In the novel Holes, by Louis Surach, tells the story of a young middle-school aged boy named Stanley Yelnats. Stanley is falsely accused of stealing and sent to a correctional camp in Texas where he is supposed to build his character and reform his ways. While at camp, he makes a friend and develops many new, interesting character traits. In the setting and plot, the author tries to explain how life can be tough but very rewarding if we remain determined and hopeful.

Throughout the story, the author slowly integrates in how Stanley's family has a curse of bad luck, and whenever something is wrong, they always blame Stanley's "no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing-great-great-grandfather." Stanley and his family don't really believe in the curse but they use Stanley's great-great-grandfather as someone to put the blame on, simply because it feels good. Supposedly, this curse was placed on his family after his great-great-grandfather...