Ten-year-old Magnolia Wu's parents own Bing Qi Ling Bubbles Laundromat in NYC. Instead of going to the ocean or taking a trip to an amusement park, Magnolia usually spends the summer helping out around the business and sneaking popsicles that are intended for paying customers. She is not happy about summer and wishes her life were more adventurous.
Then Magnolia meets Iris. The two girls bond over their flower names and a beautiful friendship forms. Iris and her mom have recently moved back to NYC from California and Iris does not know her way around. Luckily, Magnolia knows the neighborhood inside and out. Iris comes up with a game to find matches to all the "lost" socks at the laundry and the two take off on an amazing detecting adventure following clues, seeing neighbors in a different light, and picking up new friends along the way.
This book is simply the best. It's an old-fashioned kids' mystery with all the right heartwarming and personal touches that respect a community blending immigrants and long-time residents, young and old, and the uniqueness of a city like New York with a subway, chess games in the park, and deliciousness to uncover on every corner.