By Jarrett Lerner Illustrated by Jarrett Lerner
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 hides…in baggy jeans and oversized hoodies, in the back row during class, and anywhere but the cafeteria during lunch. But shame isn’t the only feeling that dominates Will’s life. He’s also got a crush on a girl named Jules who he knows he doesn’t have a chance with, because of his size—but he can’t help wondering what if?
Will’s best shot at attracting Jules’s 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 Will’s 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.
By Heidi Grange
"The unkind words of another kid during elementary school sends Will into a tailspin when he begins to believe them. Being called 'fat' leads Will down a road of self-reproach bordering on self-hatred that culminates in the loss of friends, confidence, and into disordered eating. The heart-breaking book focuses on Will as he struggles with not only his weight but even more with the way he sees himself. The free-verse conveys Will's thoughts so clearly and emotionally that I found myself in tears more than once. I wanted to leap into the book and give Will a hug while reassuring him that his weight has nothing to do with his value. Thankfully, Will meets someone who nudges him toward healthier thinking and friendship, but not before disaster strikes. Lerner's deceptively-simple illustrations show readers how Will sees things as an artist and combined with the poems makes for a powerful tale. As in Lisa Fipps, Starfish, readers get a glimpse into the hurt caused by the words of other people. Thankfully in both books, the main character finds the help they need but not easily and without a lot of mental anguish before hand. The easy-to-read text and the black-and-white drawings make this book highly appealing to young readers. The book does have a trigger warning at the beginning for those who might find it difficult to read. The book provides a powerful look into the mental anguish that too many children experience currently. An important read for both children in helping encourage empathy and also adults who work with children."
By Heather
"A Work in Progress" is a middle grade graphic free verse novel by Jarrett Lerner. It will be released on May 2, 2023. I received an eARC from NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing. This book hurt. It really hurt to read this- in my heart, my head, and my soul. And yet I could not put it down and finished it in one sitting. It is so so so good. It is brilliant. This book needs to be read. And felt. It really should be required reading in every middle school language arts classroom. It is so powerful, real, and raw- it has the potential to change the world. I highly recommend this book for middle grade readers.
