"The Seventh Most Important Thing" by Shelley Pearsall

Another quiet book about a young boy coping with loss, this one had a surprise for me -- it is based on a true story!  Kind of.  The main character, the inciting incident, etc. are all fictional.  The subject, however, James Hampton, and his artistic creation, are real.  In the novel, a boy named Arthur Owens takes a violent action against a man he perceives to be homeless.  The complexities of the action, of Arthur, and of James Hampton, however, make for a revealing, healing tale.  Arthur escapes prison for his crime and is allowed a chance to make up for his actions.  The assignments he is given are mysterious to him and the lessons are subtle, more allusions than pedantic.  The thread of the book is one of discovery.  Along with Arthur, the reader goes on an internal journey to learn what redemption can mean.  Sweet, touching and unexpected.  Worth the read.  For more on James Hampton and his work, see:  https://americanart.si.edu/artist/james-hampton-2052