Small Steps
by Louis Sachar


In this sequel to the award-winning Holes, a former inmate of Camp Green Lake boys’ correctional facility is taking “small steps” to get his life back on track. Theodore Johnson, also known as Armpit (and NOT because of his body odor) has modest goals: stay out of trouble, finish school, get an honest job, save some money, and lose the name Armpit. It helps that the little neighbor girl with cerebral palsy trusts him. But it isn’t easy for a kid whose skin is the wrong color, living on the wrong side of Austin, Texas, with a slight anger problem and a friend like X-Ray.

Armpit is doing pretty well with most of his small steps. He is attending summer school. He has a landscaping job. He has money in the bank. Then X-Ray comes along and talks Armpit into investing some of his savings in a ticket-scalping scheme. This leads to trouble at a teenage diva’s concert, a backstage pass to meet the beautiful Kaira DeLeon, and some unexpected romance. But it also leads to trouble with the police, trouble with a couple of petty criminals, trouble at work and school, and ultimately trouble with Kaira’s crooked manager, who sees Armpit as the perfect patsy for the murder he needs to cover up his embezzlement...

Once more, Sachar has written a teen novel full of grace and understanding toward the kind of young people some people might cross the street to avoid. He has filled it with romantic tension, foreboding, and suspense, as well as humor and good-natured fun. And, if I can say this much without giving it all away, he has given it a hopeful but not too-perfect ending.

It’s a down-to-earth story, not as mythic as Holes, but it awakens the imagination to such things as the loneliness of fame, the courage of a disabled child, the miraculous power of respect, and small steps one must take to keep one’s balance against the currents of life.

Robbie Fischer
USA

Recommended Age: 13+

If you would like to contact Robbie, you may do so here.






Translate


MuggleNet is an unofficial Harry Potter fan site. Please email us if you have any questions or concerns. MuggleNet's original layouts were designed and created by Navy. All subsequent layouts by Dylan Spartz.

© 1999-2008 MuggleNet.com. All rights reserved.

Privacy Policy | COPPA Policy | Feedback | Credits
Random Addresses

1,435 muggles currently online


Poll
[M.O.M.E. Round 3] Who do you believe is the best candidate for Minister of Magic?

Updates
Today's Updates
· Added a new editorial [October 7]
Recent Updates
· Updated the Caption Contest [October 4]
· Books section reorganized. [September 29]
· Added The Magic Quill #143 [September 28]
Mail

Quotes
Never trust anything that can think for itself if you can't see where it keeps its brain.

Arthur Weasley
Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 18, Page 329

See Another Quote
Big News
(9/08) - WB/RDR Trial Verdict: Judge halts Lexicon publication
(8/14) - Half-Blood Prince delayed until July 17th, 2009
(6/11) - JK Rowling's Harry Potter Prequel now online!
(6/10) - Potter Prequel sells for 25k pounds
(5/20) - Scholastic Reveals Sorcerer's Stone Anniversary Edition
(3/16) - MuggleCast #137: Tripping Over Curtains: The Jim Dale Story
Release Dates
Beedle the Bard:
December 4th, 2008
The Exhibition:
Spring 2009
Deathly Hallows paperback:
July 7th, 2009
Half-Blood Prince:
July 17th, 2009
Wizarding World:
2010
Deathly Hallows, Pt 1:
November 19, 2010
Deathly Hallows, Pt 2:
May 2011

Advertisement




MuggleNet » Fan Site Award Winner