Small Steps

By: Louis Sachar

Narrated by: Curtis McClarin

The young adult follow-up to the bestselling Newbery Award book and movie sensation, Holes.

Two years after being released from Camp Green Lake, Armpit is home in Austin, Texas, trying to turn his life around. But it's hard when you have a record and everyone expects the worst from you. The only person who believe in Armpit is Ginny, his ten-year-old disabled neighbor. Together, they are learning to take small steps.

Armpit seems to be on the right path until X-Ray, a buddy from Camp Green Lake, comes up with a get-rich-quick scheme. X-Ray's plan leads to a chance encounter with teen pop sensation Kaira DeLeon, the Beyoncé of her time, and suddenly Armpit's life spins out of control. Only one thing is certain: he'll never be the same again.

Combining his signature wit with a unique blend of adventure and deeply felt characters, Sachar explores issues of race, the nature of celebrity, the invisible connections that shape a person's life, and what it takes to stay the course. Doing the right thing is never a wrong choice—but always a small step in right direction.

©2006 Louis Sachar; (P)2006 Random House, Inc. Listening Library, an imprint of the Random House Audio Publishing Group

Critic reviews

"Louis Sachar is magic to the toughest circle of critics: librarians, children’s booksellers, teachers – and, most of all, kids."
–USA Today

"Sachar’s touch is as deft as ever and the book is a page-turner."
–Detroit Free-Press

"Mr. Sachar's gentle but surefire approach nails down challenging issues such as racism, teen romance and drugs."
–Dallas Morning News

"Sachar has a talent for creating realistic relationships between unlikely friends. Although that's a staple device of children's literature, it often works by drawing on clichés. Sachar's characters, though, are never stereotypes, but always vividly alive."
–Los Angeles Times

"His prose is clear and relaxed, and funny in a low-key, observant way."
–New York Times

"Part of what makes Small Steps so believable and appealing is that its characters do have insecurities, and they aren’t ashamed to let them show."
–BookPage

"Sachar is a master storyteller who creates memorable characters."
–School Library Journal

"Cleverly wrought…heartwarming, witty and suspenseful."
–Time Out New York Kids

Praise for Louis Sachar’s Holes:

"A dazzling blend of social commentary, tall tale and magic realism."
–Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"A brilliant achievement."
–School Library Journal

"A smart jigsaw puzzle of a novel."
–The New York Times

"Imaginative plotting and memorable characters make this novel a winner."
–Book Magazine

Surprisingly interesting story and character development!

This book was so much better than expected! Not only do we get to catch up with some of the characters from the first book but, the story is compelling on its own. It has an intriguing plot and subplot, a surprising amount of action, and a sweet romance. I was also pleasantly surprised by a touching and unexpected friendship that brought new depth to a character that little was told about before. I definitely would recommend it.

Kira Never Gave Up. Thanks For Touching my heart

Expect a letter sooner or later
Maybe I don't know where you are
Thank You So Much For Writing this book

2 book of holes

OMG so good and inspiring it is the best book ever made😻😻😻🤙🤙🤙🤩 I love the book holes it is the first book 📕

Great Sequel are there more?!

I didn’t realize Holes had a sequel! This was a sweet story about Armpit. I recommended it to many of my students who enjoyed Holes. Great audio voice.

I,m love it so much that I have been playing it 72

GT TV their own and I will be a good time to get the same as the same as the same as the same as the same as the