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.