The Seventh Most Important Thing- Questions, Answers and pgs- pg 158-226

13. What was the process that Squeak and Arthur shared for wrapping the bulbs? Why?

Arthur would coat them in rubber cement and Squeak would press on the foil because he had smaller hands and was more delicate. (p. 173)

18. What color did Arthur's dad paint the kitchen for Arthur's mother?

Banana yellow (extra point for banana?) (p. 179)

27. After talking to his Mom's boyfriend why does Arthur wish he hadn't talked to him?

Because it's a lot easier to dislike someone you know nothing about. (p. 186)

62. When does the landlord say Arthur and Groovy Jim have to have either more money or a plan to get James Hampton's work out?

By the end of May (p. 218)

48. What did James Hampton tell Arthur he used to catch in order to buy Orange Soda when he was a kid?

Crawdads (p. 201)

40. One Saturday in March, Mr. Hampton sent Arthur to the library. What did he ask him to research? ,

Crowns for his art installation (p. 195)

12. What did James Hampton refer to as "Lights in the Darkness"?

Foil wrapped bulbs (p. 172)

8. In what country does James Hampton say he had his first vision that lead to his work building heaven?

Guam (p. 169)

9. Where is Guam and why was Mr. Hampton there?

Guam is an island in the Pacific where the Allies fought the Japanese in WW2. James Hampton was stationed there. (p. 169)

64. Who does Arthur ask Officer Billie to talk to about the garage with all of James Hampton's things stored in it? What does he think this might accomplish?

He asks Officer Billie to get in contact with Judge Warner to see if he can do anything or make a ruling to protect James Hampton's space and his work. (p. 220-221)

38. What's different about James asking Arthur about his Dad than other people?

He asks about his life, instead of his death. (p. 194)

53. What does James Hampton ask Arthur to do in the event that something happens to him? What title does he ask him to take on?

He asks him to take over his project. He asks him to promise that he will take on the position of The Director of Special Projects for the State of Eternity. (p. 205)

59. What did Arthur give Groovy Jim and what did he ask him to do with it if he noticed anyone doing anything with James Hampton's work?

He gave him his phone number on a piece of paper and asked him to call him if he noticed anyone removing any of his work from the garage. (p. 212-213)

39. Why did Arthur miss his last week of probation in February?

He had the flu (p. 195)

20. What does Arthur's mom's boyfriend do for a living?

He is a carpenter (p. 180)

36. What was Arthur's dad's culinary specialty?

He made "killer chili" (p. 192)

10. There is a box that James Hampton shows the boys as he is explain his time in the service while stationed in Guam. Why is that box so special? What is it made out of?

He made the box in Guam after his first vision. It is made out of broken things he found on the island. He says, "It is death and war turned into something beautiful". (p. 170)

61. What does Groovy Jim do to buy them sometime to figure out what to do with all of James Hampton's work?

He offers Tony, the landlord, $50 to buy them a week's time to figure things out. He had to empty his wallet, his cash register, and his change jar in the tattoo shop. (p. 218)

65. What did Arthur say at the dinner table that made his mother so upset when he tried asking for help from his mom and Roger to save James Hampton's work? Why was it so upsetting to her?

He said (referring to the artwork) that "if people don't get what it's supposed to be- and how important it is- they'll probably go and throw it out before anyone can say anything." -It was so upsetting because she felt Arthur's words were aimed at her for throwing away his father's things, particularly his hat. (p. 225)

11. Squeak asks James Hampton about why he names his work of art Throne of the Third Heaven. What is his response?

He says he doesn't know. In his dream he saw a big number 3 in the sky and he never questions what he is told in his visions. (p. 171)

3. When Arthur tells Squeak he can't come and help him on Saturday what does Squeak threaten to do?

He threatens to get back on top of the lunch table and stand there. (p. 161)

14. What did James Hampton use the empty wine and liquor bottle for? What did they work best for?

He used them for their foil labels. He said it was the best for wrapping things because it was the most shimmery of all the foil. (p. 173)

2. How does Squeak offer to help support Arthur through the rest of his probation?

He volunteers to go with him (p. 161)

29. Why was Cub Scouts by itself, not one of Arthur's favorite memories?

His dad often forgot and would go out drinking with his buddies or when he did remember he would come home to take him to the meetings smelling like beer and cigarettes. (p. 187)

31. What place did Arthur and his dad take in the Derby race?

How did they celebrate? ,2nd place, they went out for a steak dinner (p. 188)

26. Where did Roger live before he got his first job and his business off the ground?

In an old Ford truck parked in campgrounds and parking lots (p. 185)

6. Who was inside working when Squeak and Arthur arrive at the garage?

James Hampton (p. 165)

42. What time of year is especially fruitful for garbage picking?

James Hampton tells Arthur, "You'll find lots of good stuff now" regarding this time of year. Spring Cleaning (p. 197)

4. What does Squeak wear on the first Saturday he shows up to help Arthur?

Loafers, neatly cuffed denim jeans, and a red pull-over (p. 162)

30. What color(s) was Arthur's racing car for the Pinewood Derby?

Neon blue with white racing stripes (p. 188)

47. On the first beautiful day in May, what did Arthur and James Hampton drink together outside the garage?

Nesbitt's Orange Soda (p. 200)

33. What does James Hampton claim are all unique?

No two the same? ,Angel Wings (p. 189)

55. Who delivered the news of James Hampton's death to Arthur?

Officer Billie (p. 207)

34. What birds does James compare angel's wings to?

Peacocks and city pigeons. (p. 189)

46. Name three items that Arthur kept for himself during spring cleaning picking.

Previously mentioned skate board, bird cage, and fish tank in case he ever got any pets (p. 198)

44. What did Squeak find during spring cleaning picking that he fixed up and kept for himself?

a telescope (p. 197)

23. Describe Roger's appearance as Arthur did in the book. Short

balding, 10 years older than his father (p. 183)

41. By April

name some specific ways in which local business helped Arthur with his probation. The body shop down the street saves lightbulbs, busted car mirrors, and coffee cans for him, the small grocery store across from groovy Jim's always had cardboard and bottles. (p. 197)

21. What is Roger making Arthur's mother as a surprise gift?

A bird house (p. 181)

28. One of Arthur's favorite memories relates to building something with his father. What is the thing that they built that meant so much to him?

A pinewood Derby car for Cub Scouts. (p. 187)

43. What did Arthur find that Roger helped him fix and make good as new?

A skate board (p. 197)

5. What does Squeak tell Arthur he is going to get when he gets older in order to look dangerous? Describe it.

A tattoo, on his arm. A snake or a white skull. (p. 164)

45. What did Arthur reclaim for Barbara during spring cleaning picking?

An almost new wagon and bike (p. 197)

32. What did Arthur make with Mr. Hampton that reminded him of building the Pinewood Derby car with his father?

Angel wings (p. 188)

57. Who told Groovy Jim about James Hampton's passing?

Arthur (p. 211)

16. What task helping James Hampton in the garage brought Arthur relief and happiness? Why was this so?

Smashing the mirrors. It made him feel as if he had been set free of something, as if some big shadow over his life has been taken away. He felt like he had a big mirror of bad luck hanging over his head every day and by breaking the mirrors in the garage he broke that metaphorical mirror as well. (p. 176)

1. What is Squeak's opinion regarding Arthur's initial decision that he can't help James anymore following the news of his illness?

That he can't give up on Mr. Hampton. That whatever else they find for Arthur to do to fulfill his probation might be worse. He also tells Arthur that maybe the project will somehow save him because the mind is a powerful thing and perhaps building heaven is what's keeping him alive. (p. 160)

52. A second part of the question could be what are James Hampton's regrets regarding the Throne of the Third Heaven?

That he wasted too much time in life before doing what he was meant to do- build the work of art. He feels he didn't start soon enough. (p. 204)

25. What condition did Arthur have about sitting down to dinner with Roger, his mother's new boyfriend?

That he would only attend if she promised that Roger would not sit in his father's chair. (p. 184)

35. What did Arthur keep in a box in the back of his closet with the words "Do not open or you'll die" written on it?

The Pinewood Derby car he built with his dad (p. 191)

37. What was Arthur's dad's favorite TV show?

The Price is Right (p. 193)

51. What did James Hampton ask Arthur to leave the third bottle on the tree for? Why?

,For the Throne of the Third Heaven. For all the regrets he has about it.

58. What did Groovy Jim know about Arthur that took him by surprise? How did he know?

,He knew Arthur was the one who hit Mr. Hampton with the brick and the reason he came around was for his probation. He knew because he was in court that day, he had been the one to drive James Hampton there and offer support. (p. 212)

49. What does James Hampton tell Arthur he should do with his empty bottle? Why?

,He tells him he should go stick it on a nearby tree. He explained that this was a family tradition; something his mom had him and his siblings do every spring as a way of emptying out the things they weren't proud of from the year before. Everything you'd been bottling up would flow to the ground and disappear forever. (p. 202)

54. Three days after Arthur and James Hampton drank orange soda and put their bottles on a tree near the garage, what happens?

,James Hampton passes away (p. 206)

50. When asked by James Hampton, what does Arthur say he regrets most about the past year?

,Throwing the brick at him (p. 204)

7. What is Squeak's FULL name?

Reginald Buckley Pierce (p. 167)

19. What is the name of Arthur's mom's boyfriend?

Roger (p. 180)

24. What was the fourth most important thing--- at least to his mother?

Roger, Arthur's mom's new boyfriend, who made thing out of wood. (p. 184)

22. How did Arthur's mom meet her boyfriend

Roger? ,At the dentist office she works at. Roger was installing new cabinets. (p. 182)

17. What bombshell does Barbara drop on Arthur about their mother?

She has a boyfriend and he's coming over for dinner. (p. 179)

67. Where does Arthur's mom hide/keep his birthday money?Why does she tells Arthur that she puts it there?

She keeps it in a Kleenex box. She says she does this because he makes her cry a lot, and that way she'll never forget where she keeps it. (p. 226)

15. What happened to the mirrors they collected? How where they used? ,What did the boys do with them to make them useful to James Hampton?

The mirrors were put into paper bags and smashed with a hammer. They were then dumped out and used as decorations for the wings. (p. 174)

56. What did Barbara offer to Arthur to remember James Hampton by that made him almost begin to cry?

The silver temperature knob from the toaster (p. 209)

63. After Arthur, Groovy Jim and the Landlord make an agreement on the garage, what do Arthur and Groovy Jim do?

They put "heaven" back together, rebuilding James Hampton's creation after Tony messed it all up. (p. 219)

60. What is the name of the landlord who owns the garage?

Tony (p. 216)

66. What does Arthur's mom give him to help him out with saving James Hampton's work space?

Two $10 bills- his birthday money (p. 226)