Small Steps (by Louis Sachar)

Nearly ten years ago I read the teenage novel ‘Holes’ by Louis Sachar, and liked it very much. So when I spotted ‘Small Steps’ by the same author on a church bookstall a little over a year ago, it was not a difficult decision to pay 50 cents to buy it. I didn’t pick it up to read until a few days ago, however, and have just finished it.

The main protagonist is a teenage boy whose real name is Theodore. He is determined to get rid of the nickname ‘Armpit, but that’s how the author mainly refers to him’. He was one of the characters in ‘Holes’, when he was sent to a juvenile correction facility; butt as it was so long ago when I read it, I didn’t recall him. It didn’t matter. There are references to his past, and the reason for him having been sent to the camp is mentioned, but ‘Small Steps’ stands alone.

Theodore is working hard. He goes to high school where he is determined to graduate (the book is American), and he also works as a kind of trainee gardener. He lives with his parents - who are very suspicious of him, and quite rude at times - and has been saving as much as he can of his earnings. I was startled when the amount in his bank account was mentioned. But he works hard, and is determined to stay out of trouble…

Unfortunately Armpit has a friend known as X-Ray who is quite manipulative. And Armpit is soft-hearted and finds it hard to stand up to anyone. So when X-Ray persuades him to join him on a slightly dubious ‘business’ deal, and - more importantly - to put up most of the money, Armpit agrees, albeit reluctantly.

Alongside the story of these boys is the story about a teenage girl called Kaira who has become a pop sensation. She has a fabulous voice, but not much of a life. Her stepfather is her business manager and she doesn’t like him at all. She is protected on all sides, and not supposed to mingle even with her band.

There’s another side subplot involving a ten-year-old girl called Ginny. She lives next-door to Armpit and his parents, and despite many differences the two are very close friends. Ginny has cerebral palsy, and the author manages to explain the condition and give Ginny a very positive, likeable character. Armpit looks after her when he can, and Ginny encourages and supports him.

X-Ray’s business venture involves re-selling tickets to Kaira’s upcoming concert, which is where the two subplots come together.

The writing is good, sometimes a tad too crisp for my tastes, but likely to appeal to younger readers. I kept thinking I knew where the story was going, and was pleasantly surprised, on the whole, when something entirely different transpired. It would have been all too easy for the gullible Armpit to lose all his money, or to be thrown out of the concert when another problem transpires. But the author cleverly finds unexpected ways through or out of each scenario, and I found it quite difficult to put down.

It’s not a story for young children. There are one or two sexual references and some mild bad language; there’s also some serious violence. It’s not gory, but some of it is quite unpleasant. There are a lot of references to racial discrimination and abuse, and also some insights into the lonely life of a popular singer. There’s betrayal and double-crossing, and a great deal of lying to the police.

And yet it’s an extremely appealing book. I’d have liked a bit more closure in the ending, but perhaps the author will write another book about these characters one day.

Recommended to anyone over the age of about eleven or twelve.

Review copyright 2020 Sue's Book Reviews