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The Seventh Most Important Thing

By Shelley Pearsall

By Shelley Pearsall

By Shelley Pearsall

By Shelley Pearsall

Best Seller
Paperback $7.99

Oct 04, 2016 | ISBN 9780553497311 | Middle Grade (10 and up) *This format is not eligible to earn points towards the Reader Rewards program

Ebook $7.99

Sep 08, 2015 | ISBN 9780553497304 | Middle Grade (10 and up)

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    The Seventh Most Important Thing by Shelley Pearsall
    Paperback $7.99
    Oct 04, 2016 | ISBN 9780553497311
    *This format is not eligible to earn points towards the Reader Rewards program

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    Paperback
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    • Paperback $7.99

      Oct 04, 2016 | ISBN 9780553497311 | Middle Grade (10 and up)

      Also available from:

      *This format is not eligible to earn points towards the Reader Rewards program

    Ebook
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    • Ebook

      Sep 08, 2015 | ISBN 9780553497304 | Middle Grade (10 and up)

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    About The Seventh Most Important Thing

    This “luminescent” (Kirkus Reviews) story of anger and art, loss and redemption will appeal to fans of Lisa Graff’s Lost in the Sun and Vince Vawter’s Paperboy.

    NOMINATED FOR 16 STATE AWARDS!
    AN ALA NOTABLE BOOK
    AN ILA TEACHERS CHOICE
    A KIRKUS REVIEWS BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR
     
    Arthur T. Owens grabbed a brick and hurled it at the trash picker. Arthur had his reasons, and the brick hit the Junk Man in the arm, not the head. But none of that matters to the judge—he is ready to send Arthur to juvie forever. Amazingly, it’s the Junk Man himself who offers an alternative: 120 hours of community service . . . working for him.
     
    Arthur is given a rickety shopping cart and a list of the Seven Most Important Things: glass bottles, foil, cardboard, pieces of wood, lightbulbs, coffee cans, and mirrors. He can’t believe it—is he really supposed to rummage through people’s trash? But it isn’t long before Arthur realizes there’s more to the Junk Man than meets the eye, and the “trash” he’s collecting is being transformed into something more precious than anyone could imagine. . . .
     
    Inspired by the work of folk artist James Hampton, Shelley Pearsall has crafted an affecting and redemptive novel about discovering what shines within us all, even when life seems full of darkness.
     
    “A moving exploration of how there is often so much more than meets the eye.” —Booklist, starred review
     
    “There are so many things to love about this book. Remarkable.” —The Christian Science Monitor

    About The Seventh Most Important Thing

    This “luminescent” (Kirkus Reviews) story of anger and art, loss and redemption will appeal to fans of Lisa Graff’s Lost in the Sun and Vince Vawter’s Paperboy.

    NOMINATED FOR 16 STATE AWARDS!
    AN ALA NOTABLE BOOK
    AN ILA TEACHERS CHOICE
    A KIRKUS REVIEWS BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR
     
    Arthur T. Owens grabbed a brick and hurled it at the trash picker. Arthur had his reasons, and the brick hit the Junk Man in the arm, not the head. But none of that matters to the judge—he is ready to send Arthur to juvie forever. Amazingly, it’s the Junk Man himself who offers an alternative: 120 hours of community service . . . working for him.
     
    Arthur is given a rickety shopping cart and a list of the Seven Most Important Things: glass bottles, foil, cardboard, pieces of wood, lightbulbs, coffee cans, and mirrors. He can’t believe it—is he really supposed to rummage through people’s trash? But it isn’t long before Arthur realizes there’s more to the Junk Man than meets the eye, and the “trash” he’s collecting is being transformed into something more precious than anyone could imagine. . . .
     
    Inspired by the work of folk artist James Hampton, Shelley Pearsall has crafted an affecting and redemptive novel about discovering what shines within us all, even when life seems full of darkness.
     
    “A moving exploration of how there is often so much more than meets the eye.” —Booklist, starred review
     
    “There are so many things to love about this book. Remarkable.” —The Christian Science Monitor

    Read An Excerpt

    Read An Excerpt

    Also by Shelley Pearsall

    Things Seen from Above
    Jump into the Sky
    All Shook Up
    Crooked River
    Trouble Don't Last
    See all books by Shelley Pearsall

    Also by Shelley Pearsall

    Things Seen from Above
    Jump into the Sky
    All Shook Up
    Crooked River
    Trouble Don't Last
    See all books by Shelley Pearsall

    About Shelley Pearsall

    A former teacher and museum historian, SHELLEY PEARSALL is now a full-time author. Her first novel, Trouble Don’t Last, won the Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction. Her latest book was The Seventh Most Important Thing, which earned three starred… More about Shelley Pearsall

    About Shelley Pearsall

    A former teacher and museum historian, SHELLEY PEARSALL is now a full-time author. Her first novel, Trouble Don’t Last, won the Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction. Her latest book was The Seventh Most Important Thing, which earned three starred… More about Shelley Pearsall

    Product Details

    Category: Children’s Middle Grade Historical Books | Children’s Picture Books

    Paperback | $7.99
    Published by Yearling
    Oct 04, 2016 | 288 Pages | 5-3/16 x 7-5/8 | Middle Grade (10 and up) | ISBN 9780553497311

    Category: Children’s Middle Grade Historical Books | Children’s Picture Books

    Ebook | $7.99
    Published by Knopf Books for Young Readers
    Sep 08, 2015 | 288 Pages | Middle Grade (10 and up) | ISBN 9780553497304

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    Praise

    A NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY 100 TITLES FOR READING AND SHARING
    A BANK STREET BEST BOOK
    A KIDS INDIE NEXT PICK
    A JUNIOR LIBRARY GUILD SELECTION

    “Written in a homespun style that reflects the simple components of the artwork, the story guides readers along with Arthur to an understanding of the most important things in life. Luminescent, just like the artwork it celebrates.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

    “Pearsall has struck just the right tone by imbuing her well-rounded, interesting characters with authentic voices and pacing the action perfectly. Excellent.” —School Library Journal, starred review

    “A moving exploration of how there is often so much more than meets the eye.” —Booklist,starred review

    “There are so many things to love about this book. Remarkable.” —Christian Science Monitor

    “…interweaves the power and purpose of art with an exploration of a boy’s grief and redemption.” —The Bulletin 

    “Pearsall shows us that hope isn’t somewhere “out there”—it’s quite literally in our own two hands.” —Jen Bryant, author of A Splash of Red: The Life and Art of Horace Pippin

    Awards

    ALA Notable Book SELECTION

    Arizona Young Readers Master List SELECTION

    Arkansas Charlie May Simon Master List SELECTION

    Bank Street College Best Children’s Book of the Year SELECTION

    Capitol Choices Noteworthy Book for Children’s and Teens SELECTION

    Connecticut Nutmeg Children’s Book Master List SELECTION

    IRA Teachers’ Choices SELECTION

    Illinois Rebecca Caudill Young Readers Master List SELECTION

    Indiana Young Hoosier Master List SELECTION

    Kansas William White Master List SELECTION

    Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year SELECTION

    Maine Student Book Master List SELECTION

    Michigan Reading Association Great Lakes Book Master List SELECTION

    Missouri Mark Twain Master List SELECTION

    Nebraska Golden Sower Master List SELECTION

    New York Public Library 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing SELECTION

    Oklahoma Sequoyah Children’s Book Master List SELECTION

    Pennsylvania Young Reader’s Choice Award SELECTION

    Rhode Island Children’s Book Master List SELECTION

    Tennessee Volunteer State Book Master List SELECTION

    Vermont Dorothy Canfield Fischer Book Master List SELECTION

    Virginia Young Readers Program Master List SELECTION

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