Small Steps (novel)
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| Small Steps | |
 US first edition cover |
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| Author | Louis Sachar |
|---|---|
| Country |  |
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | Young adult novel |
| Publisher | Delacorte Press (US), Bloomsbury (UK) |
| Publication date | January 10, 2006 |
| Media type | Print (Hardback) |
| Pages | 260 pp |
| ISBN | ISBN 0-385-73314-3 (US hardback edition) ISBN 0-7475-8030-8 (UK hardback edition) |
| Preceded by | Holes (novel), but not a strict prequel |
Small Steps is a young adult novel by Louis Sachar written in 2006. It is a follow-up to Holes. The novel follows the lives of Theodore (Armpit) and Rex (X-Ray) after they leave Camp Green Lake.
[edit] Plot
After being released from the ill-managed Camp Green Lake, 17 year-old Theodore "Armpit" Johnson tries to rebuild a civilian life in Austin, Texas. His job is to dig trenches for the mayor of East Austin. He is a friend of Ginny McDonald, who has cerebral palsy, and who helps him with his so-called "silly" speech about bringing a stuffed animal and saying why it should be ruler of the world.
X-Ray comes in and makes a deal with Armpit about selling cheap Kaira DeLeon concert tickets to people who are in East Austin for more money than the original cost.
After selling most of the tickets, they eventually are stuck with 2 left. Despite the high demand for their last two tickets, X-Ray makes counterfeit copies and gives them to Armpit so he can take Tatiana. However, Tatiana cancels it, and he takes Ginny. Ginny has a seizure and Armpit almost gets arrested, and a sequence of events happens until Armpit and Ginny meet Kaira DeLeon, and watch from behind the speakers.
They eventually become good friends, when El Genuis plots to kill Kaira. After hitting her multiple times with a baseball bat, and stabbing Fred, Armpit comes in, and despite getting his arm broken by the bat, disarms him, and beats him. Police eventually come, and Kaira later recovers. She then is able to sing by February, albeit in a wavering, fragile voice.
[edit] Characters
- Theodore Thomas "Armpit" Johnson - A muscular African-American 17-year-old who was held at the ill-managed detainment center called Camp Green Lake after being involved in a fight. Now working to rebuild a civilian life.
- Rex Alvin "X-Ray" Washburn - A clever, sneaky 17-year-old sent to Camp Green Lake for selling parsley and oregano in bags to people who thought they were buying marijuana.
- Ginny McDonald - A 10-year-old girl with cerebral palsy. A close friend to Armpit.
- Kathy "Kaira DeLeon" Spears - An extremely famous African-American 17-year-old pop star. Grows fond of Armpit, though motive is unclear. Resents people for profiting from her activities.
- Jerome "El Genius" Paisley - Kaira's manager and stepfather. An intimidating man who is said to have only married Kaira's mother for her money. Also tries to kill her.
- Fred - Kaira's bodyguard. An overprotective man who Kaira dubs "Doofus".
- Felix - A young man who scalps tickets.
- Moses - Felix's partner-in-crime.
- Tatiana - A girl in Armpit's speech and economics class. Armpit may have a soft spot for her.
- Detective Debbie Newberg - A police detective who tries to solve the case of the counterfeit tickets.
[edit] Supporting characters
- Roxanne - Tatiana's best friend. Is very arrogant and dismissive of others.
- Mr. and Mrs. Johnson - Armpit's insecure parents.
- Alexander - A known-to-be crazy young man who offers Armpit a ride and offers to work with him and his friends.
- Sharese - A girl mentioned in the text.
- Billy "Goat" Gotlieb - Kaira's keyboard player.
- Cotton - Kaira's drummer.
- Tim B. - Kaira's guitarist.
- Duncan - Kaira's bassist.
- Rosemary - Kaira's hairdresser.
- Aileen - Kaira's Secretly Evil Assistant. She discreetly stole a lot of Kaira's money (around 3 million).
