 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Small Steps
- By Louis Sachar
- Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Common Sense Media says
Holes sequel delves into edgier territory.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this is a better choice for tweens and teens -- young kids who liked Holes may not be quite ready for the edgy material here. There are references to sex and drugs, a bit of pretty nasty violence, and the hero is involved, mostly through stupidity, in some shady dealings. Armpit doesn't always make the right choices, but ultimately he has a
good heart and figures things out in time to make a heroic
move.
What's the story?
At the end of Holes, Camp Green Lake had been shut down and the boys released. After spending time in a halfway house, Theodore (nicknamed Armpit) is working hard to get his life back on track. He has a job, is taking extra classes to graduate from high school, and is saving his money while trying to stay out of trouble. He has even befriended the young girl next door who has cerebral palsy. But then X-Ray shows up with a get-rich-quick scheme that involves scalping tickets to a concert by Kaira DeLeon, the latest teen pop sensation. From there the story gets complicated. Armpit meets Kaira and they strike up a tentative romance. X-Ray goes beyond scalping to counterfeiting, and both the police and rival scalpers come after both of them. And Kaira's manager/stepfather plans to murder her and pin it on Armpit.
Is it any good?
Holes was a masterpiece of craftsmanship, a complex symphony of disparate thematic elements and vibrant characters woven together in intricate pattern that resolved perfectly. It's hard to believe that SMALL STEPS was written by the same author: This is more of a tangle of elements that resolves into an ill-fitting mess.
Louis Sachar knows how to write a fun and enjoyable book. But Holes set the bar a lot higher, and for the sequel to that Newbery Medalist and National Book Award winner something more is expected -- a higher degree of craftsmanship, depth, sophistication, and emotional power, all of which are missing here. Fans of the first book will no doubt want to read it and may even enjoy it (though the romance section of the book appeals to an entirely different audience), but they won't find it as memorable or as powerful.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about sequels. What do you think compels authors to write them? Can a sequel ever live up to a book like Holes, which received so many positive reviews and awards?
This book has some edgy material, even though it is marketed for 10+. Common Sense Media gave it a 12+ rating, even though it marked Holes at 9+ -- what do you think? Parents may want to encourage kids to leave their own age recommendations (and overall opinion) by signing into the site and writing a short review.
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AGE
I think this was an amazing book! Kiara was a great role model and how Armpit was trying to turn his life around was so positive! I read it with my book club run by two eleven year-olds with all eleven year olds in it. It was awesome, but for anyone under the age of ten i would advise that the parent/gaurdian flips through the book first.
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AGE
Best Book EVER!!!!
I LOVE THIS BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It is romantic, adventurous and Amazing, it is the best book school has ever made me read!!!!!! and thats saying something. The way Armpit falls in love with pop sensation Kara and how he saves the day at the end is awesome.
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AGE
perfect for kids over 12
I like samll steps because it is very interesting and X-ray trys to sell tickets but there fake and gets sent to a camo called Green lake i also think its good becuase Armpits always getting him self into trouble.
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Kid, 12 years old
September 25, 2009
AGE
Ages 11+
Awesome book mostly sexual content and some language, A girl has a seizure in front of a whole crowd at a concert
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AGE
this book is better for teens then kids
i luv this book that i did it for my book peport
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AGE
Small Steps
This book is one of the best books i've ever read. if you are thinking about reading this than you should read holes first. you shouldnt read this book if you are younger than 12 because they have books that have ideas about sex. children shouldnt read about that. but behind a couple little things this book is amazing. it teaches you things you need in the future.
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AGE
Not a small step in the plotline of "Holes"
When I finally got my hands on this book and got down to reading it, I couldn't stop. It's a really good sequel; it carries on two characters that we barely heard about in the first book. Armpit's and X-Ray's, a.k.a. Theodore and Rex, exploits are detailed in a humourous and true way. I really liked Armpit's viewpoint of how different races were viewed, and how he himself (with a criminal history) was viewed. I silently cheered everytime a person or family formed a new opinion of Armpit. I loved how Armpit treated Ginny like his little sister, and how a relationship developed with Kathy. A good book.
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AGE
X-ray and Armpit get sent to camp green lake for commiting a crime. x-ray goes for selling dry parsley and saying it is marijuana and Armpit goes for getting into a fight that eventually gets out of hand. When the two boys get out of Camp Green Lake X-ray is up to no good again he isbuying tickets then selling them onwards but when Armpit asks for a ticket he gives him a fake one. X-ray does eventually gets cot out and there is consequences.
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AGE
Small Steps
I think it is a great book and should be read with a parent if under 10. I did with my kids and they loved it but I had to be there to help them understand some words. So let me just say in shoter version ist's a good book and it is kind of confusing for kids unde 10 yeas old
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Kid, 12 years old
May 8, 2011
AGE
SMALL STEPS > HOLES
BEST BOOK EVA!
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| Author: | Louis Sachar |
| Book type: | Fiction |
| Genre: | Contemporary Fiction |
| Publisher: | Delacorte Press |
| Publication date: | January 9, 2006 |
| Number of pages: | 257 |
| Hardcover price: | $16.95 |
| Publisher's recommended age(s): | 10 - 10 |
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