A young boy struggles with body image in this poignant and âperceptiveâ (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 hidesâŠin baggy jeans and oversized hoodies, in the back row during class, and anywhere but the cafeteria during lunch. But shame isnât the only feeling that dominates Willâs life. Heâs also got a crush on a girl named Jules who he knows he doesnât have a chance with, because of his sizeâbut he canât help wondering what if?
Willâs best shot at attracting Julesâs 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 Willâs 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.