A Celebration of Books,
Writers & LIterary Excellence

Save the Date


Gaithersburg
Book Festival

May 17, 2025

10am – 6pm

Bohrer Park


Jarrett Lerner

Latest Title: A Work in Progress
A Work in Progress
A Work in Progress by Jarrett Lerner

A young boy struggles with body image in this poignant middle grade journey to self-acceptance told through prose, verse, and illustration.

Will is the only round kid in a school full of string beans. 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 knows he doesn’t have a chance with—string beans only date string beans—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.

About Jarrett Lerner

Author-illustrator Jarrett Lerner is the award-winning creator of the EngiNerds series of middle grade novels; the Geeger the Robot series of early chapter books; the activity books, “Give This Book a Title”” and “Give This Book a Cover;” the Hunger Heroes series of graphic novel chapter books; the Nat the Cat series of early readers; and the illustrated novel in verse, “A Work in Progress.” He lives with his wife and daughters in Massachusetts.

In addition to “A Work in Progress,” Jarrett will also be presenting “Hunger Heroes: Snack Cabinet Sabotage” at the 2023 Festival.

Facebook

Instagram: @Jarrett_Lerner

Twitter: @Jarrett_Lerner

Author Schedule:

Venue(s):

Jim Henson Pavilion

Presentation Start Time:

1:15 pm

Presentation End Time:

2:05 pm

Signing Time:

2:15 pm

Presentation Authors: