A young boy struggles with body image in this poignant and āperceptiveā (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 hidesā¦in baggy jeans and oversized hoodies, in the back row during class, and anywhere but the cafeteria during lunch. But shame isnāt the only feeling that dominates Willās life. Heās also got a crush on a girl named Jules who he knows he doesnāt have a chance with, because of his sizeābut he canāt help wondering what if?
Willās best shot at attracting Julesās 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 Willās 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.