The story of being a friend of a young middle school boy bullied by a class peer told in classic Patricia Polacco style.

“Thom. Not Tommy, not plain old Tom–Thom spelled with an H. Thom ignores the mean boy who was glowering at us.” Thom ( AKA — Sissy Boy) does not seem to suffer from self-esteem issues throughout this story from Polacco’s youth. Thom finally takes action when the bully breaks his glasses, which he so dearly needs, and his mother can not afford to replace. Thom finally shows the entire school his hidden wonderful talent as he preforms the Prince Siegfried selection from SWAN LAKE in classic white costume for the school talent show. Thom did not let the ‘catcalls and the laughter and jeering” stop him. Thom was in his zone. The audience soon became enthralled. “No one ever laughed again, and only name they knew him by was Thom. Not Tommy or Tom. T-h-o-m Thom.”

Years later, Thom was accepted to a New York ballet school. If you go on to read the Author’s Note, Thom “is now retired as the artistic director of the American School of Ballet.”

I am bad put not to shed a tear for this wonderful retelling of the victory over a bully.