Stephanie Chen

Beautiful sequel. I love how it feels plot and setting wise, much “smaller”/intimate than Holes which has this powerful thematic “destiny through time” (or a literal sense of intergenerational trauma) appeal in an abstract feeling desert wasteland, but Small Steps feels in our world, a comforting/relatable setting with even more warm moments (although the warmth in Holes at the Gods finger, an Eden of onions and water flowing upward, was this unbeatable visual/olfactory/synesthesiac masterpiece). The warmth in this book makes the character development even better than Holes: Armpit is a very real, very relatable character and Kaira is as well, for real. I have been “Kaira” to an extent and felt similar feelings about people like “Armpit”. I really like the small steps aspect in the book, it makes me feel comforted. Tatiana as a character was annoying, but also realistic. I just like the way Sachar told these two stories: both have destiny as their aspect, the first in a big way, the second showing small actions (just like the first! It was choosing compassion & love that led to destiny!) and planting good seeds in life via loving changes everything in life.