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.