The sequel to Holes, focuses on Armpit, an African-American former resident of Tent D at Camp Green Lake. It's two years after his release, and the 16-year-old is still digging holes, although now getting paid for it, working for a landscaper in his hometown of Austin, TX. He's trying to turn his life around, knowing that everyone expects the worst of him and that he must take small steps to keep moving forward. When X-Ray, his friend and fellow former detainee at the juvenile detention center, comes up with a get-rich-quick scheme involving scalping tickets to a concert by teenage pop star Kaira DeLeon, Armpit fronts X-Ray the money. He takes his best friend and neighbor, Ginny, a 10-year-old with cerebral palsy, to the concert and ends up meeting Kaira, getting romantically involved, and finally becoming a hero... I won't say much being I don't want to give the story away... except that I was disappointed by the ending. It seemed a little far-fetched and unrealistic making it hard for kids to relate. However, Armpit's relationship with Ginny, the first person to care for him, look up to him, and give his life meaning, is a compassionate one. Like Holes, Small Steps is a story about redemption, friendship, self-sacrifice, and doing the right thing. Recommend reading various parts of the book as a read aloud (Ch. 3, Ch. 7) which focus on Armpit and Ginny's friendship.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Small Steps by Louis Sachar
The sequel to Holes, focuses on Armpit, an African-American former resident of Tent D at Camp Green Lake. It's two years after his release, and the 16-year-old is still digging holes, although now getting paid for it, working for a landscaper in his hometown of Austin, TX. He's trying to turn his life around, knowing that everyone expects the worst of him and that he must take small steps to keep moving forward. When X-Ray, his friend and fellow former detainee at the juvenile detention center, comes up with a get-rich-quick scheme involving scalping tickets to a concert by teenage pop star Kaira DeLeon, Armpit fronts X-Ray the money. He takes his best friend and neighbor, Ginny, a 10-year-old with cerebral palsy, to the concert and ends up meeting Kaira, getting romantically involved, and finally becoming a hero... I won't say much being I don't want to give the story away... except that I was disappointed by the ending. It seemed a little far-fetched and unrealistic making it hard for kids to relate. However, Armpit's relationship with Ginny, the first person to care for him, look up to him, and give his life meaning, is a compassionate one. Like Holes, Small Steps is a story about redemption, friendship, self-sacrifice, and doing the right thing. Recommend reading various parts of the book as a read aloud (Ch. 3, Ch. 7) which focus on Armpit and Ginny's friendship.
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