Small Steps (Holes Series)

Small Steps is a fantastic companion to Holes, and I’m so glad I picked it up. This book follows Armpit (Theodore), one of the characters from Camp Green Lake, as he tries to rebuild his life and make honest “small steps” toward a better future. It’s a very different story from Holes, but in a really good way, more personal, more emotional, and incredibly relatable. Louis Sachar does an amazing job showing how hard it can be to change your life while still keeping the writing fun, engaging, and easy to follow. The characters feel real, especially Armpit, who is trying so hard to do the right thing even when life keeps throwing challenges at him. The plot has the perfect mix of humor, heart, and suspense, and it kept me interested all the way through. I bought this for a young reader who loved Holes, and it was a great next step. It teaches meaningful lessons about perseverance, choices, friendship, and believing in yourself, all wrapped in a story that’s entertaining and easy to read. If you or your child enjoyed Holes, Small Steps is absolutely worth adding to your collection. A heartfelt, inspiring read!

Just like Armpit, the tone and themes in the book have grown up since Holes. Great to have a follow up and see where life can take you after some tough times. The ending was maybe a bit sappy but it’s cool to see that maybe the story still isn’t over. Interesting how the title sinks in at the very end and delivers a positive message.

Louis Sachar the award-winning author of over twenty fiction and educational books for children including the Marvin Redpost and Wayside School series. Holes, won the prestigious National Book Award, the Newbery Medal, sold 6 million copies, and was successfully translated to film. Now we finally learn what life is like AFTER CAMP GREEN LAKE. "Small Steps" is a follow-up to Holes, it features ARMPIT aka Theodore Johnson, still digging holes, but now as a landscaper, trying to finish up high school. Armpit's new life is turned upside when X-Ray shows up with a ticket scalping scheme involving teen pop star, Kaira DeLeon. Armpit, who has been trying to take his own "small steps" to the straight and narrow, finds himself once again running afoul of the law. Eight years after Sachar's breakout hit with Holes, he needs to take big steps to fill "sweet-feet's" proverbal shoes. Does Sachar manage it? Yes, mostly, "Small Steps" is a good book, but not a great one. Sachar's voice is just as clear, and the situations are more realistic. He is most successful with relationships, like Armpit and Ginny a 10-year-old girl with cerebral palsy whose family lives on the other side of his family's East Austin duplex. The publisher should have resisted the temptation to call "Small Steps" a "companion to Holes" to reduce heavy expectations... especially since the obvious follow-up would be the story of Stanley, Zero and their newfound millions, instead of focusing on one of Camp Green Lake's less appealing characters. .

A pleasurable and surprising story from start to finish. The characters are entertaining and believable, and somehow the plot, which could have been somewhat outlandish, was also made believable. Also, the book teaches some very important life lessons - take "small steps"! - for young people and old (I'm 60+), but without any dull belaboring. A story I will probably remember better and more deeply than I do the author's excellent bestseller "Holes."

Don’t take big steps less the river bowl you over. The book really emphasizes recovery in the face of adversity. Cleverly written and fun to read with the kiddos. The characters carried on from Holes bring light to a different side of life and the mashing of two different sides of the tracks brought a Romeo and Juliet type of vibe to the story. The intertwine of the story lines of the different situations brought humor and intrigue as well. It’s an in readable read for grade school kiddos 4-adult really. We had a great time reading together and discussing many aspects the books discusses, economic diversities, racial tensions, and deception. Highly recommended.

This is my 2nd book read on the Kindle, and wow, I really enjoyed it! I've been a fan of Louis Sachar since I discovered the Wayside series 7 years ago and read them to my students who loved them. I read Holes before I saw the movie, and it's one of the very few DVD's that I have. This book is definitely different than Holes, but different is a good thing. Although the primary characters are black, you wouldn't really know or care about race while reading this book. The writing style of Sachar keeps things neutral, while at the same time, gripping. I found this book much more direct, with much more heart (especially with the character Ginny), and it had a good ending to the book that leaves you smiling. Fans of Sachar should definitely read this book. It's a bit easier to follow if you have read Holes, but it's not a prerequisite.

This is a very good story that follows up the novel Holes by the same author. My 12 year old and myself are enjoying reading it aloud together.

The story is a good continuation of armpit and x-ray, but the set up of the story is a little unbelievable. Little more violent than normal, not one of Liuis’s better stories.