Small Steps

Small Steps is the indirect sequel to Holes and follows the fortunes of its protagonist, Armpit, once he leaves Camp Green Lake and returns home. He's happy enough trying to earn an honest living as a landscape gardener but two events conspire to send his easy life off the rails.

First his friend X-ray cooks up a scam to make a tidy fortune as a ticket tout, and second, he falls in love with a young and hugely famous singer. Just as joyous as Holes, Small Steps is full of appealing characters and weaves a similarly complex plot with skill.

The ending is not quite as strong as Holes in terms of its resolution, but fans of that first book will not be disappointed.