Stanley Yelnat's family has a history of bad luck going back generations, so he is not too surprised when a miscarriage of justice sends him to Camp Green Lake Juvenile Detention Centre.

As punishment, the boys must dig a hole each day, five foot wide by five foot deep, in the hard earth of the dried-up lake bed.

The warden claims this is 'character building' - but it doesn't take long for Stanley to realise that what he must actually uncover is the truth.