Holes — Chapter 40

About This Passage

Sachar interrupts Stanley's story on the mountain to slip back a hundred years to Sam, Mary Lou, and the town of Green Lake. The passage shows Mrs. Tennyson running in her nightgown — something she would never normally do — because her child's life was just saved by Sam's onions. Copying this paragraph teaches a child how a writer tells you that a character's actions are extraordinary by first describing the ordinary rule those actions break.

Narration Prompt

Retell Chapter 40 in two parts. First describe the old Green Lake scene with Sam, Mary Lou, Mrs. Tennyson, and Hattie Parker. Then describe the present-day scene with Stanley, Zero, and the shovel. Try to keep the order of events and include at least three specific details.

Discussion Questions

1. Why does Louis Sachar interrupt Stanley's story on Big Thumb to tell us about Sam and Mary Lou selling onions in old Green Lake? What does the town scene help us understand about the onions Stanley and Zero are eating?
2. Mrs. Tennyson tells Sam, 'It was your onion tonic. That's what saved her.' Sam replies, 'It wasn't me. It was the onions.' What does Sam's answer reveal about the kind of man he is? Use at least one other detail from the chapter.

+ 3 more questions in the complete study guide