Books › Small steps
Small steps
288 pages
A big-hearted, gently funny exploration of an underdog trying to do the right thing when the world expects him to fail.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like walking a tightrope of cautious hope. The narrative moves at a brisk, highly readable pace, anchored by short chapters and a deceptively simple prose style that masks deep emotional intelligence. There is a persistent, low-level anxiety humming in the background, reflecting the very real fear of a marginalized kid making one wrong move and losing everything, but it is constantly softened by profound warmth and wry humor. The atmosphere is grounded and deeply empathetic, wrapping the reader in the messy, beautiful reality of unlikely friendships and the struggle to rebuild a life. It will absolutely delight fans of underdog narratives who appreciate a story that balances real-world grit with a tender, beating heart.
- Mood
- grounded
- warm
- anxious
- redemptive
- Tone
- earnest
- wry
- empathetic
- hopeful
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- second chances · unlikely friendships · overcoming prejudice · the illusion of celebrity · incremental progress
- The writing
- Clean, accessible, and deceptively simple, utilizing short chapters and dry wit to navigate complex social realities.
- The arc
- Moves from cautious, fragile optimism through chaotic temptation, ultimately landing on a grounded, hard-won sense of self-worth.
- Who it's for
- Readers who love rooting for a misunderstood underdog and appreciate stories that balance real-world grit with quirky, big-hearted humor.
Content notes
- ableism
- racism
- juvenile justice system
- mild violence
About the book
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 believes in him is Ginny, his 10-year old disabled neighbor. Together, they are learning to take small steps. And he seems to be on the right path, until X-Ray, a buddy from Camp Green Lake, comes up with a get-rich-quick scheme. This leads to a chance encounter with teen pop sensation, Kaira DeLeon, and suddenly his life spins out of control, with only one thing for certain. He'll never be the same again.In his first major novel since Holes, critically acclaimed novelist Louis Sachar uses his signature wit combined with a unique blend of adventure and deeply felt characters to explore issues of race, the nature of celebrity, the invisible connections that determine a person's life, and what it takes to stay on course. Doing the right thing is never a wrong choice--but a small step in the right direction.
Description from Open Library.
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Stanley Yelnats' Survival Guide to Camp Green LakeLouis SacharA wry, tongue-in-cheek manual for surviving the harshest, dustiest juvenile detention camp imaginable.
HolesLouis SacharA sun-baked, puzzle-box tall tale where generations of bad luck collide in the desert dust.
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