Chapter 1: The Boy Who Was Cursed
Stanley Yelnats is a 14-year-old boy who is unjustly accused of stealing a pair of sneakers from Clyde Livingston, a star baseball player known as "Sweet Feet." Stanley is sentenced to Camp Green Lake, a juvenile detention center located in the Texas desert.
Chapter 2: The Armpit of Texas
Stanley arrives at Camp Green Lake and meets Mr. Sir, the strict camp counselor, and X-Ray, a charismatic and knowledgeable inmate. Stanley learns that he will be required to dig one hole each day, five feet deep and five feet wide.
Chapter 3: The Meaning of the Name
Stanley discovers that Camp Green Lake was once a thriving town filled with vegetation. However, after the magical Yelnats family was falsely accused of a crime, they were forced to leave, and the town withered away. Stanley suspects that the Yelnats family is linked to his own family history.
Chapter 4: The Big Thumb
Stanley meets Zero, a shy and isolated inmate. Despite their differences, Stanley and Zero form a tentative friendship. Zero reveals that he has been digging holes at Camp Green Lake for over a year, but has never been released.
Chapter 5: The Treasure Map
X-Ray gives Stanley a map that he claims will lead to buried treasure. Stanley is hesitant to believe the map, but he agrees to share it with Zero. The two boys agree to work together to find the treasure.
Chapter 6: The Lady in the Yellow Shoes
Stanley has a recurring dream about a woman in yellow shoes disappearing into the desert. He suspects that the dream is connected to the buried treasure.
Chapter 7: The Scorpion Holes
Stanley and Zero discover that the map leads to a series of scorpion holes. X-Ray warns them of the scorpions' deadly sting, but Stanley and Zero refuse to give up.
Chapter 8: The Great Escape
Stanley and Zero successfully dig up the treasure, which consists of gold bars, jewelry, and a document proving the innocence of the Yelnats family. They hide the treasure and escape from Camp Green Lake.
Chapter 9: The Miracle of the Peaches
Stanley and Zero return to their homes and confront the consequences of their actions. Stanley is exonerated and Zero is sent to live with a foster family. The story ends with rain falling on Camp Green Lake, turning the barren landscape into a lush paradise.
