Gr. 5-8. Two years after his [mis]adventures at Camp Green Lake in Holes, Armpit, whose preferred name is Theodore, is back home in Austin, Texas, working as a landscaper. It’s a hot Hill Country summer, and Armpit's friend, X-Ray, has a foolproof plan for them to double their money – guaranteed. Though Armpit is struggling to stay on the straight and narrow, he goes for his friend’s plan and lands in the middle of the trouble he wanted so much to avoid.
Short chapters and lots of white space make Small Steps an easy read. Though the main characters are teenagers, the book is ideal for 10 to 14 year olds. This follow-up adventure from Sachar follows different characters than in Holes, so readers looking for a continuation might be disappointed. And the mystery and high drama of the juvenile prison camp and its misfit warden are missing from Small Steps. But this book is not without action. Lots of dialogue and short scene descriptions keep the action moving. Sachar’s character development endears Armpit, Ginny, his ten-year-old neighbor, and offbeat X-Ray to readers. Music superstar, Kaira, who longs for real friends and to make quality music, complicates Armpit’s life, just when he’s trying to keep things simple.
Though different from Holes, fans of Sachar will find Small Steps a fun read. With Armpit and Kaira, boys and girls will find characters they can get behind. Small Steps provides a great story and characters, and leaves readers wanting another story from the Camp Green Lake crew.
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