How to resolve AdBlock issue?
X
Review Detail
The Seventh Most Important Thing
FeaturedHot
Young Adult Fiction
7909
The Most Important Thing
Overall rating
4.7
Plot
5.0
Characters
5.0
Writing Style
4.0
Inspired by real life artist James Hampton's life and work, it hard to believe that Shelley Pearsall book is fiction. She builds a world and creates characters that give readers an opportunity to reflect on their own attitudes and actions as they interact with those characters others may be viewed as different or eccentric.
What works best is the character development of Arthur as he goes on his own personal journey of discovery. I love the emotions from this book! Pearsall really has a knack for getting readers to invest emotionally in her characters. Arthur is in the true sense of the word a teen boy that has been through a lot of difficult events and had many difficult choices to make. He is flawed, but what person isn’t. Even though he makes a few bad choices, Pearsall makes the read emotionally invested in his future. She uses these emotions to help keep the plot moving and developing while dropping in some valuable lessons for the reader.
There isn’t much world building and the setting has a basic description. In many ways this works. It is historical fiction, and using background knowledge some readers will be able to get a picture of the setting without it. However, it also makes the story seem timeless. Yes, this is takes place in the past, but the events that take place in The Seventh Most Important Thing, could possibly happen today. People, including young adults, make poor choices and have to live with the consequences. A person’s actions affect those around them. It is the choices one makes after that that can matter the most. Setting doesn’t affect the events, the people do.
This book is not just about how people change, but how people’s perceptions can change over time. This is a perfect book for a middle school reader. However, it is a book that anyone can enjoy.
What makes this book stand out is the fact that this story is based on James Hampton, the creator of the actual masterpiece, "The Throne of The Third Heaven" which is on display at the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, D.C.
What works best is the character development of Arthur as he goes on his own personal journey of discovery. I love the emotions from this book! Pearsall really has a knack for getting readers to invest emotionally in her characters. Arthur is in the true sense of the word a teen boy that has been through a lot of difficult events and had many difficult choices to make. He is flawed, but what person isn’t. Even though he makes a few bad choices, Pearsall makes the read emotionally invested in his future. She uses these emotions to help keep the plot moving and developing while dropping in some valuable lessons for the reader.
There isn’t much world building and the setting has a basic description. In many ways this works. It is historical fiction, and using background knowledge some readers will be able to get a picture of the setting without it. However, it also makes the story seem timeless. Yes, this is takes place in the past, but the events that take place in The Seventh Most Important Thing, could possibly happen today. People, including young adults, make poor choices and have to live with the consequences. A person’s actions affect those around them. It is the choices one makes after that that can matter the most. Setting doesn’t affect the events, the people do.
This book is not just about how people change, but how people’s perceptions can change over time. This is a perfect book for a middle school reader. However, it is a book that anyone can enjoy.
What makes this book stand out is the fact that this story is based on James Hampton, the creator of the actual masterpiece, "The Throne of The Third Heaven" which is on display at the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, D.C.
Good Points
Historical Setting
Museum connection
Realistic and likable characters
Museum connection
Realistic and likable characters
Comments
Already have an account? Log in now or Create an account
Powered by JReviews
How to resolve AdBlock issue?
X
FEATURED GIVEAWAYS
It’s Live! Cover Reveal: Off Trail by Rick Polito + Giveaway (US Only)
We're so excited to celebrate the cover reveal for Off Trail by Rick Polito, releasing 06/03/2021 from Wise Wolf Books! Writing OFF TRAIL, it sometimes felt like the story was telling itself. I ...
Posted in News & Updates
Spotlight on Stars Belong To Us (Annabeth Chatwin), Excerpt, Plus Giveaway! ~ (US/Can Only)
Today we're excited to spotlight Stars Belong To Us by Annabeth Chatwin. Read on for more about Annabeth and her book, an excerpt, plus an giveaway! Meet Annabet...
Posted in News & Updates
Spotlight on Horse Girl (Carrie Seim), Excerpt, Plus Giveaway! ~ (US Only)
Today we're excited to spotlight Horse Girl by Carrie Seim. Read on for more about Carrie and her book, an excerpt, plus an giveaway! Meet Carrie Seim ! &...
Posted in News & Updates
Author Of The Week: Author Chat with Kathryn Purdie (Bone Crier's Dawn), Plus Giveaway! ~ (US Only)
Welcome to our weekly special feature post, Author Of The Week !! Each week we will be interviewing a different YA author and highlighting their upcoming release! We will also be hosting a givea...
Posted in News & Updates
Five Tough Tactics for Protesting at School + Win A Copy of Kids On The March: 15 Stories of Speaking Out, Protesting, and Fighting for Justice (Michael Long) ~ (US Only)
Today we're excited to spotlight Kids On The March: 15 Stories of Speaking Out, Protesting, and Fighting for Justice by Michael Long. Read on for more about Michael and his book, an guest...
Posted in News & Updates
Five Books With Magic Users That Will Charm You + Win a Copy of Blood Like Magic (Liselle Sambury) ~ (US Only)
Today we're excited to spotlight Blood Like Magic by Liselle Sambury Read on for more about Liselle and her book, an guest post, plus an giveaway! Meet Liselle S...
Posted in News & Updates
Latest Book Listings Added
Bite-sized facts about forests from around the globe, pointing out...
In this tender, nuanced coming-of-age love story, two boys—one who...
When twin heirs are born in Tourin, their fates...
Bite-sized facts about bodies of water from around the globe,...
Magnificent, hand-painted illustrations by a rising star of Czech watercolor...
It's Mouse's first day of school. It's Dinosaur's first day...
I'm Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter meets Emergency Contact...
In this sparkling and romantic YA debut, a reserved Bangladeshi...
From hot dogs and hamburgers to ice cream and pizza,...
Latest Member Reviews
"POISONED by Jennifer Donnelly is a YA fairytale retelling of the original Snow White by the Brothers Grimm. In it,..."
"Return to Enchantia and meet the Glass Queen in this second installment of Gena Showalter‘s series Forest of Good and..."
"The Evil Queen by Gena Showalter has been on my radar since it first hit shelves in 2019. I love..."
"EVIL THING is a book that takes us into the mind of Cruella De Vil. The book is set up..."
"THE GLASS QUEEN is an intense and fantastically written fairytale retelling of Cinderella. In the kingdom of Enchantia, fairytales are..."
"BATMAN TALES: ONCE UPON A CRIME reimagines fairytales as Batman stories. There are four main stories in this graphic novel...."
"Straight on Till Morning is part of “A Twisted Tale” series, a multi author series of fairytale retellings created by..."
"GIRL, SERPENT, THORN is a YA fairytale retelling by Melissa Bashardoust. The story follows Soraya, a princess who is cursed..."
"THE GUINEVERE DECEPTION by Kiersten White is the first book in a YA retelling of the classic Arthurian legend. Guinevere,..."
"Guinevere has one role to play when she arrives in Camelot. She has to protect King Arthur with her life...."
"THE GUINEVERE DECEPTION is an incredible new YA fantasy that combines a dark mystery, magic, and romance/love into a gorgeous,..."
"If you adored FROZEN, you need to get your hands on this Twisted Tale which reimagines the story if Anna..."
"Annaleigh just wanted to be in charge of the lighthouse close to her island home. Rumors circulate on the island..."
"THE SURFACE BREAKS is a slow-building retelling of The Little Mermaid. While staying true to the classic, this story adds..."
"When Second Star by J.M. Sullivan was first brought to my attention, I noticed two things: the sci-fi cover and..."
"SECOND STAR alternates POV between Peter and Wendy. It starts off with Peter sabotaging Captain Hooke's ship and stranding them..."
"If you love a snarky heroine, surprise twists and turns, and a fairytale-themed plot, THE EVIL QUEEN is designed to..."
""The wolves in the woods have sharp teeth and long claws, bit it's the wolf inside who will tear you..."
"THE THREE LITTLE SUPERPIGS: ONCE UPON A TIME is an adorable and fun retelling of the classic story of the..."