Small Steps [Paperback]

Open Small Steps and jump into trouble and luck with Armpit, who turns out being a hero in the end. Small Steps is written by Louis Sachar who also wrote other books such as Holes, Stanley Yelnats Survival Guide to Camp Green Lake, The Wayside school series and The Marvin Redpost series. Small Steps is a follow up to Holes, and if you thought Holes was a great book you should read Small Steps. Welcome to my review on Small Steps.

Small Steps will take you for a bumpy ride in Armpit's life.Armpit is a teenage boy who has been having a ruff time ever since he got accused of a crime and got sent to Camp Green Lake a juvinial detetion center. Armpit's parents are poor they share a small house with another family in Texas. Armpit's parents make him do a drug test whenever he comes home because they're worried about him and don't trust him. But Armpit has some luck too and falls in love with one special girl.

You would never think a teenage boy and a ten year old girl could be friends but in the great writing of Louis Sachar`s Small Steps she brings these wonderful characters to life. Armpit and Ginny are more than just friends, they're best friends! Armpit is a teenage boy who came home from a juvenial detention camp, and Ginny's a ten year old girl who was born bleeding in her brain. These are characters I could've never thought of and you'd think they would make a weird book, but when you think about it weird is the same as unique, and unique is a good thing. You probably think you're nothing like a teenage boy who resently got let out of a juvinial detention center, or a girl who has seizures, but you'll find out you're more like them than you thought.

Small Steps is more exciting than just being happpy or being sad it's full of different emotions that make the book great! Some emotions in the book are being happy, sad, excited, nervous etc. Ginny is sad because she found out her dad left because she of her disability. Armpit cheers her up by saying "I didn't know your dad was disabled...(he's not) sounds like he is. He's a lot worse of than you... I don't know what they can do for someone with no heart or soul." I think this passage is sad because Ginny finds out her dad left beause of her disability, but it's also nice how Armpit cheers her up, and it shows how he's a good friend.

You have to admit that most books have one part that maybe you'd like to change, and even Small Steps my favourite book has a part that I might change. The one thing that I would change in Small Steps was the end.If I was Louis Sachar I would make the book a to be countinued or finished it with more information. I think the end of Small Steps was annoying because it's a cliff hanger and you want to know what happens next. The books ending would be good if there was a sequel to follow up on the end. I want to know what happens to Armpit and how his life ends up. But one thing that I loved about the end is that it says the goals Armpit has at the beginning and at the end.

If you think about it every book you read has a theme or two. I'm going to tell you a few themes that are in Small Steps. One theme is to believe in others, Ginny believes in Armpit to get his life back on track. Another theme is to take small steps towards your goal. Armpit has goals and is taking small steps through them so he doesn't ruin his life. The last theme I thought of is don't give up, Armpit doesn't give up just because his parents don't trust him or because he has a criminal record. He stays in school and doesn't give up his future.

I hope you go out and get Small Steps for yourself, your family and your friends, you won't regret it. I recommend Small Steps for people around age 9-14. Whatever your style is you'll likely love this book. Open Small Steps now and step into Armpit's world.

Remember Armpit, from HOLES? It's been two years since he was released from Camp Green Lake Juvenile Correctional Facility, and ever since, he's been trying to stay clean. In order to stay clean, he's established for himself five small steps:

1. Graduate from high school.
2. Get a job.
3. Save his money.
4. Avoid situations that might turn violent.
5. Lose the name Armpit.

(By the way, this is not a sequel to HOLES; you don't need to read HOLES to enjoy this book.)

At first, everything goes smoothly, but, slowly, every single one of those steps will be challenged.

For the past year, Armpit has been working for a landscaping and irrigation company, and he has saved almost a thousand dollars. But one day, his friend from camp, X-Ray, tells him that he has the perfect plan to double his money. Rock singer Kaira DeLeon is going on tour, and her next stop is their own town. X-Ray's plan is to buy twelve tickets and resell them for double the money. But since X-Ray doesn't have any money, he asks Armpit for all his savings. Armpit is not sure that this plan is such a great idea, but he doesn't want to let his friend down. So after giving it a lot of thought, he decides to do it.

When I read that I went: What? Is he stupid or what? Of course he's never going to see his money again! Or is he?

Well, unfortunately that's all I can tell you. Oh, wait! There is something else I can tell you -- somehow, Armpit and his 10-year-old neighbor, who suffers cerebral paralysis, get to meet rock star Kaira DeLeon. But you'll have to read the book to learn how that neat twist unfolds.

To me, SMALL STEPS was like a good meal that left me completely satisfied. The story kept surprising me with its unexpected turns.

There's plenty of action, there are good guys you root for and bad guys you wish the worst for, there are a lot of funny moments, and sad moments, too. SMALL STEPS is very good read. Maybe it's not as strong as HOLES; nevertheless,it's a good story.

Reviewed by: Christian C.

Small Steps

Louis Sachar hits another home run, first Holes now this! Small Steps is the next book to success! Small Steps was a book that made me laugh, cry, and just made me crave reading on. It is one of the best books I've ever read in my life, plus my family had a kick out of it as well!

Small steps is all about a "Get rich quick" scheme that involves ticket scalping for a concert. While at the concert Armpit (back once again, better than ever!) encounters a famous singer who's singing at the concert and well, they do, fall in love. Now, don't get me wrong I mean Small Steps is not a love filled mushy book, it's an exciting thriller with loads of action, even in the love scenes! For example, there happens to be a twist that puts 2 peoples lives on the line...

Louis Sachar is a wonderful story teller so even if he is not in the story he is very descriptive. You feel like you are in the story. And when you stop reading the memory and excitement still fills your head. There is much more suspense and juicy words than in any book known to humanity! You know how most fairy tales and some stories are unrealistic and always have a happily ever after ending? Small Steps is different there are masses of twists, cliffhangers, and a surprising ending.

Some major key themes are friendship, trust, and love. Friendship, because in Small Steps there are several people who want to be friends with other people like girls being friends with boys but there is peer pressure and sadly quite a bit of racism that will keep people from being friends. Trust is another really important key theme is trust because if you don't trust your parents, friends, or yourself. Life will be really hard for you and for other people who know you. Plus if you don't have friends that don't trust you or that you don't trust that may not work out so well. I'm only going to say a few more key themes and one of them is love. Love is a theme because if two people love each other but they are from two totally different worlds something or someone may try to ruin their relationship. Now finally the last theme... Taking small steps to a better life!

What else does a great book need...? Characters! Small Steps has awesome characters like Armpit, he's funny, nice, cool, very realistic and just trying to do the right thing. I like Armpit because he is a good kid but he has a bad reputation so you kind of feel his sorrow. Then we have Ginny, a 10 year old girl with a mental disability but she still stays strong while saying funny jokes once in a while, and still staying super sweet. I like Ginny because Louis Sachar doesn't make fun of her she made me realize how fortunate we all are. Of course there have to be more characters but for now I'm just going to say one more...Kaira DeLeon! Kaira is nice, funny, a great singer, and just trying to make a real friend. As I said there are many characters that are sure to blow you away, but for now you're just going to have to read the book.

Small Steps is based in several places the main one being Texas where Armpit lives. It also takes place in some small places, a concert where he meets Kaira DeLeon, A Hotel in San Francisco, school, and...China town! These places are all so different that you sort of get a sense of where you are, and since Louis is so descriptive you feel like you are standing at the location, being in the story!

I think this book is a great fiction thriller that any person would love. (Though I do suggest ages 11+) Small Steps is a great book that will make you want to read on no matter what else you are going to do! I guarantee you will love it!