• The Seventh Most Important Thing

  • By: Shelley Pearsall
  • Narrated by: Nick Podehl
  • Length: 5 hrs and 37 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (283 ratings)

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The Seventh Most Important Thing  By  cover art

The Seventh Most Important Thing

By: Shelley Pearsall
Narrated by: Nick Podehl
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Publisher's summary

One Kid. One Crime. One Chance to Make Things Right.

It was a bitterly cold day when 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 for the foreseeable future. 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 American folk artist James Hampton, award-winning author Shelley Pearsall has crafted an affecting and redemptive novel about discovering what shines within us all, even when life seems full of darkness.

©2015 Shelley Pearsall (P)2015 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

What listeners say about The Seventh Most Important Thing

Average customer ratings
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Such a touching story

This is such a heart warming and touching story. I loved this book so much!

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5 people found this helpful

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Great book from begining to end.

There are so many hidden treasures found within the text. The narrator is great with seperating yhe characters through voice. This is a great book for 5-9th graders.

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2 people found this helpful

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Glad we chose it!!

The end is the best part, so keep reading!!! Good book for a mom and son to read together.

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1 person found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars

Great story for all ages

Lessons anyone and all should learn. The way the story unwinds and draws to a conclusion is revealing. My grandson read this for Battle of the Books for 5th grade and I listened to this. I recommend this for all ages. If you have been to the Smithsonian Museum in DC, you will be enchanted in this story.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Story line

I loved the reader's voices and I also love the story! It has a good moral and I hope to someday see Hampton's Throne in person.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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Touching story

I enjoyed how the story about hardship turned into valuable and empathetic life lessons. The characters just came alive and affected everyone.

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Good

Good good night love I hope you’re feeling good and you feel good today gggggg

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Sweet Story that comes alive at the end

It was a sweet feel good story, but at the end you find out the artwork is real and you can go to the Smithsonian and see it. I was able to view it on the Smithsonian website, And it brought everything to life.

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Way more than expected

At first I thought this book was a racial movement but it’s way more than expected. Arthur Owens changes that progressed throughout the book were amazing! I can not even describe it. And James Hampton was caring and kind, this book made me cry and laugh! It is amazing!

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  • Overall
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best book ever

In really enjoyed listening to it I have a problem zoning out reading but I could ride a bike and still laugh with joy even if I was tired.

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