Small steps by Louis Sacher

Armpit, released from Camp Green Lake detention centre, where he dug holes for the warden, is advised by his counselor to take small steps if he wants to avoid being one of the 78% of African Americans who return to jail after their release. Determined not to be another statistic, Armpit enrolls at school, and takes a part time job. But he reckons without his Camp Green Lake acquaintance, X-Ray, who turns up offering Armpit the chance to make money.

Readers will instantly know that Armpit will not make a good choice, but he is such a strongly drawn character, that readers will wish that he succeeds. In this exciting adventure story, Armpit's good nature comes to the fore, as he befriends the disabled girl next door, is attracted to a girl in his class whose friends scare her off, as he deals with his friend, X-Ray and his schemes. A very likeable and funny read about the boys who once inhabited the world of Holes, Small steps is easy to read with lots of twists and turns, as Armpit befriends a singer whose manager wants her dead.

Fran Knight