The Seventh Most Important Thing- Chapter 1-34 pgs 1-158-Questions and Answers with page numbers

When Arthur first enters Mr. Hampton's garage what does he find that Hampton has been working on?

"A shimmering shrine that looked like something that belonged on a Hollywood movie set or an Egyptian temple". Other possible answer: there were wings everywhere, attached to chairs/pedestals/pillars (p. 125)

The list Mr. Hampton gives to Arthur suddenly changes on the first Saturday in February. There was only one item on it. What was that item?

"A thrown chair" (p. 116)

What did the picture say that Barbara left on Arthur's bed when he came home from court?

"Don't Do Any More Bad Things, Arthur" (p. 22)

How long does James say it takes to build heaven?

"It takes years. A lifetime." (p. 138)

Squeak suggests that maybe Mr. Hampton Is an enigma. What does he say this means?

"Someone who doesn't make sense". (p. 115)

Who did the hat in question originally belong to?

Arthur's father (p. 12)

What nickname does Arthur's mom use to refer to him?

Artie (p. 81)

Why, specifically, did Arthur decide to throw the brick at James?

Because he had his father's hat on and he thought he had stolen it from him. This made his very angry. (p. 15)

Why does Arthur initially tell Squeak that he cannot sit by him at lunch?

Because the Vice Principal told Arthur that he was dangerous and he needed to stay away from him or else he would call his probation officer. (p. 108)

What does the "Junk Man" refer to as "an act of God"?

Being hit by the brick (p. 2)

What happens at school in the lunchroom on the Monday after Arthur discovers James is sick?

Bullies threw pieces of hot dogs at both him and squeak. (p. 156)

For what Holiday did Arthur receive two weeks off of his probation?

Christmas (p. 84)

Describe the "throne" Arthur found for Mr. Hampton.

Covered in red velvet fabric that was stained and worn in a lot of places, heavy wooden arms and a wide back carved with swirls that had been painted in thick layers of metallic gold, one of the front legs was missing, a lot of the paint was flaking. (p. 118)

In what month does Arthur begin his work with Mr. Hampton?

December (p. 37)

What classes did Arthur look forward to?

Earth Science and Industrial Arts (p. 59)

What was significant about Squeak's lunch that caught Arthur's attention?

Everything in his lunch bag was wrapped neatly in "Most Important Thing #1", tin foil. (p. 110)

What did Officer Billie's car smell like when Arthur got in?

Fast food (p. 144)

Before Arthur leaves the hospital, what does James thank him for?

Finding the throne (p. 141)

What did everyone wear in "juvie" ?

Green jumpsuits (p. 26)

What is the name of the tattoo shop in front of Mr. Hampton's garage?

Groovy Jim's Tattoos (p. 38)

On his second time working for Mr. Hampton, what did Mr. Hampton add to the note he originally left Arthur?

He added a quote that read, "Where there is no vision, the people perish". (p. 65)

How did James Hampton intervene in Arthur's sentencing?

He asked to speak to the Judge privately prior to sentencing. (18) to offer an alternative punishment. To work for him until his arm healed and he was able to resume his work on his own (p. 20-21).

What was the reason for her call?

He did not follow Mr. Hampton's specific directions regarding what to collect.

In what way did Arthur's father's reputation effect the Judge's opinion of Arthur?

He felt "the apple doesn't fall far from the tree" and Arthur's father was a high school dropout who had spent time in jail and died drunk. (p. 17)

When Arthur came home from the hospital and the diner he had a horrible dream during the night, Describe what happened in his dream.

He had to collect enough beer cans to save his father's life and take them to Officer Billie in the court room where she would weigh them. Each time she told him it wasn't enough. The police kept getting closer and closer to his house as he scrambled for more cans. It was a race against time. He woke up before he could save his dad. (p. 150-151)

How does Arthur become acquainted with Squeak?

He helped him out of a trashcan when he was being bullied by a bunch of jocks in the gym hallway near his locker (p. 102-104)

What are the reasons the Judge assumes for Arthur attacking James?

He looked like an easy target, he planned to rob him, he was black. (p. 9)

Whenever Arthur thought about quitting whose words did he remember. What were they?

He remembered the Judge saying "The apple doesn't fall far from the tree". (p. 60)

Why did everyone call James the "Junk Man"?

He rifled through everyone's garbage and asked if they had anything shiny or valuable they no longer wanted (p .15)

What does the Vice Principal say he thought about Arthur's role in Squeak's attack in the gym hallway?

He said he thought that Arthur was responsible for putting Squeak into the trash can and that he was the one tormenting him. He said Squeak was just too afraid of Arthur to tell him the truth. (p. 107)

When asked repeatedly by the judge why he threw a brick at James Hampton, what was Arthur's response?

He said, "It was because of his hat, Your Honor" (p. 11)

What is Groovy Jim's opinion of James Hampton?

He says "He is way deeper than people realize. Trust me he's got a good reason for everything he says and does". (p. 68)

What did James tell the nurse at the hospital about Arthur?

He told her that Arthur was a saint for saving him (p. 136)

What did Arthur feel initially was "the best part" of his sentence?

He was able to go home and not back to "juvie" (p. 22)

What other factors went in to Arthur's rash decision to throw the brick?

He was grieving the loss of his father, his mother threw away his father's favorite things without talking to Arthur about it first, he wanted to punish everyone, including death, he felt the junk man was mocking his father by wearing his hat, he felt people thought his father threw away his life and didn't deserve to be remembered (p. 15-16)

After Arthur received the news about Mr. Hampton being terminally ill, how did he respond?

He was upset and angry. It brought back memories of his father. He told Officer Billie he couldn't go through having someone that he knew pass away on him again and that the judge would have to find someone else to help James. (p. 148)

How did squeak peacefully handle the food being thrown at him and Arthur in the cafeteria?

He wrote "Go ahead and throw things at me" on a page in a notebook, climbed up on the lunch table and held it up. (p. 155)

What does James claim that many people have tried to build through art because it's easy to create?

Hell (p. 139)

What does Mr. Hampton call his shopping cart?

His chariot (p. 97)

What was the other item Arthur noticed was miss from the closet besides his father's hat?

His father's corduroy jacket (p. 12)

What other major life event did Arthur wear his suit to other than his day in court?

His father's funeral (p. 5)

What did Arthur's mom give him for Christmas?

His father's silver dollar collection (p. 90)

Who always used to put the Christmas tree up when Arthur was younger?

His father(p. 63)

What did Arthur and his father often eat when his mother worked nights waitressing?

Hungry Chef dinner in front of the TV (p. 74)

How did Arthur's father die?

In a motorcycle accident. He was drunk and he was going too fast and he crashed (p. 28)

Where did Arthur find the perfect thrown chair for Mr. Hampton?

In front of an old Victorian house that was being cleaned out (118)

What was particular about the dress Arthur's mother wore to his day in court?

It was her "funeral dress" (p. 18)

Why was Mr. Hampton's place so hard to find?

It was not visible from the street (p. 42)

What is the real name of the "Junk Man"?

James Hampton (p. 7)

What does James claim heaven is made out of?

Junk (p. 129)

What three items does Arthur say are harder to find than the others?

Light bulbs,foil, and coffee cans. (p. 72)

What are the "7 Most Important Things"?

Lightbulbs, foil, mirrors, pieces of wood, glass bottles, coffee cans, and cardboard (p. 44)

What does Arthur discover is the "first important thing"?

Lights (p. 83)

Who did Arthur get a call from after his first day back at school following his time in Juvie?

Officer Billie

Who does Arthur call for a ride home from the hospital after leaving James?

Officer Billie (p. 142)

What was Arthur allowed to take with him to "juvie"?

One toothbrush, one comb, and one set of street clothes (p. 26)

What major historical event in the U.S. occurred while Arthur was in "juvie"?

President Kennedy was assassinated (p. 3)

What job was Arthur tasked with during the holidays that his father always use to do?

Putting up the Christmas tree (p. 64)

What belongings of Arthur's father were missing from his parents' bedroom?

an old radio, the wedding picture of his parents that hung on the wall, the ash tray that Arthur made for his father in 3rd grade (p. 13)

What was the old man often pushing down the street?

A Grocery Cart (p. 1)

What kind of a hat was it?

A black, leather, Harley Davidson cap, with a silver chain and the orange winged logo on the brim (p. 13)

What does Arthur use to assault the old man?

A brick (p. 1)

When Arthur gave up on the cart on his first day of work what did Groovy Jim give him to hold the things he needed to collect?

A burlap bag from the grocer across the street. (p. 49)

What was taped to both Groovy Jim's counter and the counter at the grocery store across the street? Who was it from?

A cardboard note that reads: "Where there is no vision, the people perish". It was from Mr. Hampton. (p. 67)

Where did Officer Billie and Arthur go before she dropped him off at home after leaving the hospital?

A diner for burgers and fries (p. 146)

What does Arthur give his mom for Christmas?

A flower pot shaped like a watering can (p. 90)

What position did Arthur's mother interview for and ultimately get?

A full-time receptionist at a dentist's office (p. 84)

What did Squeak's mom ALWAYS pack in his lunch, every day since kindergarten?

A ham and cheese sandwich, one apple or orange, and six cookies -either vanilla cream or oreos. (p. 110)

What did Arthur imagine heaven looked like for his father?

A place full of motorcycles and lots of things to fix. A place that was sunny and warm year-around so he never had to put his Harley away. Mostly, like Florida with motorcycles. (p. 131)

What was waiting for Arthur on his first day of work with Mr. Hampton?

A rusty grocery cart with a message on it. (p. 43)

What does Officer Billie give Arthur as a Christmas present?

A tin of caramel popcorn (p. 86)

What did Arthur consider his best "find" to be on his first day?

A toaster (p. 52)

What kind of car did Officer Billie drive?

An old blue Pontiac (p. 144)

What is the main character's name?

Arthur Owens (p. 1)

What does Officer Billie say "her kids" never do?

She states that "Her kids never mess up". (p. 34)

What was the name of Arthur's bunkmate?

Slash (p. 27)

What holiday passed while Arthur was in "juvie" ?

Thanksgiving (p. 3)

What is the nickname of the old man Arthur throws a brick at?

The Junk Man (p. 1)

What does James claim are the building blocks of heaven?

The Seven Most Important Things (p. 140)

What doe James call his work of art?

The Throne of the Third Heaven (p. 139)

What does James say was the first time that Arthur saved him? Why?

When he threw the brick at him, because he needed help collecting the seven most important things so he could continue to create his art and Arthur throwing the brick brought them together (p. 138)

Which of the 7 items did Arthur find first on his first day of work?

Where did he find them? Cardboard in front of the grocery store (p. 51)

When she comes to pick up Arthur from the hospital, what is Officer Billie wearing?

White Pajamas (first stated) (p. 143) but actually Arthur finds out it is a Karate uniform (p. 144)

What question was Arthur worried about not having an answer to if James died?

Why he was building heaven (p. 132)

Name at least three factors that made Arthur turn back around and commit to his work with Mr. Hampton after he began to walk away from it.

1)Disappointing his mother 2)Making his sister cry 3)Having to deal with Officer Billie 4)Facing the judge again 5)Going back to juvie (p. 46)

What did Arthur find when he went to grab the newspaper on the front steps the first morning after returning home from juvie?

(2 things) A black leather motorcycle cap missing the orange Harley Davidson wings on its brim and a a note scrawled on a piece of cardboard: "Sorry. I took it for the wings. -St. James" (p. 31)

What were Arthur's Mom's new rules for him when he came home from court?

1) "You are going to talk to me when you are upset" 2) "No more getting in trouble with the police" 3) "You will come straight home every day to watch Barbara" (p. 22-23)

What question asked by Groovy Jim seemed to bring James back to consciousness when they were waiting for the medics to come? How does James answer?

1) Groovy Jim said "Man that's a pretty cool collection of stuff you've got over there. Why don't you tell us about it? "2) James tells them, "It's not stuff. It's heaven. Saint Arthur and I have been busy building Heaven". (p. 129)

When Arthur asks Squeak what he thinks the list of "The 7 Most Important Things" has in common, what does he say?

1) They are all solids 2) They all hold things 3) Everything except cardboard and wood are reflective (p. 114)

What word did Arthur look up in the dictionary when he couldn't sleep on his first night home from juvie? What did that word mean?

Redemption, The act of being rescued or set free, the act of being saved from consequences, the payment of an obligation, salvation from sin (p. 30)

When Arthur was receiving his sentence the Judge stated Mr. Hampton was not interested in retribution, rather this?

Redemption.(p. 20)

What does Arthur mention that he is oddly grateful for when he first comes home from Juvie?

The beat up dresser with Winnie the Pooh Stickers, clothes he hasn't seen in three weeks, his sister, the disgusting smell of her grape lollipop. (p. 27)

What did Mr. Hampton give to Barbara when she saw him outside their house after Christmas?

The missing temperature knob from the toaster (p. 97)

What happens while Arthur and his mom are putting up the Christmas tree that makes her laugh really hard and makes Arthur mad?

The tree fell over onto Arthur' back (p. 80)

What was different when Arthur arrived to help Mr. Hampton on the second Saturday in February?

There was no cart, no note, and the door to the garage was slightly ajar (p. 120-121)

Mr. Barber informed Arthur on his first day back to school that "they moved him". What did this mean? Why did they decide this?

They moved his locker to the gym hallway to keep him away from the other students and because it was close to the gym teacher's office so they could keep an eye on him. (p. 58)

What does Arthur notice about the curtains in the hospital?

They're the same shade of olive green as the uniforms in juvie. (p. 136)

How long did Arthur spend in "juvie"?

Three weeks (p. 2,3)

What is the name of Arthur's probation officer?

Wanda Billie (p. 32)

When Arthur finds James on the floor of his garage what does James refer to him as?

What does he say Arthur did for him? He calls him Saint Arthur and says Arthur is the one who saved him (p. 127)