Stanley Yelnats III, a boy who has the worst luck due to a curse placed on their great-great-grandfather, and seems to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. Stanley, born into a poor family, had no friends and was over weight. He was often teased about his weight, even by his middle school teacher Mrs. Bell. He was picked on by the school bully Derrick Dunne. .
For generations Stanley's family believed a gypsy had placed a curse on their "no-good-rotten-pig-stealing-great-great-grandfather" Elya Yelnats. Who years before broke a promise with a Gypsy named Madame Zeroni. Before, he could make good on his promise Elya hoped on a boat and went to America. There he marries and has a child, Stanley Yelnats I, but never forgets Madame Zeroni. Especially, how he went to America and forgetting about his promise. Stanley I, was robbed of his fortune by Kate Barlow on his way from New York to California. She buries the fortune, somewhere in Camp Green Lake and before anyone can found where she buried the fortune she died.
Stanley III, was walking under an overpass on his way home from school. When, he was hit in the head by a pair of shoes. The shoes had once belonged to famous baseball player Cylde Livingston who had donated them to an orphanage to sell at a silent auction. Which later Stanley was accused and convicted of stealing. Upon his conviction, Stanley was given the chose to either go to jail or to Camp Green Lake for eighteen months. Since, coming from a poor family and never being sent off to a camp Stanley chose Camp Green Lake. There was one problem. .
There was no lake at Camp Green Lake. Over one hundred years before the arrival of Stanley, Camp Green Lake was Texas's largest lake. It was said, the town along with all its people had shriveled up. Kate Barlow hide the stolen fortune here. The authorities of Camp Green Lake Mr. Sir, Mr. Pendanski was aware of this. They open the detention center making the boys dig one hole five feet by five feet everyday in order to recover the hidden fortune.