Ben Peetz’s original cast of teenage do-gooders has made its debut in print. The Brown Deer High School graduate, who finished in 2022, has self-published “The Crush,” the first planned installment in a children’s book series called “7/24 Deeds.” The series follows a group of friends in the fictional hometown of Emerald Falls who aim to help others around the clock. In the first story, Borri brings the group together to make onion rings for Violet, who sneezes when she prepares her favorite snack. Later, Borri’s friends offer advice as he tries to make a good impression on Chelsey, his first crush. Peetz created and illustrated the characters, drawing on an interest in children’s television and years of graphic-design work. He developed his skills in high school art classes and workshops through Islands of Brilliance, a Milwaukee nonprofit that connects neurodivergent participants with creative mentors. Peetz, who is autistic and has a language processing disorder, earned Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator certifications in high school. His mother, Alison Peetz, and independent journalist Amy Schwabe worked with him to shape his story into a book, including help with writing and publishing. The three plan to continue the series, with animation a possible future goal. Peetz had spent years seeking job placements, but according to the community announcement about the book, those opportunities had not made use of his artistic and storytelling strengths. “The Crush” is available through Amazon and Peetz’s Ben Peetz Productions website. Peetz, his mother and Schwabe also planned to sell the book and character trading cards at the Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities’ Self-Determination Conference on Oct. 20 and 21.