Common Sense Media Review
Holes sequel delves into edgier territory.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 12+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 2 parent reviews
Based on 25 kid reviews
Kids say the book is a mixed bag, with some readers finding it disappointing compared to its predecessor, while others praise its creative story and deeper themes. It features a blend of romance and violence that may not be suitable for younger audiences, and has been described as both captivating and confusing depending on the age of the reader.
- creative storyline
- deep themes
- mixed reviews
- age suitability
- violent content
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
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?
It's hard to believe that SMALL STEPS was written by the same author as Holes: This is more of a tangle of elements that resolves into an ill-fitting mess. Holes was a masterpiece of craftsmanship, a complex symphony of disparate thematic elements and vibrant characters woven together in intricate pattern that resolved perfectly.
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.
Talk to Your Kids 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.
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Contemporary Fiction
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Delacorte Press
- Publication date : January 9, 2006
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 10 - 10
- Number of pages : 257
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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