Stanley Yelnats allegedly framed for stealing famous shoes from a homeless shelter and has two choices go to jail (he was too scared), or go to a juvenile delinquent camp called Camp Green Lake (Stanley has never been to camp) so Stanley decides to go to camp.

At camp he meets Mr. Sir the wardens right-hand man. Mr. Sir teaches Stanley what he needs to know about camp life and that Stanley needs to know.

Stanly is chosen to be in Group D. The group leader was X-ray then there was Zero he was a mute, Zigzag ,Squid, and Magnet. Stanley was a slow Digger and is the last one to finish. Zero usually only talks to Stanly who finds out Zero can’t read so they make a deal Zero will finish up Stanley's holes in exchange for Stanley to teach him to read.

One day while Stanley is digging X-ray confronts him and tells Stanley that anything he finds give to X-ray and later he does.