The+Seventh+Most+Important+Thing

The Seventh Most Important Thing by Shelley Pearsall Grades 4-7

2015 Realistic Fiction.

Recommended by Barrington Public Library

Comments:

Loved this. Author Pearsall has crafted a delightful story of redemption based on an historical figure, American folk artist James Hampton. After Arthur's father died from motorcycle accident, Arthur struggles to cope with the loss of a man he loved and feared. One day he can't control his anger and he throws a brick at the local garbage picker - the Junk Man - and is ordered by the court to serve community service with the Junk Man. The Junk Man gives him a list of seven important items to collect with no substitutions allowed. Eventually Arthur enters the old garage and discovers that the Junk Man has tranformed found trash and junk into a remarkable work of art. Pearsal does well with slowly building relationships between Arthur and the Junk Man, with Arthur and his mother, and with Arthur and Squeak and Arthur slowly grows and matures. This story has less of a "nice and tidy" coming of age feel that you might get from a book for younger audiences (the Great Stone Face readers, say) and I think our target audience would love it. Yvette/Merrimack