Fourteen-year-old friends Nick Yarrowby and Khenan Kimetto are looking for a way to earn enough money to fly to Boston to see the Bruins hockey team play, since their single parents can’t afford to send them. A crime-scene cleanup TV show gives Khenan an idea—and Gross Busters is born. The boys’ “no job too foul” cleaning business goes so well that they hire Florrie Birdwhistle, a quirky 12-year-old girl with a passion for science who seems impervious to the disgusting things they have to clean up, making her perfect for the team. Their one rule is “absolutely no body parts,” a hard line they find themselves crossing during one of their jobs. Working together leads the trio to discover revelations about one another even as they uncover mysteries hiding in their small town of Glummingford. First-person narrator Nick’s coming of age is relatable: He’s thoughtful and kind yet goofy enough to be believable. The flowing narrative, realistic characters whose lives have been touched by grief and the ravages of addiction, and a satisfying (and not-too-tidy) ending make this book a great choice for readers who appreciate a gentle approach to tender topics. Nick and Florrie read white, and Khenan is Black.