Things Seen from Above

By Shelley Pearsall

Two outsiders uncover hidden stories through art and friendship.

4.1/5 Goodreads · 932 ratings

288 pages

$7.99Save 5%

In stock. Also at Amazon or Bookshop.

Bookroo's summary

April escapes her sixth-grade lunch nightmare by monitoring fourth-grade recess, where she meets Joey, a solitary boy creating mysterious playground designs. As April deciphers Joey's 'bird's eye' art, a hidden narrative unfolds, revealing his unique perspective. Together, they navigate the challenges of being outsiders, discovering their rightful places in a world that often overlooks them. Will their newfound friendship change how they see themselves and each other?

From the publisher

A shift in perspective can change everything. This brilliant novel from the author of The Seventh Most Important Thing celebrates kids who see the world a little differently. April is looking for an escape from the sixth-grade lunch hour, which has become a social-scene nightmare, so she signs up to be a “buddy bench monitor” for the fourth graders’ recess. Joey Byrd is a boy on the fringes, who wanders the playground alone, dragging his foot through the dirt. But over time, April realizes that Joey isn’t just making random circles. When you look at his designs from above, a story emerges… Joey’s “bird’s eye” drawings reveal what he observes and thinks about every day. Told in alternating viewpoints–April’s in text and Joey’s mostly in art–the story gives the “whole picture” of what happens as these two outsiders find their rightful places.

At a glance