- diameternounChapter 1 →
The distance straight across a circle through its center, used here as the measurement of how wide each hole must be from one side to the other.
“The boys are expected to dig one hole each day, five feet deep, and five feet in diameter.”
- build characterphraseChapter 1 →
An expression meaning to develop inner strength, discipline, and moral qualities through hard work or hardship — used here as the official excuse for making boys dig holes.
“This is supposed to build character.”
- counselornounChapter 2 →
A staff member at the camp who supervises the boys day-to-day, taking orders from the Warden and enforcing the rules.
“If you dig up anything interesting, you are to report it to me or any other counselor immediately.”
- canteennounChapter 3 →
A small portable container used for carrying drinking water, especially important in the desert heat of the camp.
“The boys were given two canteens of water each day. That was it.”
- regimenounChapter 3 →
A strict, controlled system of rules and daily routines imposed by those in authority, here referring to the Warden's harsh management of the camp.
- make it worth your whilephraseChapter 4 →
A promise to reward someone in return for doing a favor, meaning the person will benefit if they cooperate.
“If you find something good, give it to me. I've been here the longest. I'll make it worth your while.”
- descendantsnounChapter 7 →
All the people who come after someone in a family line — children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and so on, across generations.
“You and your descendants will be cursed for always and eternity.”
- eternitynounChapter 7 →
Time without any end; a state that lasts forever, used here to stress that the curse will never stop affecting the family.
“You and your descendants will be cursed for always and eternity.”
- cursedadjectiveChapter 7 →
Placed under a supernatural spell that brings ongoing bad luck or suffering as punishment for a wrong that was done.
“If you forget to carry me up the mountain, I will put a curse on you and all your descendants.”
- suitornounChapter 7 →
A man who is trying to win a woman's hand in marriage by courting her or impressing her family.
- smittenadjectiveChapter 7 →
Deeply and helplessly in love with someone, to the point where good judgment is clouded.
- superficialadjectiveChapter 11 →
Caring only about outward appearances rather than deeper qualities; shallow in thought or feeling.
- flipping a coinphraseChapter 11 →
Tossing a coin in the air and letting which side lands face-up decide a choice, meaning the decision is left entirely to chance rather than judgment.
“You and Igor Barkov are the same. She will choose between you by flipping a coin.”
- outlawnounChapter 8 →
A person who lives outside the law, typically a criminal who is wanted by authorities and operates by robbery or violence.
- aridadjectiveChapter 1 →
Extremely dry, with almost no rainfall, making it nearly impossible for plants or animals to survive.
- wastelandnounChapter 1 →
A large area of land that is barren, empty, and unable to support life or farming — here describing the dried-up lakebed where the camp sits.
- tricklenounChapter 13 →
A very small, slow flow of liquid, barely more than a few drops moving together.
“There were wild onions growing near the base of the thumb, and a small trickle of water seeping out of the rock.”
- seepingverbChapter 13 →
Slowly oozing or leaking through a surface, the way water might slowly pass through cracks in rock.
“There were wild onions growing near the base of the thumb, and a small trickle of water seeping out of the rock.”
- nothing going on upstairsphraseChapter 9 →
An informal expression meaning someone is not intelligent or is not thinking — 'upstairs' refers to the brain inside the head.
“He's the only one with nothing going on upstairs.”
- in the wrong place at the wrong timephraseChapter 10 →
An expression meaning someone suffered bad luck simply because of where they happened to be, not because of anything they did wrong.
“He had been in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
- customnounChapter 6 →
An established habit or tradition that everyone in a group follows, here referring to the unofficial rule about what happens when a camper finds something interesting.
“It was the custom at Camp Green Lake that whenever a camper found something interesting while digging, he was allowed to show it to the Warden.”
- devoidadjectiveChapter 2 →
Completely lacking or empty of something — here meaning the camp has absolutely none of the greenery or water its name suggests.
- snap decisionphraseChapter 12 →
A choice made very quickly, without time to think it through carefully.
- ascentnounChapter 13 →
The act of climbing or moving upward, especially up a steep hill or mountain.
- gruelingadjectiveChapter 13 →
Extremely tiring and demanding, pushing a person to the very limits of their physical strength and endurance.
HolesNovel by Louis Sachar