Small Steps #8

Choose three of the themes you wrote about today and write about them on your blog. Don't forget to provide evidence for your thinking.

ANGER: Theodore was very angry at X-Ray when he figured out that he had given him phony concert tickets, so when X-Ray visited him, Theodore backed him up against the wall and told him he was going to kill him. Luckily, though, his mom walked in. Kaira was mad at Theodore when she thought he was "just another hustler" and only wanted money out of her, not a serious relationship.

BETRAYAL: Jerome Paisley and Aileen betrayed both Kaira and her mom by taking millions of dollars out of Kaira's trust acccount. Aileen also betrayed Jerome because he thought that once the money was successfully stolen, Aileen and him would live together. But Aileen secretly refused to spend the rest of her life with him, so when she booked the plane ticket for Theodore to go to San Francisco, she also booked a flight for herself, betraying Jerome.

LOVE: Ginny loved her stuffed animals (or "lovies", as she called them) a lot because she could relate to them. They all had disabilities. Theodore and Kaira were in love for a while, before Theodore messed everything up and Kaira misunderstood him.

Small Steps #7

Enter your book review.

Small Steps
Louis Sachar

Reviewed by: Emily
Rating: * * * * * (out of 5)

Have you ever taken small steps to achieve a big goal? In the young adult fiction novel, by Louis Sachar, the main character Theodore (also known as Armpit) did too. Small Steps is about Theodore unwillingly getting pressured into becoming a ticket scalper for a Kaira DeLeon concert by his old Camp Green Lake buddy, X-Ray. Theodore didn't want to risk being a ticket scalper because his life seemed to be slowly falling into place and if he and X-Ray got caught, it could lead to jail for the both of them.
It is also about the teen pop sensation Kaira DeLeon (who's concert Theodore and X-Ray are using to make some money for themselves) and the obstacles she has to face to overcome the difficulties in her life. For example, her stepfather/manager named Jerome Paisley (but likes to be called "El Genius") seems like he's up to something; her backup singers hate her for taking all of the attention; when she tries to have a serious talk with her mom about her concerns, her mom doesn't want to listen to her; and she has no friends to talk to.

I really like this book because it is very realistic and easy to relate to. I feel like I can relate to Kaira the most because her parents and bodyguard are overprotective on occasion, and so are my parents. Kaira has an adventurous spirit, and I like to think that I do too. I can also relate to X-Ray, but not because he has the mind of a criminal. I can relate to him because he likes to have fun and entertain everyone around him. For example, when he was talking to Theodore about selling tickets and Ginny was with him, he made up a story about how he got a huge dent on the side of his car. "'Say, Ginny, did I ever tell you what happened to my car?' X-Ray asked, pointing to the big gash in driver-side door.
'No.'
'I'm driving along Mopac, and this dinosaur leaps out and takes a big bite out of my door! Scared me half to death.'
Ginny laughed.
'Look, do you see the teeth marks?'
Ginny pushed back her glasses on her nose. 'Yes.'
'I think it was a T. Rex! Can you believe it?'
'No.'
X-Ray laughed."
As this quote from the novel shows, X-Ray likes to entertain people when it's a good time, but when it comes down to business, he is very serious, like me. As I said, this novel kept me interested because I could totally relate to a lot of what was going on.

I would definately reccomend this novel to both girls and boys. I think people around the ages of 10 or 11 and up would understand this book thoroughly enough enjoy it to its full potential. If you like music, I think you would like this book as much as I did! But before you read Small Steps, be sure to read the original book, Holes! It is also amazing is practically impossible to put down. I think that even people who do not like fiction books should try reading this series. I don't think you'll be sorry!

Small Steps #6

After nearly finishing the novel, do you think you would enjoy being a music star that travels the world preforming? Why or why not?

I don't think I would really want to be a famous singer. First of all, I can't sing very good (in my opinion). Second, I do not really want to be known worldwide when I am older because people can have really nasty opnions of celebrities, and I don't like when others have bad opinions of me. So what I'm trying to say is; maybe I would enjoy being a famous singer, but probably not.

Small Steps #5

Choose some of Kaira's lyrics from the chapters assigned tonight (25-28), or others. How do they relate to the novel?

Some of Kaira DeLeon's lyrics from her song, Damsel in Distress, go:

These shoes, these jewls, this dress,

a perfect picture of success.

Oh, you would never guess, 

I'm but a damsel in distress.

Save me!

I'm but a damsel in distress.

I think this song is actually written about her real life. Even though you would think she has the dream life (being a national celebrity; having a great voice; being beautiful and attractive; and having everything done for her), I don't think she is truly happy. For example, Kaira doesn't have any friends; which means the only person she can really talk to is Polly, her psychiatrist. She was also very sad when Cotton (her drummer) was fired because he was sort of her friend, even though he was about 30 years older than her. So I guess what I'm trying to say is that even though celebrities may seem to have perfect lives, the truth is they're probably having as many troubles as you are!

Small Steps #4

Questions I Would Want to Ask El Genius (Kaira DeLeon's Manager and Stepfather):

1. Why are you so mean to Kaira?
2. Do you take steroids?
3. Did you fire Cotton because of what he said about rock 'n' roll? If not, then why?
4. Why did you marry Kaira's mom if you really want to live with Aileen?
5. How much money do you think Aileen is taking out of Kaira's savings?

Small Steps #3

Respond to the favorite character poll. Explain your rational (reasoning) behind your choice of favorite characters.

I responded to the favorite character poll on Mr. Talner's page. Out of Armpit, Kaira, Ginny, and X-Ray, I chose Kaira. I decided to choose Kaira because she seems like an average teen: curious; trouble-making; adventurous; and always trying to make friends. I like how real she seems, and I can relate to her in a lot of ways (even though I'm not rich or a celebrity).

Small Steps #2

Tell me a bit about Armpit's experience at the police station.

Armpit was at the police station to watch somebody get interrogated. Little did he know that the person would be X-Ray! Armpit was hidden behind a 1-way mirror, so X-Ray had no idea that he was there. Although Armpit was really worried that X-Ray would screw everything up and tell Detective Debbie Newberg what really happened, he surprisingly was very smooth about it and didn't tell Detective Newberg anything that would get him and Armpit in trouble. When asked if he knew a guy named Armpit, he "didn't even flinch", which made Armpit feel a lot better and actually start to have some hope that X-Ray wouldn't blow everything. At the end of the questioning though, Ms. Newberg caught him. She already knew that X-Ray and Armpit had gone to a place callen Smokestack Lightnin' to sell a couple of tickets, so she knew that he had lied when he said that he had never met Armpit in his life. But somehow, X-Ray weaseled his way out of the question and other lies Detective Newberg had noticed. In the end, Ms. Newberg was still suspicious, but she let X-Ray go.