Both readers young and old can relate to entering a new school or job and going through what Stanley did, they can also recognise that in most cases, it is the situation that creates the bonds and not the personality of acquintances. This is true of Stanley and the other four boys but it is not true of his bond with Zero, which the reader can see, lies in deeper foundations. Loyalty is another theme which Sachar highlights within his writing, this theme is exemplified in Stanley and Zero's friendship. The reader is able to observe how significant loyalty is between the two boys and understand their determination in preserving this theme. Stanley's loyalty towards Zero can be seen in his escape from Camp Green Lake', risking almost certain death and being "buzzard food", in his attempt to find his deserted friend. .
The greed illustrated in the story is also a theme, alerting the reader to the unsavoury characters of the Warden and Mr Sir. The determination and slave labour which the Warden enforces, in her eagerness to find the treasure', typifies greed and it's consumption of her character. .
Adventure and freedom are also important themes when considering the plot, the two boys enrol in adventure as they travel up to "God's thumb" whilst experiencing their freedom from the cruelty of the camp. Both students and adults are involved in this adventure, celebrating their freedom and praying for their plan to succeed. .
Finally, two other themes which are central to the story it's ending are luck and fate. The importance of luck and fate are mainstay throughout the story and Stanley's lack of luck is even more consequential to the outcome of his adventure. Stanley constantly reminds the reader of his "no- good- dirty- rotten- pig- stealing- great- great- grandfather", and the curse he had passed down to "him and all his descendants", responsible for his very bad luck. The reader is also persuaded to believe in fate, believing that if Stanley had not been hit' by the trainers he would never have met Zero nor have found his great- great grandfather's treasure.
