A review by bickie
هفت چیز مهم by Shelley Pearsall

3.0

In November of 1963, Arthur, 13, picks up a brick and throws it at the neighborhood Junk Man, who rummages around people's trash pushing a rusted shopping cart. The community is shocked, and views Arthur as a hardened hooligan when in fact, the conflicting feelings about his father's death a few months previously rose to a head when he saw the Junk Man wearing his father's prized cap just after realizing that his mother had cleared the house of the father's belongings. After some time in a juvenile detention center, Arthur wears his "funeral suit" to his hearing with a notoriously tough judge who wants nothing more than to send him back to "juvie" for a long time. The Junk Man, James Hampton, has a discussion with the judge, however, and Arthur moves back home, thankful for the room he shares with his 7-year-old sister, even with all the stuffed animals and Barbies that usually irritate him. Every Saturday, he needs to work with the Mr. Hampton for 4 hours. Over time, we see what Mr. Hampton is up to with his junk collecting, while Arthur battles prejudice at school based on his criminal background.
Arthur is realistically drawn; he is full of contradictions and is fairly unlikable on the surface. Under it all, Arthur has goodness, but it rings true for an average teenager.
Best for ages 11-14 (alcoholism, bullying, meaning of life).