‘Holes’ by Louis Sachar teaches Year ten students about challenge, endurance and survival. In particular that friendship helps ensure survival, Stanley’s love for his family ensured his enduring effort to survival even though he is not afraid to die & injustice presents an obstacle to survival that Zero and Stanley must over come. Friendship is key to survival as it helps Stanley and Zero survive. Stanley and Zero must scale a mountain in order to reach ‘God’s thumb’ where they believe they will find refuge from the restless heat of the desert. At one place, during the climb, the boys must scale a ledge that is four feet above their heads. Stanley doubts Zero can pull him up as he is half Stanley’s size but trusts him to do so. “Stanley noticed a large spot of blood on his wristIt took a moment to realise it was Zero’s blood after they made it over the ledge”. The symbolism of blood suggests the extreme sacrifice Zero is willing to go through to support his much heavier friend. Therefore, Year 10 students learn that friendship is sometimes essential to survival. ?In Holes, frequently characters who are introduced with negative inferences and have portrayed sympathy to the characters. Stanley’s no good dirty rotten pig stealing great great grandfather was actually a sincere person who was treated insensitively, and unawarely broke a promise. He was not a thief. Kissing Kate Barlow wasn’t first introduced as a murderous outlaw. She was a good, loving school teacher whose life was destroyed by the cruelty and violence of the townspeople for kissing a person that looked different. Though she becomes a criminal, it is sympathetic to her pain. Even Stanley and Zero are at first introduced as bad people who have been sent to a camp for being ‘bad boys’, but once again the false first suspicion that gains them to get in trouble, and ends up earning their compassion. Many social stereotypes that lead to injustice.