NEW-Things Seen from Above

by Shelley Pearsall

Brand New Deliver In 6-18 Working Days

Genres: Middle Grade, Friendship, Realistic Fiction, Fiction, School, Juvenile, Chapter Books

288 pages, Paperback

First published February 4, 2020

About the author

I have written seven novels for youth (ages 10 - 14) which have reached a half-million readers around the world. I'm currently working on several new projects, and I live an ocean-hopping writing life, moving between Scotland and the US.

I grew up in Cleveland, Ohio where I used to write stories in a bedroom closet (aka my writer’s office). I tried to get my first story published when I was thirteen. However, it took about twenty years before I succeeded. My first novel, Trouble Don't Last, was published in 2002. It received the Scott O'Dell Medal for Historical Fiction, among other honors.

In my seven published books, I've explored a wide range of topics and themes: geometry, pyramids, Elvis impersonators, art, neurodiversity, World War II, the Underground Railroad, and more. I've always believed in the power of books to build bridges and start conversations.

Over the years, my books have received many honors and accolades including: ALA Notable selections, Best Books of the Year, Amazon Book of the Month pick, Scripps National Spelling Bee bookclub selection, National Council for the Social Studies selections, and many state reading award nominations. They have been translated into Japanese, Korean, and Turkish.

Currently, I divide my time between Ohio and Scotland -- where I live in a renovated barn surrounded by hills with lots of sheep! I offer virtual visits and writing workshops for schools in the US and internationally. If you want to know more, check out my website: www.shelleypearsall.com.

Reviews

[Reem Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about April, who is in sixth grade, and is struggling to make friends. After such an incident, she volunteers for Buddy Bench, where she starts observing Joey, who is an unusual and unique kid, a rare bird. Along the way she meets Veena, and they start discovering more about Joey Byrd.
I loved this book. It was so wholesome and amazing. A tale about friendship and care, about how some kids are different than others and that doesn't make them any less. How kids have their own hard times, and we should be understandable to that rather than labelling them as spoiled kids.
I really liked April, she wasn't perfect, but she knew that, and she tried to better herself, which was as good as it could get. And I liked Joey a lot! The kid was adorable. As well as Veena, I really liked her as a character, she was really understanding and polite but a strong character character nonetheless.
I was contemplating whether to give this book four stars or five stars, because when you compare it to Young Adult books (which I did at first, my apologies), it isn't as good as they can be. But when you see it as a middle-grade book, then you see that it did what it came to do beautifully. And it made me want to immediately start rereading it after I finished it, which is QUITE rare, and made me cry a bit too (which is MORE RARE). To sum up everything, it was a beautiful and wholesome book, something that was impactful for me, and I would love to reread it at some point 💙.

[Yvette · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 or 3.5 stars. I was excited to read Things Seen from Above, and it was good and I liked the concept... but it didn't particularly wow me. It's about Joey Byrd, a fourth grade boy who is an outsider, who seemingly mindlessly walks around the playground, and buddy bench monitor April, who wonders if there's more to Joey than meets the eye. I also really liked the illustrations of Joey's art throughout the book. Things Seen from Above is a good book, but I kind of expected... more.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Sometimes when I'm feeling overwhelmed, I try to look at things the way Joey did. From above. It always makes big problems seem smaller."

[WKPL Children's/YA Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Miss Lori quickly read and thoroughly enjoyed this book by Ohioan Shelley Pearsall. The theme is that we should all take the opportunity to change our perspective on situations/people we don't understand. By doing this, we may be rewarded with a new understanding of things and of ourselves in the process.

Middle grade readers (5th and 6th grade especially) should enjoy this read!

[Katie Krombein · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this little book. My 9, 11, and 12 year olds did too.

P. 253: but take our advice and keep watching. You just might spot a rare bird yourself someday.
Consider yourself lucky if you do.

[SashReads 🗾🎑🏞🌅🌄🌠🎇🎆🌇🌆🏙🌃🌌🌉🌁 · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Kelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't usually think too much about books written for middle schoolers. This one was a quick read and seemed promising. However, as the plot unfolded and April became more annoying, I wondered. Why was she constantly trying to be the parental figure for Veena and Joey? I get it about the "wanting to be their friend and role model" angle, but her actions and words towards them almost seemed patronizing. Idk. I don't have much else to say about this book.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great middle school book. It’s about acceptance friendship and understanding. Very well done. I would definitely recommend this “rare bird”.

[Nicole Goodrum · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a reread, Things Seen From Above is as impactful and perspective-shifting as it was five years ago, when I first read it. Sections from the story teared me up, some had me shaking my head, and a couple parts were paced too slow (IMHO-did not take away from the plot). This is a beautiful story about the impacts of being kind and what happens when you shift your perspective.

[Mary Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

What does it mean to be different? Maybe you see the world differently, maybe you feel like you don't fit in, maybe you are from another country. All three of those collide at the intersection of What Is Art, What is Fame, and What Really Matters.

[Hoover Public Library Kids and Teens · Rating 4 out of 5]

This uplifting story of friendship and kindness will encourage readers to look at the world through a new lens.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't realize this was a probably a kids book when I started it. It was an advanced readers copy I had recieved at work. A different story that has a lot of good lessons in it.

[Tara Mickela · Rating 5 out of 5]

When you express yourself differently from everyone else life is very hard. When you find someone who’ll fight for you and tell you you’re ok then you really start to soar, like Joeybyrd.
Shelley Pearsall has a gift. She knows how to write so truthfully about children, yet with enormous heart and understanding. I didn’t think she could outdo The Seventh Most Important Thing but....

[Denise Hatcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

This powerful and easy-to-read book is a great reminder that we are all unique, that we all have different talents, and that our lives can be richer if we seek first to understand others and their experiences. April, a sixth grader, volunteers to sit at the Buddy Bench when the fourth graders eat lunch. In this role she meets Joey Bird, an alienated young boy who creates incredible images by walking in his green crocs and dragging his feet in the wood chips on the playground. April’s interest in Joey teaches the entire school important lessons about accepting others and how we should each strive to treat others.

[Lesley · Rating 5 out of 5]

“However, I came to the conclusion a long time ago that people often see only what they expect to see. If they don’t expect much, they don’t see much.” (99)

When we accept those who see things differently, we begin to see things in a different way.

Sixth grader April feels like a misfit when her former best friend shows up at school with a new look, new clothes, and new friends. She avoids the 6th grade lunch by volunteering to staff the Buddy Bench during that time which is also the 4th grade recess. During recesses she observes Joey Bird, a 4th grader who doesn’t play with any other kids and appears to spend the time dragging his feet randomly through the wood chips and sometimes lying down in the midst of them. April thinks Joey may have autism and, as she observes him during the school day, it also seems as though he cannot read and frequently gets kicked out of class.

But as April and her fifth grader helper, Veena, a new student from India, observe more closely, they realize that Joey is actually creating spirals and even intricate drawings in the chips. Their observations are verified by Mr. Ulysses, the custodian, an inventor himself, who has been taking photographs of Joey’s art. April and Veena elect to get to know Joey and the meaning of his art.

When their discovery is accidently shared with other students, they all begin to look at Joey, and each other, differently. “Joey’s popularity seemed to pull other forgotten kids out of the shadows.…The outcasts started getting noticed. The excluded were included.” (146)

People even start seeing Joey’s art in different ways. “Our outlines kept moving and changing every day—and there was no telling who we would eventually become.” (191)

In first person chapters narrated by April and third person chapters written from Joey Bird’s perspective, augmented with his artwork, readers will be led to think about what they see and how they see—themselves and others in this important tale of assumptions and acceptance.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pearsall has shared a sensitive and loving view into the lives of some who see the world differently. One is a sixth grader who feels alone and escapes the lunch room by being a Bench Buddy at recess. Her partner is a fifth grader who is newer to this country. The third is a fourth grader who doesn't connect well with others around him. He truly sees the world from a different perspective. Joey spends his recess time creating artwork that can only be appreciated from above - roof top level above. He works the math and envisions the design and creates these works of art when he chooses. He also uses spirals to walk off his sadness.
April notices Joey and really sees him. She thinks ab0ut why he doesn't interact with other kids and researches reasons. With help from her friend and partner, Veena, along with their custodian, they see what Joey is doing and how he communicates with the world.
Touching look at those who seem different and those who see through to celebrate different gifts.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

April hates sixth-grade lunchtime, so she volunteers to man the fourth-grade recess Buddy Bench. While there, she notices Joey Bird and the strange drawings he makes with his feet every recess. Rumors abound about Joey, but April is determined to figure out what is really behind the drawings. This is a beautiful book about how kids can teach each other and the adults around them) how to show compassion and kindness for those who might seem different. Definitely will consider purchasing multiple
copies for our beginning of the year novel study.

[Jillian Marshick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book from Kellogg for Teachers. I wanted to read the book before adding it to those in my classroom. A wonderful book on accepting others and friendship.

[Maura · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wouldn't have finished the audiobook version of Things Seen from Above if it weren't a Virginia Readers' Choice elementary selection for 2021-2022. With two stars, I'm leaving room for the possibility that the narration itself was part of what was off-putting to me. I am very surprised that this book is a VRC selection. I found several elements problematic:

* In general, I found the story overall cartoonishly saccharine and unrealistic
* Novel is billed as dual POV, but only one point of view is in the 1st person, that of April, the character who sees herself as the protector and social translator of Joey, a younger boy who displays some seemingly autistic traits
* Joey's POV is less than one dimensional and even less developed than that of April, who essentially exists in the world only to attend 6th grade and help at the Buddy Bench at 4th grade. She has no life outside school, no family to speak of, no interests except her advice box and serving as a social mentor to others as a way to escape her own social difficulties in 6th grade
* Rather than humanize Joey as a neurodiverse person with interesting, unique traits, the author "others" him, ascribing him with magical qualities and otherworldly artistic skills...in the pinnacle event with his character, presenting him as a kind of magician who creates a mysterious chalk hologram that couldn't be photographed and then literally disappears from the story
* Every single adult in a school is clueless and uncaring about a person suffering from dysregulation, sensory issues, and social difficulties, except the magically incisive, observant custodian??
* April's internal dialogue is more like a 40 year old than a 6th grader
* April's paternalism toward both Joey and Veena rubbed me the wrong way, especially because she kept making such irresponsible decisions

Overall, it read to me like a very bad After School Special that was condescending toward the Joey character and over the top about how every adult save for one extraordinary custodian was clueless and horrible. I was surprised, then, to see in some reviews that the author based the Joey character on a member of her own family (the author's note that was apparently in the print edition was not in the audio version that I read.) Perhaps some reviews reflect an appreciation for her trying to tell this person's story. Unlike several other recently published middle grade books with neurodiverse characters, though, I felt that Things Seen From Above presented little more than the hackneyed view of an autistic person as someone who is "socially inept but gifted with superhuman talents, if only we have the patience to discover them" rather than a fully realized person beyond a showcase talent. The odd portrayal of his parents and his sudden disappearance at the end of the book cemented the idea that he was alien/other.

This had already been purchased for my school and is a VRC title; otherwise, I would give it a pass for a library collection.

One star for the general idea of promoting the openness to see things from other perspectives. I appreciate the other perspectives of reviewers who think the book has merit that I don't see.

[Aud · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this more than I thought I would. The story is well-written and engaging. Kids will definitely enjoy reading it. My issue is with how the whole book was executed.

Joey Byrd is not presented as a person, but rather plot device in boy's form with a "special gift." The book isn't about him so much as it's about how knowing him changes April's life and helps her grow. He doesn't have any character development other than growing more confident in himself as an artist, maybe - and even that's a stretch, because we see even less from his point of view after he starts to gain this confidence than we did before. And we saw very little before that point. Even the extremely short chapters we see in his point of view are written in the third person. He's called a "rare bird" so many times that it's ridiculous, and he's not even given the courtesy of a diagnosis. Does it matter if he's autistic? Yes, actually, it does. I'm not saying give out his private health information to random students, but if a diagnosis will potentially help him get the services and interventions he needs to thrive academically and socially , than yes, it matters a whole lot. The way April's question is just shrugged off makes it almost sound like autism is a bad word, and it's not. It might not be her business, but there's a much better way of addressing her question while protecting student privacy if that's the teacher's concern (but given how apparently all of the adults in this school except for the maintenance guy are useless, that's probably not the issue).

So, the message: treat people nicely because they might actually have semi-magical powers that are really cool and have value? Or something? This kid even turns into a LEGEND once he's gone. Which completely misses the point that he's a person. Just a person, who has a passion, and who would probably like less adulation and more actual friends, but that's just a guess, because we never actually see very deeply into his mind because the story focuses so much on April.

I honestly feel a little badly for dragging on this, because seriously, it's a very well-written book. But the world doesn't need more "this person is coded as disabled but also semi-magical and because of it" trope books running around, and this is too close to inspiration porn for me. This book does nothing to un-"other" people who are neurodiverse. We should treat people decently because they are people, not because of their supposed value or their "special" talents. I see how this book was trying to make that point, but I don't feel like it really got all the way there.

The author's note was enlightening. I appreciate the message she was trying to deliver. I can also see that from other reviews that many other readers aren't seeing what I'm seeing. However, we're all allowed to have the reactions that we do. So. This is my review. Hope you enjoyed the rant.

[Valerie McEnroe · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my second Pearsall book. I would say she is a character and issue author rather than a plot author. She likes to focus in on challenged characters and through their interactions with other characters show how they are able to overcome their challenge. She did it in The Seventh Most Important Thing and she's done it again here.

The book is told from the perspective of April, a 6th grader, who signs up to be a bench buddy at 4th grade recess in order to avoid the new uncomfortable social dynamics of 6th grade. Her best friend is suddenly into all the things most 6th grade girls are into: boys, clothes, being popular. April is a knowledge nerd. She loves analyzing and learning. Although that doesn't make her weird, it makes her different, and she's a bit insecure about it. She's also very logical, which makes her a kind person, because, well, it's logical to be nice.

Her personality makes her a perfect bench buddy. When she notices a very odd boy at recess, her reaction is to try and figure him out. Sometimes he just lays down on the ground with his eyes closed. Sometimes he walks in spirals. Other times he just drags his feet through the mulch. She doesn't give up on this boy, and with the help of the janitor, she figures out how this strange, bullied, unpleasant boy can do something amazing.

Love the characters. April is a great kid. She doesn't conform to the ideal standard society forces on kids and she doesn't want to. And when she sees other kids who are picked on for just trying to be themselves, she stands up for them. She has a natural peer counselor ability, and she uses it to teach her 5th grade helper, Veena, how to care about people too. What's great about her is that she doesn't even realize she's doing it. She's just being herself. We need more kids like this.

Another win for Pearsall.

[Laura Gardner · Rating 4 out of 5]

When April has a falling out with her only friend on the first day of sixth grade, she volunteers to help out with the Buddy Bench for fourth grade recess during her lunch period to avoid having to be social with her own peers. April is kind and sees herself as a helpful person; she writes an advice column for the school newspaper and acts mature for her age in her role as sixth grade Buddy Bench volunteer. In her time on the playground, April notices a boy named Joey Byrd who acts strangely. April and fellow Buddy Bench volunteer Parveena (Veena) work together to try and talk to Joey, but he is inscrutable. He walks in circles, doesn’t talk to anyone, and sometimes lies on the ground with his eyes closed. April takes notes and eventually discovers that Joey is making art that can be seen best from above. April and Veena connect with Mr. Ulysses, the school janitor, to help the school and larger community appreciate Joey’s gifts. Occasional chapters show Joey’s point of view (albeit in 3rd person). Black and white illustrations help the reader see the world from Joey’s perspective, as well. The author’s afterword discusses visual-spatial gifts in other people, the phenomenon of crop circles and other large art like Joey’s. If you’re looking for a feel-good story about kindness and appreciating everyone’s unique gifts then this will be a good choice.
Why I didn't give it 5 starts: It felt a little didactic and saccharine at times, but overall it’s a wonderful read. Good readalike for Wonder.

[Lorie · Rating 5 out of 5]

April Boxler is having trouble navigating the social climate in sixth grade so she volunteers for the buddy bench during lunch instead of navigating the perils of the cafeteria. On the playground, her attention is drawn to a 4th grader who seems to be walking around by himself in a repetitive fashion . Joey Byrd just wants to be left alone to create his spirals in the playground wood chips, but April is determined to understand Joey and how to help him. When another student having issues fitting in joins her on buddy bench duty, they uncover the purpose and beauty of his playground art and the when the secret gets out it creates a chain reaction of changes that impact not only the present but the future of the whole town.

With the story alternating its point of view from April to Joey, the reader will create empathetic bonds with both characters as they reveal their stories. The book has an interesting approach that middle grade readers will enjoy. The novel includes illustrations by Xingye Jin which are imaginatively beautiful in their own right, but also offer an overhead perspective for Joey’s creations. The arc of the story reminded me of Newbery Award Winner Maniac Magee where a mysterious child comes to town and leaves the people he meets forever changed. The author was inspired by her real-life nephew who experienced life similarly to Joey.

I would highly recommend this book for purchase for any school or public library.
This book was provided by the publisher for professional review by SWON Libraries.

[Karen Gedeon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Things Seen From Above by Shelley Pearsall – Joey Byrd is a fourth grader who doesn’t see things like anyone else. April Boxler is a sixth grader who volunteers to be a Bench Buddy for the fourth graders so she won’t have to eat lunch with her classmates. Little do either know they will become more than acquaintances on the playground. As April begins her job as Bench Buddy she notices Joey’s peculiar behavior and begins to ask other kids what they know about him. While their stories sound reasonable, there is something about them that just doesn’t seem right. At the same time, Joey is wondering why this girl he sees on the playground is talking to him since most kids leave him alone. When April sees another student bully Joey at lunch, she steps in standing up for the underdog showing her caring protective side. With the help of Veena, a new fifth grader who is also assigned as a Bench Buddy and their custodian Mr. Ulysses, April begins to see things how Joey sees things – from above looking down, just like a bird. Told in alternating perspectives, this middle grade novel helps readers realize there is always more than one way to see things and to give all people a chance because most of the time they will surprise you with their friendship and talents. Things Seen From Above makes a nice small group or class read due to the many discussion points on character and good choices.

[Clarissa Arcidino · Rating 5 out of 5]

It certainly took me a while to sit down and read this book due to life happening! But man, do I regret not finishing it sooner!! This book is probably so far, my favorite read of 2021!! This young reader novel by Pearsall is so cleverly written. I was inspired, uplifted, and left feeling hopeful! I love the character development throughout the story, as well as, the fun different reader perspectives throughout--this gave the story depth. Overall, I love refreshing inspirational reads--'Things Seen from Above' is one of those reads! The protagonists hold a strong footing in what it means to be different and unique even if the world sees you as disabled. I have always felt a connection for all young reader novels with this topic of discussion simply for the fact, there isn't more of them and should be. This read helps provide the start of conversations among young readers that should be talked about. Being different can typically help you and others see things in a new light. Disabilities in the world among kiddos is shockingly high and I brings me so much joy to find these diamonds in the rough reads with a new perspective and character then we typically would. This read certainly came close to jerking tears out of my eyes and I wouldn't have wanted it any other way! Highly recommend this read for all ages!!!

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful, inspiring story! I can only hope that this book helps us all appreciate others who see things a bit differently than us. April is in sixth grade and seems to be struggling to find her place. Her friends have changed and she isn't sure where she fits in. She volunteers to be a "Buddy Bench" friend at her school to find some peace and quiet. A sweet, shy girl named Veena also volunteers for the fourth grade lunch "Buddy Bench." The author tells the story from both April's and a little bit of Joey's points of view, helping us to see things from both perspectives. When Joey Byrd comes out to recess, April and Veena at first think there is something wrong with Joey. All he seems to do is walk in spirals and drag his feet through the mulch, leaving marks all across the playground. With the help of a kind and wise custodian, however, they find out that Joey is actually very intentional with those scratchings that turn out to be beautiful works of art. April and Veena along with the rest of their classmates learn to see Joey--the boy many students used to tease and make fun of-- in a whole new light. With themes of kindness, celebrating differences, and friendship, Things Seen From Above is one not to miss.

[K Gover · Rating 5 out of 5]

April Boxler, 6th grader, meets JOEYBYRD while being a Bench Buddy monitor at Marshallville elementary. JOEYBYRD is a student who stands out for his uniqueness. He is quiet, occasionally obstinate and frequently lies on the ground. To understand JOEYBYRD better, April asks questions, does research on his behavior, talks to the school janitor and continues to show JOEYBYRD support and interest. April meets Veena when she moves to Marshallville because her Dad got a job at the Kellogg's factory. The Marshville Tigers rally around the entire town as an amazing finale to JOEYBYRD's artwork happens at homecoming. With an ending that isn't picture perfect, this story holds the readers attention until the end. The legend of JOEYBYRD continues as the book fast forwards several years, and lessons to be learned from these students experiences are plentiful.
Topics of interest: art,autism, fitting in at school as others grow up, rare birds, compassion, dealing with sadness, Indian culture, circle makers
Grades 3 - 7ish. Really a great read for any age.
Special Acknowledgement; the inspiration for Shelley Pearsall's story is her nephew. Pretty cool Author's Note

[Lisa N · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a cute, feel-good book about friendship, acceptance, and seeing things from a different perspective. April becomes a recess bench buddy to avoid lunch in the cafeteria. Joey Byrd loves birds and has the visual-spatial ability to view the world from a birds-eye view. April takes notice of Joey who is an outcast and seems to wander aimlessly around the playground scuffing his feet. She eventually figures out that Joey is actually drawing pictures that need to be viewed from above. She and her fellow bench-buddy help Joey gain acceptance from the other kids thru his unusual artistic talent.

I was drawn to this children’s book because the 2 main characters reminded me a little of myself (absolutely dreaded school lunch time) and my son (difficulty making friends and fitting in). The author’s note states that the inspiration for this book and Joey Byrd came from her nephew. The one thing that stuck out the most for me and that I won’t forget were the spirals of sadness. When Joey felt sad he would walk in circles making spirals until the sadness went away. So many misunderstood kids spend their days in a spiral of sadness.

[Miriam Kahn · Rating 4 out of 5]

We’ve all felt like outsiders at some point in our lives, most often when we were in school. Sometimes we were outsiders because we spoke with an accent, other times because we were smart or had different life experiences, and most often when we were “different.” It’s the last that is the focus of "Things Seen From Above."

The story is told from alternating perspectives, sixth grader April is articulate and insightful. She writes her school newsletter’s advice column, and is curious about everything. The other perspective is fourth grader Joey’s. He doesn’t speak much but that’s okay. Readers learn how he sees the world, as pictures and ideas percolating in his brain and expressed through his playground designs.

This compelling story is about acceptance of others and about learning to understand people who don’t act or think like you. There’s a little about bullying and more about inclusiveness. The imaginative illustrations by Xengye Jin add to the story.

Perfect for readers 8 and up, this chapter book will enchant reads of all ages.

[Melanie Dulaney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pearsall’s book is perfect for readers of realistic fiction with applications to the lives of kids from all the social strata that exists at any school. April doesn’t feel as if she fits with many of her sixth grade classmates so she volunteers to be a buddy to fourth graders during their recess so she can avoid eating in the cafeteria. It’s there she sees one of those kids who is truly isolated from everyone. April’s attempts to figure out Joey’s bizarre behavior leads to new understanding of those who see life from a different perspective and that understanding spreads throughout more places than just her school. The story of Joey and how he sees the world from a bird’s eye view and turns that viewpoint in art is based largely on the author’s nephew with additional influence from artists from all over who do crop circles, sand and snow drawings and similar. Solid book for those in grades 4-7.