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Small Steps
- 214 statements
- 41 feature instances
- 8 referencing feature instances
| Small Steps | type |
TVTItem | |
| Small Steps | label |
Small Steps | |
| Small Steps | page |
SmallSteps | |
| Small Steps | comment |
Small Steps is a young adult novel by Louis Sachar. It is a sequel to Holes which follows Theodore ("Armpit") and X-Ray after their release from Camp Green Lake.Two years later, Armpit is trying to finish passing high school, earn some money, and get his life back on track. X-Ray, however, plans a get-rich-quick scheme with him by scalping tickets. Those tickets, however, are for the concert of Kaira De Leon, a troubled teen pop singer. Their lives intersect in unexpected ways. | |
| Small Steps | fetched |
2024-02-28T21:01:53Z | |
| Small Steps | parsed |
2024-02-28T21:01:53Z | |
| Small Steps | processingComment |
Dropped link to DisabilitySuperpower: Not a Feature - IGNORE | |
| Small Steps | isPartOf |
DBTropes | |
| Small Steps / int_177a6464 | type |
Genre Shift | |
| Small Steps / int_177a6464 | comment |
Genre Shift: Small Steps is much more rooted in reality than Holes, being about ticket scalping and abusive music managers rather than curses and lost cowboy treasure. | |
| Small Steps / int_177a6464 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Small Steps / int_177a6464 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Small Steps | hasFeature |
Small Steps / int_177a6464 | |
| Small Steps / int_18d15922 | type |
Title Drop | |
| Small Steps / int_18d15922 | comment |
Title Drop: "Small steps" is Armpit's motto to rebuilding his life, as well as Ginny's recovery. It ends up being the title of Kaira's new song. | |
| Small Steps / int_18d15922 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Small Steps / int_18d15922 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Small Steps | hasFeature |
Small Steps / int_18d15922 | |
| Small Steps / int_2484396e | type |
Know-Nothing Know-It-All | |
| Small Steps / int_2484396e | comment |
Know-Nothing Know-It-All: El Genius. Kaira points out to him the parallel with her name and Juan Ponce de León, but he's never heard of him. He turns out to be smarter about committing murder. | |
| Small Steps / int_2484396e | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Small Steps / int_2484396e | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Small Steps | hasFeature |
Small Steps / int_2484396e | |
| Small Steps / int_2882c8c1 | type |
Career-Ending Injury | |
| Small Steps / int_2882c8c1 | comment |
Career-Ending Injury: El Genius used to be a baseball player in the Minor Leagues, until a baseball struck him in the face. This caused him to reflexively shut his eyes when swinging a bat, and he couldn't hit another pitch. | |
| Small Steps / int_2882c8c1 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Small Steps / int_2882c8c1 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Small Steps | hasFeature |
Small Steps / int_2882c8c1 | |
| Small Steps / int_28c1d543 | type |
Defrosting Ice Queen | |
| Small Steps / int_28c1d543 | comment |
Defrosting Ice Queen: To Armpit, Kaira opens up almost instantly, but it takes an entire murder attempt for her to open up to her bodyguard. | |
| Small Steps / int_28c1d543 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Small Steps / int_28c1d543 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Small Steps | hasFeature |
Small Steps / int_28c1d543 | |
| Small Steps / int_2dc0d2bf | type |
Hidden Depths | |
| Small Steps / int_2dc0d2bf | comment |
Hidden Depths: Of all the characters of Holes, did you really think Armpit would be the kind, thoughtful one? The movie actually implies it, by giving Squid/Alan's lines at the end to him (in which he gives Stanley a phone number and tells him to call his mother and tell her he's sorry for something). | |
| Small Steps / int_2dc0d2bf | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Small Steps / int_2dc0d2bf | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Small Steps | hasFeature |
Small Steps / int_2dc0d2bf | |
| Small Steps / int_364b9be6 | type |
Flipping the Bird | |
| Small Steps / int_364b9be6 | comment |
Flipping the Bird: A jogger does this to X-Ray after he flirts with her from his van. | |
| Small Steps / int_364b9be6 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Small Steps / int_364b9be6 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Small Steps | hasFeature |
Small Steps / int_364b9be6 | |
| Small Steps / int_38d02d44 | type |
Batman Gambit | |
| Small Steps / int_38d02d44 | comment |
Batman Gambit: Kaira hates her bodyguard Fred and regularly tries to ditch him. El Genius had hoped for this, so that he could murder her in secret and not get the blame for it since he was the one who hired Fred. This was also done earlier in the book, as it's revealed the story about how Kaira's tickets sold for $750 in Philadelphia was planted by El Genius to increase demand for them. | |
| Small Steps / int_38d02d44 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Small Steps / int_38d02d44 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Small Steps | hasFeature |
Small Steps / int_38d02d44 | |
| Small Steps / int_3aec9e5e | type |
Properly Paranoid | |
| Small Steps / int_3aec9e5e | comment |
Properly Paranoid: Kaira believes her stepdad was sending the death threat letters. He was. And tries to kill her. | |
| Small Steps / int_3aec9e5e | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Small Steps / int_3aec9e5e | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Small Steps | hasFeature |
Small Steps / int_3aec9e5e | |
| Small Steps / int_40cc0c7e | type |
Bittersweet Ending | |
| Small Steps / int_40cc0c7e | comment |
Bittersweet Ending: Kaira is saved, but she not only has memory loss but her voice is damaged and she is financially ruined, thanks to her mother's friend stealing all of her money. It is said that she starts singing again, with some difficulty, so there is hope for her to recover her old life. | |
| Small Steps / int_40cc0c7e | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Small Steps / int_40cc0c7e | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Small Steps | hasFeature |
Small Steps / int_40cc0c7e | |
| Small Steps / int_4d0372b | type |
Everybody Knew Already | |
| Small Steps / int_4d0372b | comment |
Everybody Knew Already: Debbie finds out Armpit was one of the ticket scalpers, but doesn't arrest for it because "As I said, case closed." | |
| Small Steps / int_4d0372b | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Small Steps / int_4d0372b | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Small Steps | hasFeature |
Small Steps / int_4d0372b | |
| Small Steps / int_4e7c4536 | type |
Wham Line | |
| Small Steps / int_4e7c4536 | comment |
Wham Line: "Should I sign [your cast] 'Theodore' or 'Armpit'?" Subverted with the next line. "As I said, case closed." | |
| Small Steps / int_4e7c4536 | featureApplicability |
-0.3 | |
| Small Steps / int_4e7c4536 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Small Steps | hasFeature |
Small Steps / int_4e7c4536 | |
| Small Steps / int_4fb23aa8 | type |
I Have This Friend | |
| Small Steps / int_4fb23aa8 | comment |
I Have This Friend: Played with. Kaira thinks Armpit is doing this when he attempts to explain the situation. Armpit tells her that "his friend" (meaning X-Ray) was the ticket scalper, and she angrily asks him something like "was it you who kissed me earlier, or your friend?" | |
| Small Steps / int_4fb23aa8 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Small Steps / int_4fb23aa8 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Small Steps | hasFeature |
Small Steps / int_4fb23aa8 | |
| Small Steps / int_50b05d30 | type |
Disproportionate Retribution | |
| Small Steps / int_50b05d30 | comment |
Disproportionate Retribution: Armpit got into Camp Green Lake because he beat up a group of boys who tripped him and made him spill his popcorn. | |
| Small Steps / int_50b05d30 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Small Steps / int_50b05d30 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Small Steps | hasFeature |
Small Steps / int_50b05d30 | |
| Small Steps / int_537dd8fe | type |
Affably Evil | |
| Small Steps / int_537dd8fe | comment |
Affably Evil: Billy Boy, an anonymous person who regularly sends Kaira letters telling he loves her, she's beautiful, and one day he'll kill her. He turns out to be El Genius. | |
| Small Steps / int_537dd8fe | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Small Steps / int_537dd8fe | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Small Steps | hasFeature |
Small Steps / int_537dd8fe | |
| Small Steps / int_7286e96d | type |
Idiot Ball | |
| Small Steps / int_7286e96d | comment |
Idiot Ball: Kaira, instead of keeping her mouth shut, tells El Genius that the minute she is eighteen, he is fired as her manager. El Genius may have tried to kill her anyway, but he has a greater incentive. | |
| Small Steps / int_7286e96d | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Small Steps / int_7286e96d | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Small Steps | hasFeature |
Small Steps / int_7286e96d | |
| Small Steps / int_744e3311 | type |
Police Brutality | |
| Small Steps / int_744e3311 | comment |
Police Brutality: Security officers at the concert beat up and handcuff Armpit for having photocopied tickets instead of questioning him first. Then accuse him of drugging Ginny when she has a seizure. | |
| Small Steps / int_744e3311 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Small Steps / int_744e3311 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Small Steps | hasFeature |
Small Steps / int_744e3311 | |
| Small Steps / int_913c0a60 | type |
Named After the Injury | |
| Small Steps / int_913c0a60 | comment |
Named After the Injury: The book reveals that Armpit got his nickname after getting stung by a scorpion, and the pain eventually settled in his armpit. | |
| Small Steps / int_913c0a60 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Small Steps / int_913c0a60 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Small Steps | hasFeature |
Small Steps / int_913c0a60 | |
| Small Steps / int_96fbeaf | type |
There Are No Therapists | |
| Small Steps / int_96fbeaf | comment |
There Are No Therapists: Averted. Kaira does have a therapist, but doesn't trust her because El Genius was the one who hired her. | |
| Small Steps / int_96fbeaf | featureApplicability |
-1.0 | |
| Small Steps / int_96fbeaf | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Small Steps | hasFeature |
Small Steps / int_96fbeaf | |
| Small Steps / int_a1267c41 | type |
Hates the Job, Loves the Limelight | |
| Small Steps / int_a1267c41 | comment |
Hates the Job, Loves the Limelight: Kaira does enjoy performing, but resents not having much time to herself and no real friends. Not helping is her step-father controlling her life and career, and keeping her isolated. | |
| Small Steps / int_a1267c41 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Small Steps / int_a1267c41 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Small Steps | hasFeature |
Small Steps / int_a1267c41 | |
| Small Steps / int_a939d96a | type |
Adults Are Useless | |
| Small Steps / int_a939d96a | comment |
Adults Are Useless: Armpit's parents seem unable to believe that their son has become a better person, and sometimes lie to his face while lecturing him. Kaira's mom throws everything to her husband. The husband tries to kill her. | |
| Small Steps / int_a939d96a | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Small Steps / int_a939d96a | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Small Steps | hasFeature |
Small Steps / int_a939d96a | |
| Small Steps / int_ac6ea68c | type |
Near-Villain Victory | |
| Small Steps / int_ac6ea68c | comment |
Near-Villain Victory: El Genius almost murders Kaira, but gets foiled by Armpit's last-minute interruption. His partner-in-crime and fellow tour manager, Aileen, embezzles all of Kaira's savings and runs off to Belize with a fake identity, only to end up arrested anyway. However, the money is never recovered. | |
| Small Steps / int_ac6ea68c | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Small Steps / int_ac6ea68c | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Small Steps | hasFeature |
Small Steps / int_ac6ea68c | |
| Small Steps / int_acecb17d | type |
Chekhov's Skill | |
| Small Steps / int_acecb17d | comment |
Chekhov's Skill: In-universe, Armpit and X-Ray's time at Camp Green Lake helps them get landscaping jobs back home. | |
| Small Steps / int_acecb17d | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Small Steps / int_acecb17d | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Small Steps | hasFeature |
Small Steps / int_acecb17d | |
| Small Steps / int_b8e3f20a | type |
Demoted to Extra | |
| Small Steps / int_b8e3f20a | comment |
Demoted to Extra: All of the Camp Green Lake kids except Armpit and X-Ray. Stanley is mentioned once, and not even by name (apparently he gave Armpit lots of free boxes of Sploosh), and the others don't even get that much. | |
| Small Steps / int_b8e3f20a | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Small Steps / int_b8e3f20a | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Small Steps | hasFeature |
Small Steps / int_b8e3f20a | |
| Small Steps / int_c3245c20 | type |
I Lied | |
| Small Steps / int_c3245c20 | comment |
I Lied: Armpit only agreed to X-Ray's scheme to get him off his back and asks to keep some of the tickets so he can take Ginny to Kaira's concert. The tickets that X-Ray gave him were photocopied rather than the real deal. Armpit is not amused when he nearly gets arrested and Ginny has a seizure. X-Ray is unrepentant. | |
| Small Steps / int_c3245c20 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Small Steps / int_c3245c20 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Small Steps | hasFeature |
Small Steps / int_c3245c20 | |
| Small Steps / int_c335b9ec | type |
Irony | |
| Small Steps / int_c335b9ec | comment |
Irony: Armpit's new job after leaving Camp Green Lake? Digging holes. (Well, technically trenches, but...) | |
| Small Steps / int_c335b9ec | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Small Steps / int_c335b9ec | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Small Steps | hasFeature |
Small Steps / int_c335b9ec | |
| Small Steps / int_c435ec5d | type |
Aesop Amnesia | |
| Small Steps / int_c435ec5d | comment |
Aesop Amnesia: X-Ray was arrested and sent to Camp Green Lake for running a scam selling fake marijuana. He's back to it as soon as he and Armpit are out, roping him into a ticket-scalping scheme. What makes it worse is he gives Armpit a photocopied ticket to use at the concert, which gets the latter beaten up and nearly sent to jail again. | |
| Small Steps / int_c435ec5d | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Small Steps / int_c435ec5d | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Small Steps | hasFeature |
Small Steps / int_c435ec5d | |
| Small Steps / int_cdd835ce | type |
Dude, Not Funny! | |
| Small Steps / int_cdd835ce | comment |
Dude, Not Funny!: In-Universe. El Genius jokes about how Ginny went into a seizure, causing the cops to think Armpit had given her drugs. Kaira hates this, and personally requests to see them. | |
| Small Steps / int_cdd835ce | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Small Steps / int_cdd835ce | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Small Steps | hasFeature |
Small Steps / int_cdd835ce | |
| Small Steps / int_ce60aef3 | type |
Heroic Resolve | |
| Small Steps / int_ce60aef3 | comment |
Heroic Resolve: In the climax, Fred gets a knife to his side, and Armpit's arm is broken after El Genius ambushes him with a baseball bat. Fred, while playing possum, manages to trip El Genius, allowing Armpit to get the upper hand and beat him unconscious with his one good arm. | |
| Small Steps / int_ce60aef3 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Small Steps / int_ce60aef3 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Small Steps | hasFeature |
Small Steps / int_ce60aef3 | |
| Small Steps / int_ce9d25a6 | type |
Shady Scalper | |
| Small Steps / int_ce9d25a6 | comment |
Shady Scalper: Armpit once gets roped into his friend X-Ray's scheme to scalp concert tickets. | |
| Small Steps / int_ce9d25a6 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Small Steps / int_ce9d25a6 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Small Steps | hasFeature |
Small Steps / int_ce9d25a6 | |
| Small Steps / int_dc3d9a68 | type |
Orgy of Evidence | |
| Small Steps / int_dc3d9a68 | comment |
Orgy of Evidence: Backfires when El Genius tries to frame Armpit for his attempted murder of Kaira, when he leaves some of Armpit's possessions at the crime scene, and uses a baseball bat with Armpit's fingerprints on it. X-Ray lampshades how the Frame-Up was too obvious, since Armpit couldn't possibly bring a baseball bat to the hotel without anyone noticing it. | |
| Small Steps / int_dc3d9a68 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Small Steps / int_dc3d9a68 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Small Steps | hasFeature |
Small Steps / int_dc3d9a68 | |
| Small Steps / int_dca70c44 | type |
Reasonable Authority Figure | |
| Small Steps / int_dca70c44 | comment |
Reasonable Authority Figure: Debbie; she knows that Armpit and X-Ray were the ticket scalpers. She refuses to prosecute them because Armpit suffered punishment enough by inadvertently arriving at the concert with phony tickets and then nearly getting framed for murder. Plus, El Genius was the one who was encouraging scalpers by making up stories about how popular Kaira is and he's already in jail now. | |
| Small Steps / int_dca70c44 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Small Steps / int_dca70c44 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Small Steps | hasFeature |
Small Steps / int_dca70c44 | |
| Small Steps / int_dcbe8a6e | type |
Chekhov's Gunman | |
| Small Steps / int_dcbe8a6e | comment |
Chekhov's Gunman: Kaira's bodyguard whom she calls a doofus. It turns out he is good at his job and refuses to let El Genius murder her even as she tries to ditch him. Before that, the mayor who Armpit met in the opening scene shows up to stick up for him during the concert when he's accused of forging his ticket and drugging Ginny. (The ticket was forged, but Armpit was unaware of it.) | |
| Small Steps / int_dcbe8a6e | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Small Steps / int_dcbe8a6e | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Small Steps | hasFeature |
Small Steps / int_dcbe8a6e | |
| Small Steps / int_dd45df38 | type |
Unfortunate Names | |
| Small Steps / int_dd45df38 | comment |
Unfortunate Names: "El Genius", Kaira's stepfather, real name being Jerome Paisley. Kaira also nicknames her bodyguard "Doofus". One of Armpit's goals is to try to lose his nickname. | |
| Small Steps / int_dd45df38 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Small Steps / int_dd45df38 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Small Steps | hasFeature |
Small Steps / int_dd45df38 | |
| Small Steps / int_dd95a27b | type |
I Never Told You My Name | |
| Small Steps / int_dd95a27b | comment |
I Never Told You My Name: Armpit is confused to hear Kaira sing "Oh, you'd never guess, Armpit, [I'm a] damsel in distress." It's actually a mondegreen saying "I'm but". Kaira actually sings his version later. | |
| Small Steps / int_dd95a27b | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Small Steps / int_dd95a27b | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Small Steps | hasFeature |
Small Steps / int_dd95a27b | |
| Small Steps / int_e3b0cd87 | type |
Morality Pet | |
| Small Steps / int_e3b0cd87 | comment |
Morality Pet: Ginny to Armpit. Also counts as a sort of Littlest Cancer Patient. | |
| Small Steps / int_e3b0cd87 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Small Steps / int_e3b0cd87 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Small Steps | hasFeature |
Small Steps / int_e3b0cd87 | |
| Small Steps / int_e563bf09 | type |
Insistent Terminology | |
| Small Steps / int_e563bf09 | comment |
Insistent Terminology: X-Ray insists that "X-Ray" isn't his nickname, it's actually his name in another language. | |
| Small Steps / int_e563bf09 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Small Steps / int_e563bf09 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Small Steps | hasFeature |
Small Steps / int_e563bf09 | |
| Small Steps / int_eb8ec7c8 | type |
Jerkass | |
| Small Steps / int_eb8ec7c8 | comment |
Jerkass: X-Ray has clearly learned nothing from his experiences at Green Lake. | |
| Small Steps / int_eb8ec7c8 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Small Steps / int_eb8ec7c8 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Small Steps | hasFeature |
Small Steps / int_eb8ec7c8 | |
| Small Steps / int_ee7a60e9 | type |
One-Steve Limit | |
| Small Steps / int_ee7a60e9 | comment |
One-Steve Limit: Enforced. Kaira's real name is Kathy Spears, but she performs under a stage name because Britney already took that surname. | |
| Small Steps / int_ee7a60e9 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Small Steps / int_ee7a60e9 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Small Steps | hasFeature |
Small Steps / int_ee7a60e9 | |
| Small Steps / int_f288cf3 | type |
Innocent Innuendo | |
| Small Steps / int_f288cf3 | comment |
Innocent Innuendo: | |
| Small Steps / int_f288cf3 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Small Steps / int_f288cf3 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Small Steps | hasFeature |
Small Steps / int_f288cf3 | |
| Small Steps / int_name | type |
ItemName | |
| Small Steps / int_name | comment |
||
| Small Steps / int_name | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Small Steps / int_name | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Small Steps | hasFeature |
Small Steps / int_name | |
| Small Steps / int_name | itemName |
Small Steps |
The following is a list of statements referring to the current page from other pages.
| Small Steps | hasFeature |
African-American Media / int_a644c42d | |
| Small Steps | hasFeature |
American Literature (N to S) / int_a644c42d | |
| Small Steps | hasFeature |
I Have This Friend / int_a644c42d | |
| Small Steps | hasFeature |
Named After the Injury / int_a644c42d | |
| Small Steps | hasFeature |
Physical Disability in Media / int_a644c42d | |
| Small Steps | hasFeature |
Realistic Fiction / int_a644c42d | |
| Small Steps | hasFeature |
Shady Scalper / int_a644c42d | |
| Small Steps | hasFeature |
Young Adult Literature / int_a644c42d |
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Copyright of data TVTropes.org contributors under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License.