Plot Twists & Turns
What happens to Stanley that causes him to be sent to Camp Green Lake?
He’s accused of stealing a famous athlete’s shoes.
Who is the quietest but best digger in the group?
Zero
Where does most of the story take place?
Camp Green Lake, a dried-up desert in Texas.
What theme is shown when Stanley and Zero help each other?
Friendship
What story from the past connects to Stanley’s family curse?
Elya Yelnats and Madame Zeroni.
What is the daily task the boys must complete at camp?
Digging holes in the dried lakebed.
Who is the strict counselor who always yells and chews sunflower seeds?
Mr. Sir
Why is there no lake at Camp Green Lake anymore?
It dried up after years without rain.
What lesson does Stanley learn about honesty?
Being truthful always leads to better outcomes.
How does the story of Kate Barlow connect to the present?
Her buried treasure is what the Warden is searching for.
What happens when Stanley and Zero leave camp?
They climb a mountain and find water and onions.
Which boy wants to be treated like the leader by the others?
X-Ray
What natural resource do Stanley and Zero find on God’s Thumb that saves them?
Water and wild onions.
What does the story teach about perseverance?
Keep trying even when things are difficult.
Who was Sam, and what was his role in the town’s past?
He sold onions and was loved by Kate Barlow.
What does Stanley find that makes the Warden interested?
A small gold tube with initials on it.
Who is the main character’s ancestor who broke a promise?
Elya Yelnats
How does the harsh setting affect the boys at camp?
It makes their work harder and tests their strength and patience.
What theme connects to breaking the family curse?
Fairness and doing what’s right.
What event connects Stanley’s actions on the mountain to his ancestor’s promise?
Carrying Zero up the mountain fulfills Elya’s broken promise.
Describe how Stanley changes from the beginning to the end of the book.
He grows more confident, brave, and believes in himself.
What does Stanley’s nickname “Caveman” show about how the boys see him?
It shows they respect him and accept him as one of them.
What happens to the setting at the very end of the story?
It rains, and Camp Green Lake starts to fill again.
Explain how friendship changes Stanley’s fate.
His friendship with Zero helps him discover the truth and break the curse.
How do the two storylines (past and present) come together at the end?
The treasure links the Yelnats and Zeroni families and ends the curse.