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Absolutely No Body Parts
238 pages, Paperback
Published June 13, 2026
About the author
Valerie Sherrard
36 books70 followersI was born in 1957 in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, and grew up in various parts of Canada. My dad was in the Air Force so the family moved often, and was sent to live in Lahr, West Germany, when I was eleven. It was there that a teacher encouraged me toward writing. I didn't rush into it, though. It wasn't until 2002 that my first book was released, but since then I've had several dozen books for young people published.
One reason I chose to write for children and teens was my experience in working with them. Over the years I fostered about 70 teens in my home, and I also worked as the Director of a group home for teens in my community for more than a decade.
One reason I chose to write for children and teens was my experience in working with them. Over the years I fostered about 70 teens in my home, and I also worked as the Director of a group home for teens in my community for more than a decade.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
✰ 3.25 stars ✰
Nick and Khenan's friendship was a stand-out for me, as business partners of their Gross Busters venture of helping help with the disgusting chores you’ve been dreading of the residents of their small town, Glummingford. 🧹 I enjoyed the level of respect and understanding they had for each other, strengthened by the unfortunate means in which their brotherly bond was heightened even moreso, by the tragic accident that claimed Nick's mom and Khenan's dad.
I appreciated how they accepted twelve-year-old Florrie as more than just their co-associate (not quite on equal footing at first), but as a friend they expressed their concern for her own conflicted family conditions. One that sort of took over the narrative, even after they unearth a secret so shocking it would scandalize the entire town with prickly gossip and suspicions galore. ☠️
“... that’s the difference between carrying every- thing and just carrying the things I want to keep.”
For Florrie really was struggling and even as Nick was struggling to process his mother's sudden death, it was nice to see his own way of expressing his consideration and concern for her. 🥺 Yes, he is a fourteen-year-old boy who may offer an opinion that is unsolicited and unfair and unwarranted at times. But, as Khenan is fair game to call him out on it, he's still burdened by a truckload of blame and anger and pain he's not let go.
The author balanced their work on no job too foul, while also helping Florrie out of her difficult family situation in an even manner. I wanted to offer my own business acumen to them that always set a rate beforehand, or even take half the money upfront. 😅 But, they're young, they'll learn. 💸 I liked that even though Nick is troubled by her own acceptance of her troubles, Florrie was not afraid to speak up on behalf of her family, for she still feels deep in her heart that they love her. 🤧
It's their internal struggles that are a battle she's willing to be there for them to work it out. And that was a bittersweet reminder of Nick's own conflicted emotions about his alcoholic mother that he had to find it in his heart to forgive, but still remember with love what he had. 😢
“My mom used to say there’s always a silver lining when bad things happen. ”
It's an engaging upper middle grade read that layered the emotions and relationships in a relatable way, while also shedding a brief light on a more serious tone of substance abuse, foster care, and even first crushes. Khenan was a real supportive trooper, attentive and intuitive - a great example of how boys can have good hearts without asking for anything in return. Nick was lucky to have such a perceptive and caring friend like him. 🫂
Towards the end, I felt there was a lot more telling rather than showing, where the action and dialogue became limited to (told), where I felt the author had perhaps crammed too much in and had run out of time to express it well.
I also would have liked it if the mystery was a bit more cryptic, but I understood how it was meant to assist Nick in his own reflection of his personal trauma and acceptance of how love can be felt in different ways. ❤️🩹
*Thank you to Edelweiss for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
“If you look for something good, you’ll find it, no matter how hard a situation is.”
Nick and Khenan's friendship was a stand-out for me, as business partners of their Gross Busters venture of helping help with the disgusting chores you’ve been dreading of the residents of their small town, Glummingford. 🧹 I enjoyed the level of respect and understanding they had for each other, strengthened by the unfortunate means in which their brotherly bond was heightened even moreso, by the tragic accident that claimed Nick's mom and Khenan's dad.
I appreciated how they accepted twelve-year-old Florrie as more than just their co-associate (not quite on equal footing at first), but as a friend they expressed their concern for her own conflicted family conditions. One that sort of took over the narrative, even after they unearth a secret so shocking it would scandalize the entire town with prickly gossip and suspicions galore. ☠️
“... that’s the difference between carrying every- thing and just carrying the things I want to keep.”
For Florrie really was struggling and even as Nick was struggling to process his mother's sudden death, it was nice to see his own way of expressing his consideration and concern for her. 🥺 Yes, he is a fourteen-year-old boy who may offer an opinion that is unsolicited and unfair and unwarranted at times. But, as Khenan is fair game to call him out on it, he's still burdened by a truckload of blame and anger and pain he's not let go.
The author balanced their work on no job too foul, while also helping Florrie out of her difficult family situation in an even manner. I wanted to offer my own business acumen to them that always set a rate beforehand, or even take half the money upfront. 😅 But, they're young, they'll learn. 💸 I liked that even though Nick is troubled by her own acceptance of her troubles, Florrie was not afraid to speak up on behalf of her family, for she still feels deep in her heart that they love her. 🤧
It's their internal struggles that are a battle she's willing to be there for them to work it out. And that was a bittersweet reminder of Nick's own conflicted emotions about his alcoholic mother that he had to find it in his heart to forgive, but still remember with love what he had. 😢
“My mom used to say there’s always a silver lining when bad things happen. ”
It's an engaging upper middle grade read that layered the emotions and relationships in a relatable way, while also shedding a brief light on a more serious tone of substance abuse, foster care, and even first crushes. Khenan was a real supportive trooper, attentive and intuitive - a great example of how boys can have good hearts without asking for anything in return. Nick was lucky to have such a perceptive and caring friend like him. 🫂
Towards the end, I felt there was a lot more telling rather than showing, where the action and dialogue became limited to (told), where I felt the author had perhaps crammed too much in and had run out of time to express it well.
I also would have liked it if the mystery was a bit more cryptic, but I understood how it was meant to assist Nick in his own reflection of his personal trauma and acceptance of how love can be felt in different ways. ❤️🩹
*Thank you to Edelweiss for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
August 14, 2026
Great middle grade Canadian read. Touches on addiction, grief, friendship.
June 14, 2026
This was such a fun and yet heartwarming read. I didn’t know what to expect going in as this was my first book by Valerie. But I really enjoyed the writing style. The youthful way the story was laid out but how the writing level felt adult. The characters were so loveable and had me a bit heartbroken. This felt like a movie playing in my head giving stand by me vibes for the town setting. Picturing them riding their bikes around town with their supplies. This book has some deeper topics and realities of how life isn’t always fair. But the families were wonderful and the connection was something I strive for with my family. A very quick and easy enjoyable read.
September 3, 2026
A strong 4 stars!
"Absolutely No Body Parts" has a great storyline centered around a group of motivated kids who start their own cleaning and de-cluttering business. What begins as a creative way to earn money gradually leads them into situations they never expected.
The story also tackles some heavier subjects, including addiction, drugs, and single parenting, with honesty and sensitivity. I especially loved the characters and the wonderfully refreshing relationships between them. The friendships are supportive and genuine, while the parent/child relationships offer young readers such a positive example of what healthy communication, trust, and care can look like.
The ending becomes quite heavy, but it feels completely understandable. The main characters have been carrying so many thoughts and troubles inside themselves, and by the end, they are able to begin sorting through many of them sometimes mentally and sometimes quite tangibly.
Valerie Sherrard is an excellent writer. Like so many of her other books, "Absolutely No Body Parts" deserves a spot near the very top of every middle grade reader’s TBR list.
"Absolutely No Body Parts" has a great storyline centered around a group of motivated kids who start their own cleaning and de-cluttering business. What begins as a creative way to earn money gradually leads them into situations they never expected.
The story also tackles some heavier subjects, including addiction, drugs, and single parenting, with honesty and sensitivity. I especially loved the characters and the wonderfully refreshing relationships between them. The friendships are supportive and genuine, while the parent/child relationships offer young readers such a positive example of what healthy communication, trust, and care can look like.
The ending becomes quite heavy, but it feels completely understandable. The main characters have been carrying so many thoughts and troubles inside themselves, and by the end, they are able to begin sorting through many of them sometimes mentally and sometimes quite tangibly.
Valerie Sherrard is an excellent writer. Like so many of her other books, "Absolutely No Body Parts" deserves a spot near the very top of every middle grade reader’s TBR list.
June 18, 2026
The is a really well done upper middle grade book. The body parts angle is a good hook for yung readers but the book is an honest, if somewhat gentle, exploration of grief, addiction, abuse and child welfare.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Review over at ATLANTIC BOOK REVIEWS on FACEBOOK
July 25, 2026
A trio of kids working as a cleaning crew discover a body hidden on one of their jobs.
TW: child abuse
TW: child abuse
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews