Author Jarrett Lerner shares the power of words during Westport visit

Oct. 10, 2025

Author Jarrett Lerner sits at a table with a book open and a pen ready to sign the book. Two girls stand in front of him.

Author Jarrett Lerner visited Westport K-8 School on Thursday, Oct. 9 to talk with the sixth, seventh and eighth grade students about his 2025-2026 Mark Twain Readers Award-nominated book "A Work in Progress", which all three grades read together as a school.

“A Work in Progress” follows a middle school-aged boy who struggles with body image as he works towards self-acceptance. Told through prose, verse and illustration, Lerner created this story as a fictionalized version of his own experiences in elementary and middle school.

“You guys can do a lot of good with your words,” said Lerner. “I want to challenge you to tell the loved ones in your life as many positive stories about themselves as you can — even the grownups in your life. We all need it.”

Lerner also talked about bullying and the power of words. Just like the book’s main character, Lerner’s struggles began when he was in the fourth grade. But he also shared with the students the power of positive words and how the care and understanding of the book’s character Marcus and the friends Lerner has in his own life helped him onto a path of healing.

A man talks with 3 students, a boy and two girls. Two girls look at a man who is sitting at a table about to sign a book. A man sitting at a table hands an open book to a woman standing, looking at him.

While signing books, Lerner got to meet several students who expressed both their love for the book and how the story impacted them. One student told Lerner this was her favorite book and another told him about how he thought the book reflected his own life.

“You’re like a hero to me,” said sixth grader Caleb. “I really loved your book.”

In addition to talking with the students and signing their books, Lerner led a writing workshop for a few select students. During that time, Lerner led the students in an exercise to create a new character — a taco named Jack. Over the 45-minute workshop, the students not only created the character, but also developed a backstory, the character’s motivation or “want” for a story and some obstacles he would need to overcome.

About 15 students sit at desks looking up at a man with a marker next to a large sheet of paper. Several raise their hands. Students sit around a table. A copy of the book A Work in Progress sits on the table. A man stands, writing on a large piece of paper that says "Character" with a drawing of a taco.