By: Louis Sachar Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers Average Rating: Binding: Paperback Label: Delacorte Books for Young Readers Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 288 Publication Date: January 08, 2008 Reading Level: Young Adult Release Date: January 08, 2008
Product Description: Two years after being released from Camp Green Lake, Armpit is home in Austin, Texas, trying to turn his life around. But it’s hard when you have a record, and everyone expects the worst from you. The only person who believes in him is Ginny, his 10-year old disabled neighbor. Together, they are learning to take small steps. And he seems to be on the right path, until X-Ray, a buddy from Camp Green Lake, comes up with a get-rich-quick scheme. This leads to a chance encounter with teen pop sensation, Kaira DeLeon, and suddenly his life spins out of control, with only one thing for certain. He’ll never be the same again.
In his first major novel since Holes, critically acclaimed novelist Louis Sachar uses his signature wit combined with a unique blend of adventure and deeply felt characters to explore issues of race, the nature of celebrity, the invisible connections that determine a person’s life, and what it takes to stay on course. Doing the right thing is never a wrong choice–but a small step in the right direction.
Great Author Lois Sachar is a wonderful author, for children and adults alike. Interesting stories, life lessons, etc.
great family book This was a great entertaining sequel. My 11 son read and enjoyed it very much as did I (his 44 yr old mom). Sachar is a great author!
Small steps for getting Armpit's life back on track...and small lessons in stereotypes It's a year since I read 'Holes' so the characters Armpit and X-ray felt like they were almost new to me again. Although the characters are in both books and there are references to Camp Green Lake, you don't really lose anything from not having read 'Holes'. That said, it's nice to see what happens when the boys are back in society, and how apt their jobs are!! :)
Running alongside the story about Armpit and X-ray is another, the day to day life of pop star Kaira DeLeon. She's as confined by her lifestyle and entourage as the boys were when they were back in Camp Green Lake, and is desperate for a little teenage normality.
Ginny is a great character, she is ten, has cerebral palsy and lives next door to Armpit. Stereotypes in general are given a gentle bashing in this book, which is a good thing and makes you question your own unintentional prejudices or behaviour.
I'm not the target audience for 'Small Steps' but still found it enjoyable.
Create Your Own Review Braden W. Review of Small Steps by Louis Sachar, March 18, 2008.
Small Steps is a book by Louis Sachar. It is a sequel to his previous book Holes, telling the lives of armpit and X-Ray after "Camp Greenlake." Armpit is trying to take small steps in order to get his life on straight. The two of them are attending a high school in the slums of Houston. When X-Ray tries to convince Armpit to join him in a get-rich-quick scheme Armpit is reluctant. Once X-Ray suggests ticket scalping, Armpit finally gives in and gets into a real mess. It just so happens that the tickets are fake and Armpit is caught by the police. Armpit's eternal conflict is keeping his life on straight and out of the hands of the law. Eventually people (Including a celebrity) start to realize he is a good person that he didn't do anything wrong. It is hard not to root for Armpit in this story of struggle after "Camp Greenlake."
Small Steps - Louis Sachar Great book - well worth reading. Written for kids, but adults will enjoy it too. A warning to parents that some mild adult language is used. The book will be most enjoyed if Sachar's earlier work, Holes, is read first.
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