Book Review: Small Steps
Rated by 2 members
What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that this is pretty edgy for a book
aimed at 10-year-olds. There are references to sex and drugs, a
bit of pretty nasty violence, the hero is involved, mostly
through stupidity, in some shady dealings.
Families who read this book could discuss what it's like for a convict trying to get his life together. How would you deal with the difficulties and unfairness? Why are his own parents so suspicious of him? Issues of race are also raised. Why are people afraid of Armpit? Is this reasonable? Another important theme is fame, which here is presented in a negative light. After reading about Kaira's life, would you want to be famous? Why or why not?
Common Sense Media Review
Holes was a masterpiece of craftsmanship, a complex
symphony of disparate thematic elements and vibrant characters
woven together in intricate pattern that resolved perfectly.
It's hard to believe that
Small Steps was written by the same author: this is
more of a tangle of elements that resolves into an ill-fitting
mess. It seems like the author couldn't quite decide which way
to go, and he picks up characters, situations, and ideas, and
then drops them again. For example, Ginny, the girl with CP, is
a major character in the first half of the book. Then, when
presumably she has fulfilled her function of showing what a
great guy Armpit is, she virtually disappears.
None of this keeps the book from being entertaining. Sachar doesn't seem to know how to write a book that isn't fun and enjoyable. But Holes set the bar a lot higher, and for the sequel to that Newbery Medalist and National Book Award winner something more is expected -- a higher degree of craftsmanship, depth, sophistication, emotional power, all of which are missing here. Fans of the first book will no doubt want to read it and may even enjoy it (though the whole romance section of the book appeals to an entirely different audience), but they won't find it as memorable or as powerful.
Common Sense Media is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing information to help parents make media and entertainment choices for their families.
