Holes

Author:  Louis Sachar

Award: Newbery Award Winner for 1999

Exposition: Holes is about a boy Stanley Yelnates who is sent to a juvenile rehabilitation place called Camp Green Lake.  A place (where there is no lake) where digging holes will help boys become better people.  It is hot, it never rains, and the people running the 'camp' are anything but nice.

Conflict: Stanley is a member of a very unlucky family.  He was convicted of a crime he did not commit and was sent to Camp Green Lake to 'rehabilitate' himself.  While there he learned there was more going on than just the digging of holes by his camp mates.  They were looking for something. 

Rising Action: Stanley learned the history about his family (there was a curse for bad luck put on his family long ago) and the campers and the camp itself.  The campers were looking for a chest filled with money, jewels, a real treasure. 

Climax:  Stanley looks for clues and find the chest which as it turns out belonged to his ancestors.  The chest is however covered with deadly lizards.

Falling Action: Stanley makes it out with the chest, and is rescued from the camp by his lawyer.

Resolution: The chest is filled with enough stocks, bonds, and money to set the Yelnats family for life.  The curse is also broken because Stanley helps out a friend.  It finally rained at Camp Green Lake.

ISBN: 9780374332662