Oliver Button Is a Sissy

"Oliver Button" is the tale of a proto-gay kid, a boy who would rather not play football, a boy who would like to dance.

Oliver's parents--initially baffled--decide to sign Oliver into a dance class. (You sense Tomie dePaola's eloquent silence here. What kinds of fights have transpired between the parents? Oliver hasn't noticed them; we, the readers, will not notice them.)

Dance works wonders for Oliver--but, at the same time, life trudges on; villains berate Oliver with sidewalk graffiti. ("Oliver Is a Sissy.") With quiet heroism, Oliver prepares for a Talent Show; we witness the show, and we think Oliver might win. And yet the victor is Roxie Valentine. Ah, well. Time for a celebratory pizza.

There is a final, startling coda: Oliver returns to school and notices that someone has crossed out the word "Sissy." In its place, you see the word "Star."

I like this book for the obvious reason (it's my life story), but I also like the strange, sad realism. Oliver doesn't "convert" the bullies. And Oliver doesn't win the Talent Show. But--obviously--he has one fan, a mysterious fan. And that's enough fuel for the short-term.

I also like that "Sissy" coexists with "Star" in the graffiti message: You can't please everyone.

This book is great and justly-celebrated--but I also think it's weirder and deeper than its own image in popular culture. I really admire it.

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