Small Steps

This is the sequel to Louis Sachar's award-winning Holes. It follows up two of the characters after leaving juvenile detention and like Holes has a mixture of gritty reality and complete fantasy. I like that about his books.

Basically, Armpit - big, tough, black, shy - is catching up on his schooling and earning some money when a friend - X-Ray - gets him involved in ticket-scalping for a famous singer, assuring him it isn't illegal. The scam leads him into trouble, but going to the concert - with his neighbour, a girl with cerebral palsy - leads him to the singer, first love, and nearly a murder charge.

It's told in a straight-forward manner without too much sentimentality, it has Sachar's sly humour, and it makes some serious points well. It's not Holes, no way, but it's still pretty good.