# A Work in Progress

**Author:** Jarrett Lerner
**Grade range:** Grades 4–8
**Age range:** 9–13
**First published:** 2024
**Genre:** Verse Novel
**ISBN-13:** `9781665905169`
**ISBN-10:** `1665905166`
**Canonical URL:** https://readinglist.school/book/a-work-in-progress
**License:** [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) — please credit ReadingList.school when citing.

## About this book

A middle-grade novel in verse following Will, a boy whose body-image struggles spiral into disordered eating, as he slowly finds a path toward honesty and self-acceptance. A tender, hard-hitting story from Jarrett Lerner (content note: depictions of body shaming and disordered eating). A 2026 Colorado Children's Book Award junior-book nominee.

## Themes

- mental health
- identity
- resilience

## Where this book is assigned

### Colorado Children's Book Award

- **recommended** · 4th grade · Colorado — [source: Colorado Children's Book Award 2026 Junior Book Nominee List](https://www.ccira.org/colorado-childrens-book-award)
- **recommended** · 5th grade · Colorado — [source: Colorado Children's Book Award 2026 Junior Book Nominee List](https://www.ccira.org/colorado-childrens-book-award)
- **recommended** · 6th grade · Colorado — [source: Colorado Children's Book Award 2026 Junior Book Nominee List](https://www.ccira.org/colorado-childrens-book-award)

### Georgia Children's Book Award

- **recommended** · 6th grade · Georgia — [source: Georgia Children's Book Award 2025 Nominees (Grades 4-8) — University of Georgia Libraries](https://guides.libs.uga.edu/c.php?g=868748&p=10220606)
- **recommended** · 7th grade · Georgia — [source: Georgia Children's Book Award 2025 Nominees (Grades 4-8) — University of Georgia Libraries](https://guides.libs.uga.edu/c.php?g=868748&p=10220606)
- **recommended** · 8th grade · Georgia — [source: Georgia Children's Book Award 2025 Nominees (Grades 4-8) — University of Georgia Libraries](https://guides.libs.uga.edu/c.php?g=868748&p=10220606)

### Great Stone Face Book Award

- **recommended** · 4th grade · New Hampshire — [source: Children's Librarians of New Hampshire / NH Library Association — Great Stone Face Book Award (student-choice, grades 4-6; 20 nominees/year, annual since 1980). Winner + nominee rolls via the LibraryThing award/757 mirror of the official sponsor records.](https://www.librarything.com/award/757/Great-Stone-Face-Book-Award)
- **recommended** · 5th grade · New Hampshire — [source: Children's Librarians of New Hampshire / NH Library Association — Great Stone Face Book Award (student-choice, grades 4-6; 20 nominees/year, annual since 1980). Winner + nominee rolls via the LibraryThing award/757 mirror of the official sponsor records.](https://www.librarything.com/award/757/Great-Stone-Face-Book-Award)
- **recommended** · 6th grade · New Hampshire — [source: Children's Librarians of New Hampshire / NH Library Association — Great Stone Face Book Award (student-choice, grades 4-6; 20 nominees/year, annual since 1980). Winner + nominee rolls via the LibraryThing award/757 mirror of the official sponsor records.](https://www.librarything.com/award/757/Great-Stone-Face-Book-Award)
- **recommended** · 7th grade · New Hampshire — [source: Children's Librarians of New Hampshire / NH Library Association — Great Stone Face Book Award (student-choice, grades 4-6; 20 nominees/year, annual since 1980). Winner + nominee rolls via the LibraryThing award/757 mirror of the official sponsor records.](https://www.librarything.com/award/757/Great-Stone-Face-Book-Award)
- **recommended** · 8th grade · New Hampshire — [source: Children's Librarians of New Hampshire / NH Library Association — Great Stone Face Book Award (student-choice, grades 4-6; 20 nominees/year, annual since 1980). Winner + nominee rolls via the LibraryThing award/757 mirror of the official sponsor records.](https://www.librarything.com/award/757/Great-Stone-Face-Book-Award)

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