Thank you Jarrett Lerner for your vulnerability in crafting #AWORKINPROGRESS and for providing all children, but boys in particular, an honest window into the emotional struggles related to body image, self-acceptance, friendships, and parent/child relationships that all kids in this age range face, but often suffer through in isolation.

Whether explicitly taught or inadvertently modeled, the culture of toughing things out and suffering in silence is one that many boys inherit, not knowing there is another choice. A WORK IN PROGRESS provides another option and shows boys it is not only okay to have big feelings, but it is okay to talk about them as well.

Pairing Jarrett's appealing and powerful illustrations with the artistic novel-in-verse style storytelling really did a Work in Progress justice. It told the story in a way that packed a punch emotionally (across the board for all the feels). I loved the way Markus and Will's conversations and story evolved. I loved the way therapy was portrayed, including the powerful effect Will sharing his story with his parents and therapist could be. I thought the length was perfect, as it hit on all of the important points of the message and the experience without hitting the point where the reader had to say "enough, this is too much." It left the reader with hope, even after seeing into some of the darkest times/parts of Will's feelings toward himself. This is a book that will reach kids and adults, and has the potential to do a whole lot of good.

Will’s life is going along ok until the day a boy at school calls him FAT, then he starts dressing baggy, eating his lunch hiding by the dumpsters in back of the lunchroom and sitting in the back of his classes with his head down. But the day he hears his crush talking to another girl and she says she rather do something very gross than kiss Will, he decides he has to change. But the change was coming to slow and he ends in a spiral of eating disorder and body shaming himself that culminates with him passing out at school.
This is a serious subject told by someone who went through it. It is hard to read if you have the issue or you know someone who does. It is a rough topic but many children have to deal with this and the bulling that comes with it often into adulthood. This is a wonderful book and I cannot recommend it enough.

An absolutely honest and heartbreaking book that deals with body dysmorphia. Told in verse from a boy’s perspective (way overdue).
This should be a must read for all middle/high schoolers. So many suffer from internal pain and take it out in many forms. This story highlights those of self-hatred, food control, anger and pushing others away. This story is life changing and I know it will save someone’s life.
It is filled with hope, hard work and reminders that we are all “a work in progress”.

A Work in Progress is heartbreaking and hopeful, and is a must-add to any middle school library. It deals with body image and finding comfort and acceptance and is beautifully told through prose, verse, and pictures. Hand this to fans of Starfish.

I have been done reading A Work in Progress for a few days now. It has taken me some time to really find the words to describe how amazing and necessary this book is. I never had an eating disorder. However, as a woman, body shaming and/or body dysmorphia are lines that I teeter on. The trauma of what Will experiences in 4th grade and the negative self talk that comes with it are probably things that almost everyone can relate to. Different baggage, same feelings. It was a challenge to read because it felt so real. Despite the struggle, the journey of reading this book is almost therapeutic. Will coming to a place of self acceptance was like a sigh of relief. I hadn't realized I had been holding my breath, hoping that he would find a way, until he did and I could breathe again. Will's story, in one way or another, is everyone's story. That is why this book is so necessary. Middle grade readers, who are at a time in their lives where they are searching for connections and finding their voice, can relate to this book. High School students and adults can relate to this book. I can see this book being taught in classrooms. As a teacher, if I had older students, I would read this. I love that Will is a boy. In some ways, it makes talking about eating disorders different. I think it could even be safer for some girls to read about this and talk about the issue because it isn't a girl. I also like that it gives a voice to boys that experience eating/body issues the same way that girls do. This book is an easy read. You get swept up in Will's story right from the start. I couldn't put it down until it was done . Then I read it again the next day. I definitely recommend this beautiful story.

I was so excited to receive this ARC from @netgalley. I am a big fan of Jarrett Lerner and couldn’t wait to read this book. Told in verse, this book tugs at the heart strings. My heart goes out to the main character as he deals with self confidence issues surrounding weight. I have not read a book like this with a male character. Excellent. This book would add value to any library or classroom. 5 stars.

Will is a happy kid with a strong friend group until one day in fourth grade when an unpleasant classmate calls him "fat". He starts to wear baggy clothes, to not go to the cafeteria during lunch, and slowly grows away from his friends because he is so entrenched in thinking that he is fat that he imagines they won't want anything to do with him. Not wanting to talk to others isolates him, and sends him further into a spiral where he is obsessed with his weight. He thinks about dieting, but doesn't have good information, and alternately denies himself things like pizza that his mother brings home as a treat, but then binges and feels bad about himself. He likes a girl in his class, Jules, who loves to draw as much as he does, but after overhearing her friends say unkind things about him, is very reluctant to ever try to talk to her. When he is hanging out behind the school during lunch, he meets Markus, who skateboards. He doesn't want to talk to Markus even after the other boy spills all of his problems about trying to fit in as he moves from school to school, although Will appreciates that markus talks to him and doesn't seem to be repulsed by his weight. After Will restricts his food intake so much that he passes out at school, his parents finally realize that he has some problems that he needs to work through, and send him to a therapist. Markus teaches Will to skateboard in exchange for Will teaching him how to draw. Even though skateboarding is hard, Will starts to realize that many things are a struggle at first, and take practice. He finally gets up the nerve to talk to Jules, and his therapist helps him feel better about himself and his weight.
Strengths: There are books about weight issues and disordered eating going back to Levenkron's 1978 The Best Little Girl in the World. Since scientific treatment of this sort of condition changes all the time, I should probably go back and take a look at everything from Anderson's 2009 Wintergirls to Pollen's 2019 The Year I Didn't Eat and reassess their relevance. This illustrated novel in verse captures the feel of 2023, and Will's anxiety, centered around his body image, seems similar to Gerber's 2021 Taking Up Space. Will spends a lot of time in his own head, and can't manage to get out, even with Markus' help. The novel in verse format, with its short lines, helps give a good feeling of panic, and I do want to take a look at a finished copy, because the E ARC illustrations don't seem quite finished, and Lerner's art work is always well done. Markus is an intriguing character, and Jules is not mean to Will in the little we see of their interactions. The parents do eventually step in and get Will help. This is the most evocative book about a mental state I've seen since Klass' You Don't Know Me or Going's St. Iggy.
Weaknesses: Considering that almost a quarter of middle school students are obese, the social implications of being overweight in middle school might be somewhat different than they were when Lerner was young. Of course, many more students are anxious, so Will's reaction to his perception of how people see him will resonate with some readers. My students have indicated that people are not really made fun of for things like braces, glasses, and being overweight as much as they seem to have been in the past, although, again, it's hard to tell what children might internalize.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who want to read about mental health challenges with weight related components, like Fipps' Starfish or Baron's All of Me.

Wow, wow, wow. I’ve been a fan of Jarrett Lerner’s work for years now, especially with how he supports teachers and librarians using his platform as an author. I had heard the buzz about his newest book and how it was a little different than his past titles, and I was just blown away by A Work in Progress. It has the familiarity of his art style with the illustrations but dives deeper into a heavy, yet relatable topic in a format that is easy to follow and makes you want to keep reading to find out more. This paints a pictures of what many of our students face, but from a less common perspective of a male main character, and tells important lessons along the way. Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC.

Jarrett Lerner is known for his terrific sense of humor, but this book showcases his huge, compassionate heart. Written in verse, with illustrations throughout, the story is about Will, who has felt alone for years, ever since a classmate in 4th grade called him "fat" as an insult and it's been replaying in his head. Since then, he simply tries to hide inside bulky clothes, staying under the radar of bullies, seeing himself as a monster. His self-loathing and self-harm escalate even as he meets Markus, who doesn't seem to care what others think, and even seems to want to be Will's friend.
This is a book I will read again. And again. And hand to kids to read again and again. It speaks to the inner pain that grows until it leaks out, until it's hurting both our insides and outsides. It's about negative thoughts that threaten to overpower hope, that say we are worthless. For some, this book will be a hand reaching out to a reader who feels the pain of inadequacy and isolation. For others, it will be a gentle primer in how to reach out and be a friend to someone who is hurting, without being a savior or a hero. We need books like this to let young people see that they are not alone, that their negative thoughts are lies, and that they deserve hope and life.
I love how accessible this book is , how relatable and also respectful, never preaching at readers. I love that it normalizes therapy, and crushes, and well-meaning parents. This is a NECESSARY book.
"...it's not/ my job/ to change the way/ everyone else/ thinks/ and feels./ It's not/ my job/ to bend/ and twist/ and contort/ myself/ to make other people/ more comfortable/ and happy."

Fans of STARFISH and ALL OF ME will love this book about learning to love yourself just as you are.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-ARC of this illustrated novel in verse.

I cannot wait for this book to hit classroom shelves. A single comment can cut deeper than any blade, and this book quite literally illustrates that perfectly. This book is so important for so many. This is a chance for boys with body image struggles to finally see themselves. It's a reckoning for kids and adults who are careless with their words and actions, and it's an opportunity for kids and adults to finally talk about these things together. This book took an act of courage to write, we as readers owe it not only a read, but the necessary conversations.

I adore anything by Jerrett Learner. A Work in Progress might be my new favorite!!

This novel in verse tells the emotional story of a young boy who starts out as happy and confident, but his life takes a turn for the worse when someone calls him "FAT." This traumatic event leads the boy to retreat into himself, trying to hide his body with oversized clothing and withdrawing from his friends and the world.

Despite having loving and supportive parents, he struggles to find his way back to himself. As he becomes more and more isolated, the boy takes dangerous steps in transforming his appearance in an attempt to be accepted by his peers and society.

This novel shines a light on the devastating effects of bullying and the importance of self-acceptance and body positivity. The writing is powerful and the story is both heartbreaking and relatable. The themes of self-esteem, bullying, and self-discovery are woven seamlessly into the narrative, making the reader feel a range of emotions throughout the story.

VERDICT- A must for secondary school libraries. This story will speak with anyone who has struggled to find acceptance in a world that often values appearance over substance.

Jarrett Lerner has hit it out of the ball park with this illustrated novel in verse about Will, a young boy who struggles with his weight and his body image after a classmate calls him F-A-T. This story of bullying, overcoming obstacles, friendship, self-acceptance, self-improvement, and resilience is a must-read and a perfect books for not only kids who might be able to relate to Will, but also the kids who could learn a lesson about the power of their words.

Jarrett Lerner is amazing. I follow his work because he does so much to help put enjoyable books into the hands of matching readers. He is a tireless joyful literacy advocate. As a parent of a child going through similar mental health challenges, I found his representations to be both hard to see and spot on about the experience. I think this book will need lots of champions to get past the adults who will think the book might "give kids bad ideas". Every one of those adults needs to read the book and understand that what is being portrayed is likely happening inside the head of at least one child in their classroom and that helping that one child feel seen and not alone is the exact reason it should be in their classroom libraries. Kids are honest. They'll either be shocked that a character would feel that way about himself (and then you know that isn't a problem that child faces) or so happy to know they aren't the only person who feels that way. Because I'm living the parent side of that life, I was prepared for the book to be really hard for me. However, Jarrett is a master of what young people need because while the story is definitely hard and a little dark, it also ends hopefully and realistically. It's so good. Lots of people will be getting this book from me.

This novel in verse by Jarrett Lerner spoke to my 4th grade self, as I'm sure it will speak to many of its readers. Will Chambers is walking in the hallway at school with his friends, and Nick Fisher stops and yells out "You're FAT" to him, along with several other related insults. For the next several years, this brief interaction affects Will's friendships, self-confidence, and school experience. Trying to hide himself in baggy clothes, Will eventually meets someone who begins to help him open up. Though a very short novel, the message of it is very clear. Words have power. "It's not long before you don't even need the Nick Fishers of the world to be there to tell you what they think of you-what the entire world thinks of you-that you are less than, you are inferior....." Books are a means for readers to learn empathy. If this novel helps just one reader who is a Will or a Nick Fisher learn about that, it has done its job. Thank you, Jarrett, for writing this one!
Publishing date- May 2, 2023

A Work in Progress by Jarrett Lerner is a must read! This is a story of Will, a boy who struggles with his body image. Through verse and images, the reader gets a good picture what is going through Will's mind. I was enthralled with this text and read it in one sitting. I wanted to know more about Will throughout the book. I think readers of all ages will enjoy this one. It also reminded me of Starfish by Lisa Fipps. I can't wait to share this one with students.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

In this first-person novel in verse, Jarrett Lerner puts us in the mind of Will. Will, like so many of us, is just trying to navigate his way through life. When a bully calls him "fat" Will's mind takes over where the bully left off, berating himself with harshness and cruelty for years. A personal and powerful look into body dysmorphia, self acceptance, and friendship.

Will was a happy fourth grader, with a supportive group of friends. Then someone makes fun of his weight. His image of his self starts to change. He turns to food to sooth his problem. He looses his friends. Will starts to dress to hide his weight and then hide himself. Then he meets Marcus. Marcus moves around a lot and has a set of problems of his own. Things get really bad and then things start to change.

This is quite a book!! It was a difficult, heart breaking, and gut-wrenching read. It is written with a combination of verse and drawings. It is like nothing I have ever read. This is a true must read and should be on everyone’s list for 2023!!

Jarrett Lerner has written so many books that i've enjoyed and loved sharing with students. This is another book to add to the list! I appreciated the realistic and kid-friendly take on self-acceptance and working on mental health. Sometimes children's books push too hard for a happy or fully resolved ending, and I always feel that does kids a disservice because they know how the world works. But this book is realistic and I think students will appreciate that as much as I did.

I would love to see this as a physical book (I received an eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review) to fully experience the drawings and the layout, but can already tell the drawings are fantastic! I love Jarrett Lerner's style of melding his prose and drawings so seamlessly that they truly feel like one medium. He really captured the way you can feel frozen or want to disappear especially in the high stakes hallways of middle school. Great read, definitely can't wait to get it into students' hands!

Will was once a happy fourth grader with a large group of friends. Friends he could never imagine losing, fourth grade friends who had sleepovers and promised to one day be college roommates. One day a classmate teased Will about his weight, humiliating him in the hallway in front of the entire grade. With this one word, Will began to see himself differently. By middle school Will is a loner who buries his feelings by eating. Will chooses to draw constantly instead of engaging with others. He sits alone at lunch, avoids crowded hallways, buries his head in his sketchbook when people try to engage with him. Will’s inner voice tells him he is an unworthy monster that no one will ever understand or want to be friends with. Will is sure that if he can just change his physical appearance then everything will go back to the way it was before that horrible moment so long ago. Long lost friends will return to inviting him for sleepovers, girls will stop being disgusted by him. Will often sneaks outside at lunchtime to hide behind the auditorium. Here he meets a new student, Markus, who is also avoiding the lunchroom so that he can ride his skateboard. Markus has moved all over the country. This is his eighth new middle school. Markus is confident and kind, but Will has forgotten how to make and be friends with kids his age, and pushes Markus away. Eventually Will’s unhealthy plan to lose weight catches up with him and he collapses in the hallway at school. As he recovers, Will opens up to his parents, and accepts help from a therapist. Markus sticks with Will, gently encouraging him to be a friend, ride a skateboard, and to stop trying to change himself for others, but to accept himself. Markus explains that we are all “works in progress” capable of change and growth through accepting help from parents, friends, teachers, and mental health specialists. Will begins to realize that working one day at a time, he can improve his self-image.

This is an important, emotionally moving novel. Will’s thought process, and the characterization of his inner monster are written in verse with illustrations from his sketchbook. The inner-angst of peer pressure, of overhearing unkind comments, the middle school awkwardness of running into an old friend, are all heartbreakingly real. The narrative cleverly changes to prose when Markus reveals his different, but difficult, backstory. Anyone who has ever struggled with food and body image, confidence, isolation, peer pressure, or bullying will relate to this beautifully written book. Equally Significant, this novel shows the direct effect of a single unkind word. A fabulous read aloud that will provide an excellent opportunity for class discussions about the many issues raised in this novel.