Small Steps (novel)

infobox Book |
name = Small Steps


image_caption = US first edition cover
author = Louis Sachar
illustrator =
cover_artist =
country = flagicon|United States United States of America
language = English
series =
genre = Young adult novel
publisher = Delacorte Press (US), Bloomsbury (UK)
release_date = January 10, 2006
english_release_date =
media_type = Print (Hardback)
pages = 260 pp
isbn = ISBN 0-385-73314-3 (US hardback edition) ISBN 0-7475-8030-8 (UK hardback edition)
sequel to = Holes (novel)

"Small Steps" is a young adult novel by Louis Sachar written in 2006. It is a sequel to "Holes". The novel follows the lives of Theodore (Armpit) and Rex (X-Ray) after they leave Camp Green Lake.

Plot

After being released from Camp Green Lake, a juvenile correctional facility, Theodore (Armpit) is back home at Austin, Texas, trying to rebuild a stable life by digging holes and installing pipes and sprinkler systems. He befriends his white neighbor, Ginny McDonald, a 10 year old who has cerebral palsy. X-Ray, his friend from Camp Green Lake, one day visits to make a deal with Armpit about selling cheap Kaira DeLeon concert tickets to people who are in for more money than the original cost, and Armpit is reluctant to do so at first, as he believes he should take slow and small steps in the right direction rather than taking a huge step in the wrong direction, but finally agrees. They sell ten tickets, with two remaining, and Armpit decides to go to see the concert with Ginny, a big fan of Kaira DeLeon. X-Ray doesn’t like what Armpit’s doing, but gives the tickets to Armpit. However, the tickets happen to be counterfeit tickets, and eventually Armpit is handcuffed, as Ginny begins to have a mild seizure. Thanks to the mayor, Armpit helps Ginny to calm down, Kaira DeLeon comes to see why everything has been delayed, and invites Armpit and Ginny to watch from onstage. After the concert, as they are having a bowl of ice-cream with Kaira, she inquires about Armpit’s nickname, and Ginny whispers a hint to Kaira saying it is a part of the body. The next morning, X-Ray wakes Armpit up early, giving him the money from the two REAL tickets. Armpit vows to kill him when the phone rings. It is Kaira inviting him to have breakfast with her at the hotel she is staying at. After getting X-Ray to drive him to the hotel, he meets up with Kaira and ends up running out down a path beside the river with her, away from her bodyguard or "Doofus." Then, when Armpit is about to kiss her, the bodyguard shows up and ruins the moment.

Later, a police officer comes to Armpits house to interview him about the counterfeit tickets, saying that the mayor really wants to get to the bottom of it all. Armpit is asked to describe the scalper who sold him the tickets, and Armpit describes somebody called Habib, who was middle-eastern.

Armpit is invited to San Francisco by Kaira, then El Genius 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.

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.
*Cherry Lane - Mayor of Austin, Texas.

upporting 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.
*Jack Dunlevy - Armpit's boss in a landscaping firm.
*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 assistant. She discreetly stole about 3 million dollars out of Kaira's trust fund.