Small Steps Author: Louis Sachar | Language: English | ISBN:
B000FCKPPI | Format: PDF
Small Steps 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.
- File Size: 264 KB
- Print Length: 272 pages
- Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0747587159
- Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers; Reprint edition (February 28, 2006)
- Sold by: Random House LLC
- Language: English
- ASIN: B000FCKPPI
- Text-to-Speech: Not enabled
X-Ray:
- Lending: Not Enabled
- Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #31,780 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
- #54
in Books > Children's Books > Growing Up & Facts of Life > Friendship, Social Skills & School Life > Special Needs
- #54
in Books > Children's Books > Growing Up & Facts of Life > Friendship, Social Skills & School Life > Special Needs
This book, the follow-up to Sachar's blockbuster Holes, is a major departure from the first novel. It's not exactly a sequel, but rather a new story about two of the minor characters from the earlier book. (Folks holping to find out what happened to Stanley or Zero will be disappointed -- they're not even mentioned in this book, except for Armpit referencing that "Sploosh" was invented by the father of someone he was at Camp Green Lake with). Set two years after the earlier novel, Armpit is now trying to graduate from High School, working and staying on the straight and narrow. Until his old buddy X-Ray shows up with a way to make him some real money... just some old-fashioned ticket scalping.
Like I said, this is VERY different from Holes. That book was part mystery, part generational novel, even part western. This is more of a straightforward story -- no mystery, a hint of crime drama. While Holes dealt with some heavy issues, such as race relations and juvenile detention, this book goes even further, dealing with drug issues, cerebral palsy and even (briefly) sex. None of this is intended as a criticism, but it is important that parents getting this book for their children realize how much more mature this book is than the earlier novel.
That said, this is a really strong book. Armpit and X-Ray were mostly placeholder characters in the first book. Here they're fleshed out very well and joined by other strong characters. You find out why they were in jail in the first place (and unlike Stanley in the first book, they were not falsely accused), and you see that good people can do stupid things sometimes. The ending is more bittersweet than Holes as well, but it leaves you with a real sense of hope at the same time.
It's no exaggeration to say that SMALL STEPS is one of the most eagerly awaited sequels in recent memory. It's taken Louis Sachar eight years to follow up his Newbery Award-winning novel HOLES, which was also made into a popular feature film. To call SMALL STEPS a sequel, though, is not entirely true; instead, the book is more of a companion to Sachar's earlier novel, following some of the same characters but written in a fundamentally different style.
Theodore "Armpit" Johnson is back in the real world after finally being released from Camp Green Lake, the horrific juvenile detention center that was the setting for HOLES. Living in Austin, Texas, Armpit is determined to finish school while using his shoveling skills in a good job for a landscaping firm. He's learning a lot, saving some money, and taking small steps toward becoming a respected member of society again.
Armpit's life is going pretty smoothly until X-Ray, another former Green Lake detainee, comes on the scene with a get-rich-quick scheme. Pop singer Kaira DeLeon is coming to town, and her show is sure to sell out. X-Ray's plan is to buy twelve tickets and resell them to the highest bidders. He needs Armpit's help (and his bank account) to buy the tickets, and he promises to share the wealth with Armpit.
Not surprisingly, the plan backfires on all cylinders, as Armpit learns lessons about economics, ethics and the law. About the only good thing that comes out of the plan is that Armpit and his young neighbor Ginny (who has cerebral palsy) actually get to meet Kaira DeLeon. Armpit and Kaira have instant chemistry --- Armpit is attracted to Kaira's beauty and intelligence, and Kaira is pleasantly surprised that Armpit likes her for herself.
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