What Are The Real Themes For Small Steps?

Friendship~ Friendship truly makes a stand in this book. The fact that Armpit and Ginny are good enough friends that Armpit can share his soft side with Ginny, means that friendship takes a big lead in the novel. Also, the friendship between Kaira and Armpit grows throughout the book.
Betrayal~ Betrayal is obviously a horrible thing. To be one that would turn on someone else, means that the one that you have just disrespected, is a loss of a great friend. There are a couple of characters in this novel that turn on someone. As Kaira's mom trusts El Genius with her whole life, Kaira on the other hand does not like him one bit. In order for a conflict to occur, something has to happen between the characters. In the book, one of those things just happens to be the dreadful theme of betrayal.
Love~ Obviously, the relationship between Kaira and Armpit strengthens throughout the novel. They become better and better friends and the trust between them grows. One thing is for sure, they both liked eachother for who they were and isn't that what love is about? Love takes an important role in this novel because it turns the conflict around.

Book Review

Small Steps

By Louis Sachar

Reviewed by Hunter B.
Rating:

When you think of novels, you think of experiences of someone else's memories. Small Steps is a book with memories containing both the truth and the untold. Small Steps takes place on the Western side of Houston Texas and is about a 15 year-old boy named Theodore (also known as Armpit from the best-seller Holes) trying to get his life back on track after being sent to Camp Green Lake, a juvenile correctional facility. He is finally starting to get his life back where it should be when his friend X-ray comes up with a get rich quick scheme by scallping tickets for a Kaira De Leon Concert. The plot then leads to another and ounce that happens, both Kaira and Armpit's lives change forever. This book is about two completely different people who's lives are somehow similar and about the way that two different life styles that can be related in so many ways.
I truly like this book because the author sticked to one main plot. He was also really descriptive with his writing and character detail that I felt really close to each of them. I could really relate to the characters feelings throughout the novel and I understood what they were going through. For example, guilt can be a pretty harsh thing and Armpit's parents haven't trusted him since he's been to Camp Green Lake. Also, I like how the author gives certain elements that really hep the reader stick to the big idea. One of the many elements that Louis Sachar used in his writing was using Kaira's lyrics to sum up what is happening in the novel. Small Steps is a great book and has made it to my top three authors because of this book. Even if you are into books that seem more fictional conflicts or settings, this book has left a pretty unreal and memorable image in my head and I now look at conflicts differently.
Overall, I highly recommend this book to others. Even if you are one of those people who likes their books to be straight forward, this novel has been one of the best that I have read. I don't think that gender matters when it comes to Louis Sachar for he does a good job introducing characters to many people who they would seem fictional. If anything, this book should go to those who think outside of the box for surprises are hidden around every corner.