A Work in Progress

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Description

A young boy struggles with body image in this poignant and perceptive (Publishers Weekly, starred review) middle grade journey to self-acceptance told through prose, verse, and illustration.

Will is the only round kid in a school full of thin ones. So he hidesin baggy jeans and oversized hoodies, in the back row during class, and anywhere but the cafeteria during lunch. But shame isnt the only feeling that dominates Wills life. Hes also got a crush on a girl named Jules who he knows he doesnt have a chance with, because of his sizebut he cant help wondering what if

Wills best shot at attracting Juless attention is by slaying the Will Monster inside him by changing his eating habits and getting more exercise. But the results are either frustratingly slow or infuriatingly unsuccessful, and Wills shame begins to morph into self-loathing.

As he resorts to increasingly drastic measures to transform his appearance, Will meets skateboarder Markus, who helps him see his body and all it contains as an ever-evolving work in progress.

Reviews

* "A perceptive representation of recovery and self-acceptance."-- "--Publishers Weekly, starred review"
"A successful marriage of art and poetry."-- "--Kirkus Reviews"

Author Bio

Jarrett Lerner is the award-winning creator of more than a dozen books for kids, including the EngiNerds series of middle grade novels, the Geeger the Robotseries of early chapter books, the Hunger Heroes series of graphic novel chapter books, two activity books, the illustrated novel in verse A Work inProgress, and the Natthe Catseries of early readers. You can find him online at JarrettLerner.com and on X (previously known as Twitter) and Instagram at @Jarrett_Lerner. He lives with his wife and daughters in Massachusetts.