Small Steps
by Louis Sachar
Read if you're interested in spiritual growth, relationships, or books for young adult.
This sequel to 'Holes' follows Armpit, one of Stanley Yelnats's former companions from Camp Green Lake, as he navigates life after his release. He attempts to build a new life, working and befriending a disabled girl named Ginny, but his past soon catches up to him through a former camp inmate and a pop star.
- — Explores themes of overcoming adversity and attempting to make a fresh start after difficult circumstances.
- — Highlights the importance of friendship and caring for others, particularly seen in Armpit's relationship with Ginny.
- — Promotes perseverance and hard work as paths to a better future, as Armpit strives to earn money for his education.
- — While not overtly anti-Christian, the book does not explicitly touch on faith or spiritual solutions to life's challenges.
- — Contains instances of mild language common in young adult fiction, which some Christian readers may find unnecessary.
- — The storyline involves dealing with a manipulative character (X-Ray) and a famous pop star, showcasing aspects of worldly ambition and superficiality that are not directly critiqued from a Christian perspective.
Christian readers, particularly young adults, can appreciate the themes of resilience and positive relationships in 'Small Steps.' However, parents might wish to discuss the absence of faith-based solutions to problems and address the mild language. It serves as a good discussion starter on navigating difficult pasts and making responsible choices, even if God's role isn't explicitly mentioned.
“Christian readers, particularly young adults, can appreciate the themes of resilience and positive relationships in 'Small Steps.' However, parents might wish to discuss the absence of faith-based solutions to problems and address the mild language. It serves as a good discussion starter on navigating difficult pasts and making responsible choices, even if God's role isn't explicitly mentioned.”
- —Explores themes of overcoming adversity and attempting to make a fresh start after difficult circumstances.
- —Highlights the importance of friendship and caring for others, particularly seen in Armpit's relationship with Ginny.
- —Promotes perseverance and hard work as paths to a better future, as Armpit strives to earn money for his education.
- —The narrative subtly emphasizes the long-term consequences of choices made in the past, even when trying to move forward.
- —While not overtly anti-Christian, the book does not explicitly touch on faith or spiritual solutions to life's challenges.
- —Contains instances of mild language common in young adult fiction, which some Christian readers may find unnecessary.
- —The storyline involves dealing with a manipulative character (X-Ray) and a famous pop star, showcasing aspects of worldly ambition and superficiality that are not directly critiqued from a Christian perspective.
- —Justice is primarily dispensed through secular means rather than through themes of divine justice or redemption.
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