of the story.
Why don't the Warden, Mr. Sir, or Mr. Pedanski worry about the campers running away from Camp Green Lake?
Camp Green Lake is very isolated, so there wouldn't be anywhere for the campers to run to without getting lost, dehydrated, etc.
A poisonous substance that comes from bites or stings of certain animals
How do Stanley and Zero become heroes?
They find the treasure and return it to the authorities, which proves Stanley's innocence and helps Zero start a new life.
Who always gets to get in line first for the water truck?
X-ray always gets water first.