Small Steps Themes

Theme- Evidence




Betrayal- When X-Ray sold the last two tickets instead of giving them to
Armpit like he said he would, Armpit felt very betrayed. Also
Felix and Moses beat X-Ray and Armpit up because Armpit
wouldn't give them the letter that Kaira wrote him


Love- Kaira and Armpit are in love throughout the novel. They hold
hands, they kiss, they go on dates, and they "ditch the doofus".


Embarrassment- Kaira was embarrassed when she found out that Armpit had received the embarrassing letter she sent him.


Nervousness- When Detective Newberg came to Armpit's house, Armpit was mumbling and saying things that he shouldn't have said.



Frustration- When Armpit found out that X-Ray had given him counterfeit
tickets, he was so frustrated that he picked X-Ray up by the
collar and held him against the wall.

Small Steps Book Review

Small Steps
By Louis Sachar

Reviewed by: Julia B.
Rating: (out of 5)





Action packed, adventurous, and shocking. If your into those kind of books, than this is definitely the book for you. After returning from Camp Green Lake, a place for juvenile delinquents, Theodore, more commonly known as Armpit, is trying to set his life back on track. Thanks to his ten year old neighbor with cerebral palsy named Ginny, he's well along the way. Together they learn to take small steps.

1. graduate high school

2. attend 2 years of Austin community college

3. do well enough to transfer to the university of Texas

4. don't do anything stupid

5. lose the name Armpit

But when armpit's friend from Camp Green Lake x-ray comes up with a get rich quick scheme, everything he's worked for goes down the drain. He finds himself being chased by the police, at a Kaira DeLeon concert with counterfeit tickets, Ginny on the floor having a seizure, himself on the ground being bashed by a police officer, and coffee stains on his sweatshirt.


Reading other realistic fiction books, I knew this one would be good. It is one of the best books i have ever read. It's edgy, knowing how smart the police are, how dumb x-ray is, and how nervous armpit is. Kaira DeLeon is definitely my favorite character. She is so understanding. She told her drummer not to worry because when she was 18, she would fire her manager and hire him back. ll in a calm voice. The humor is different. Its more like making fun of what somebody said. For instance, Ginny said "i would kiss her." and Armpit said "You would kiss her!" stuff like that.


I would definitely recommend this book to 3rd grade and up. It's a kind of mature book. There are a few drug references, a few fights, and a few curse words. So 3rd and up is definitely the right age level. Everybody will love this book.

Small Steps

Small Steps Music Star

I don't think i would want to be a famous music star. Just all the publicity would make me sick! Everybody knows your name, selling stuff of yours, and writing creepy letters to you, is not my kind of thing. Who knows what wackos like you, and which don't. And being followed and watched constantly! Never getting your own privacy or own time with friends you wont have. I can't imagine life without boys. It would be so quiet. And without best friends! That would be a sight to see! But I would LOVE to show jump horses!

Small Steps

Armpit's Trip to the Police Station

Armpit went to the police station with detective newberg. When they arrived, x-ray was sitting at the end of a table in a room with windows that could see in, but not out. There were speakers all around, and detective newberg told armpit to take notes while he watched her ask
x-ray questions. He could see x-ray, but x-ray could not see him.

Small Steps

Charachter Questions

Questions for Kaira
1. what is it like to be a famous star?
2. how does it feel being watched 24/7?
3. how does it feel with no friends?
4. how can you stand not knowing any boys?
5. how did it feel when you met ginny and theodore?

Questions for X-ray
1. why are you so obbsesed with money?
2. why would you betray your friend?
3. why would you take all of armpit's money?
4. why do you lie?
5. why don't you learn from your mistakes?

Questions for Armpit
1. how did it feel being on a date with kaira?
2. what is it like being untrusted?
3. what was it like almost kissing kaira?
4. what do you think of x-ray?
5. do you trust x-ray?

Small Steps

Kaira's Lyrics & Significance

Theses Are some lyrics that go along with the book...

Theses shoes, theses jewels, this dress.
I'm but a damsel in distress.
Save me I'm but a damsel in distress.

The lyrics relate to the story because when Armpit here's the song. He thinks she says something else. But he knows she doesn't. He thinks she says...

These shoes, theses jewels, this dress.
Armpit a damsel in distress.
Save me Armpit a damsel in distress.

At the concert after the one in Austin, she actually sang...

These shoes, theses jewels. this dress.
Armpit a damsel in distress.
Save me Armpit a damsel in distress.

These shoes, these jewels, this dress... mean like her life in luxury. So all together...

These shoes, these jewels, this dress,
I'm but a damsel in distress... mean her life in luxury is making her lose control and be in distress.

Small Steps

Small Steps My Favorite Charachter

My Favorite charachter is Kaira. The reason she is my favorite is because she is a beautiful, famous, and popular singer, thats also reallly nice and caring. Besides, if she has a crush, that makes the story WAY more interesting. If Kaira met Armpit at her concert that he scalped tickets for, even though his are counterfeit, then x-ray doesn't tell armpit because he thought that it would work out but it didn't and now Armpit has a crush on Kaira now and Kaira now likes Armpit and x-ray owes alot of money. But Kaira is always under control and stays out of harms way. And she made the right choice going on "the date" with Armpit. Stupid Doofus had to ruin it. They were about to kiss! Kaira got mad, but stayed under control.