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Redwood and Ponytail
A universal story of finding a way to be comfortable in your own skin: Kate and Tam meet, and both of their worlds tip sideways. At first, Tam figures Kate is your stereotypical cheerleader; Kate sees Tam as another tall jock. And the more they keep running into each other, the more they surprise each other. Beneath Kate's sleek ponytail and perfect façade, Tam sees a goofy, sensitive, lonely girl. And Tam's so much more than a volleyball player, Kate realizes: She's everything Kate wishes she could be. It's complicated. Except it's not. When Kate and Tam meet, they fall in like. It's as simple as that. But not everybody sees it that way.
• A novel in verse about two girls discovering their feelings for each other in a sincere and relatable way that helps young reader connect to the storyline
• K.A. Holt is the author of Rhyme Schemer, House Arrest, Knockout, and several other books for young people. She lives in Austin, Texas
"A glowing, heartfelt addition to the middle-grade LGBTQ genre." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review
"The free verse narration is totally accessible, flowing quick and clear, and Holt plays with form, beautifully highlighting the parallel internal journeys, often achieving something akin to a musical duet. Ultimately, this is a . . . moving story well-told." — Booklist, starred review
• A great chapter book for middle school students
• Novels for preteens and teenagers ages 10-14
• A novel in verse about two girls discovering their feelings for each other in a sincere and relatable way that helps young reader connect to the storyline
• K.A. Holt is the author of Rhyme Schemer, House Arrest, Knockout, and several other books for young people. She lives in Austin, Texas
"A glowing, heartfelt addition to the middle-grade LGBTQ genre." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review
"The free verse narration is totally accessible, flowing quick and clear, and Holt plays with form, beautifully highlighting the parallel internal journeys, often achieving something akin to a musical duet. Ultimately, this is a . . . moving story well-told." — Booklist, starred review
• A great chapter book for middle school students
• Novels for preteens and teenagers ages 10-14
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First published October 1, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 564 reviews
June 12, 2022
Redwood and Ponytail is a cute middle grade story about friendship, first love, and discovering who you are. It’s perfect for older elementary school kids and middle school students who want to feel seen and understood as they question their identity. This story captures the messiness of middle school crushes and friendships while also highlighting how good things can come out of that messiness.
I decided to listen to this one on Audible since Tessa Netting, one of my favorite YouTubers, was one of the narrators for this book. However, listening to this book as an audiobook was not the best choice and it hindered my enjoyment of the story. Books written in verse just don’t work very well as audiobooks. It didn’t have that same bouncy feeling that I get when I read physical books or ebooks written in verse. The main two narrators also had very similair sounding voices, so I kept getting confused who was narrating the different scenes. I definitely would’ve enjoyed this one a lot more if I’d read a physical copy.
This is a middle grade book, but I was still disappointed by how much this story lacked depth. There were so many deep conversations that could’ve been happening given the content matter of this story, but it felt like it didn’t take that plunge into having those deep conversations. I also didn’t feel connected to the characters. I definitely understood their middle school drama since I had drama in middle school as well, but I couldn’t bring myself to care too much for the characters.
One of my favorite parts about this book was how it dealt with the pressure that kids face from their parents. Kate has to deal with trying to be the perfect cheerleader that her mom wants her to be and she eventually comes to realize that maybe she doesn’t want to be what her mom expects of her. This whole topic could’ve been a little deeper, but I was surprised to find a middle grade novel that actually addresses this topic.
I overall enjoyed this book. It was far from perfect and it had a lot of room for improvement, but it was a light read with a strong message. I also sort of wish that I could shove this book into the faces of people who are trying to ban LGBTQ+ books in schools. This is the perfect example of an LGBTQ+ book with no adult scenes that could help kids feel like they’re not alone in the world.
I decided to listen to this one on Audible since Tessa Netting, one of my favorite YouTubers, was one of the narrators for this book. However, listening to this book as an audiobook was not the best choice and it hindered my enjoyment of the story. Books written in verse just don’t work very well as audiobooks. It didn’t have that same bouncy feeling that I get when I read physical books or ebooks written in verse. The main two narrators also had very similair sounding voices, so I kept getting confused who was narrating the different scenes. I definitely would’ve enjoyed this one a lot more if I’d read a physical copy.
This is a middle grade book, but I was still disappointed by how much this story lacked depth. There were so many deep conversations that could’ve been happening given the content matter of this story, but it felt like it didn’t take that plunge into having those deep conversations. I also didn’t feel connected to the characters. I definitely understood their middle school drama since I had drama in middle school as well, but I couldn’t bring myself to care too much for the characters.
One of my favorite parts about this book was how it dealt with the pressure that kids face from their parents. Kate has to deal with trying to be the perfect cheerleader that her mom wants her to be and she eventually comes to realize that maybe she doesn’t want to be what her mom expects of her. This whole topic could’ve been a little deeper, but I was surprised to find a middle grade novel that actually addresses this topic.
I overall enjoyed this book. It was far from perfect and it had a lot of room for improvement, but it was a light read with a strong message. I also sort of wish that I could shove this book into the faces of people who are trying to ban LGBTQ+ books in schools. This is the perfect example of an LGBTQ+ book with no adult scenes that could help kids feel like they’re not alone in the world.
June 21, 2019
(free review copy via @kidlitexchange ) I have loved every book K.A. Holt has written, but this one is by far my favorite. The verse just pops off the page and the story of first love between two very different 7th grade girls is just so vibrant and authentic. The format of side-by-side alternating verse on most pages (narrated by the two girls) with the "Greek chorus" of other students adding in their 2 cents is just so compelling. I was drawn in emotionally and was instantly rooting for this romance. Highly recommended for grades 5-8.
.
CONTENT NOTE: There is some minor homophobia encountered by one of the characters, but I believe the story arc of overcoming societal and parental expectations is overall inspiring for young readers. This is an #ownvoices story with a moving personal note from the author in the Acknowledgments at the end of the book.
.
CONTENT NOTE: There is some minor homophobia encountered by one of the characters, but I believe the story arc of overcoming societal and parental expectations is overall inspiring for young readers. This is an #ownvoices story with a moving personal note from the author in the Acknowledgments at the end of the book.
June 26, 2020
Told in verse this is a story of two girls one who is Kate a popular Cheerleader and Tam a tall jock who plays volleyball. This deals with a lot of issues such as friendships, family, mothers and sexuality issues. K. A. Holt does a wonderful job of bringing out the voices of these two girls and what they have to deal with as they start to learn more about themselves and what they want out of life.
October 20, 2019
https://bookpeopleteens.wordpress.com...
“And when she giggles
I see the brownie
stuck to her teeth
and it looks so sweet
and gross
my insides get warm
and melty,
a gross undercooked brownie
of their own.”
Overall, Redwood & Ponytail is a brilliant (as in bright) novel from an incredibly gifted author. The story, while not always being super exciting, was enjoyable and kind, which is all I need from a book nowadays. This shortish and certainly sweetish book is perfect for those looking for a different kind of middle grade/YA novel and for those who aren’t looking for it, because they really should be. Rating: five Muppet voices/five
For fans of: Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World by Ashley Herring Blake, I Felt a Funeral, in My Brain by Wil Walton, Star-Crossed by Barbara Dee
Favorite quotes:
- “She laughs
again
and it makes me feel
light and bright.
I would do anything,
say anything
to hear her laugh
all night.”
- “And everything smells good.
Like love and books and
people and family.
Like dinner and plants
and cats
and
Tam.”
- “It makes me think that
if something feels
so perfectly right like this,
if the universe can hold us
in its hands like this,
then of course nothing’s weird
or wrong
or different.”
Full interview: https://bookpeopleteens.wordpress.com...
Ivy: What do you want kids or teens to get out of reading Redwood & Ponytail?
KA: I think mostly what I want… I want the twelve-year-old girls who read it to think “Oh, I’m not a weirdo” but I want everyone else to just read it like a story. The main points of the book are you’re growing up, you go to middle school and you have had all these friends and sometimes you drift apart, and you don’t really know why, and it’s not like you hate each other, you’re trying to figure it out, and it’s stressful, and everything’s changing, and you want to know where you fit in the world. And those kinds of things are universal. You don’t have to be a queer girl to feel that way, everybody feels that way. I want readers to understand that yes, it’s a book for queer girls, but it’s a book for everybody too.
“And when she giggles
I see the brownie
stuck to her teeth
and it looks so sweet
and gross
my insides get warm
and melty,
a gross undercooked brownie
of their own.”
Overall, Redwood & Ponytail is a brilliant (as in bright) novel from an incredibly gifted author. The story, while not always being super exciting, was enjoyable and kind, which is all I need from a book nowadays. This shortish and certainly sweetish book is perfect for those looking for a different kind of middle grade/YA novel and for those who aren’t looking for it, because they really should be. Rating: five Muppet voices/five
For fans of: Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World by Ashley Herring Blake, I Felt a Funeral, in My Brain by Wil Walton, Star-Crossed by Barbara Dee
Favorite quotes:
- “She laughs
again
and it makes me feel
light and bright.
I would do anything,
say anything
to hear her laugh
all night.”
- “And everything smells good.
Like love and books and
people and family.
Like dinner and plants
and cats
and
Tam.”
- “It makes me think that
if something feels
so perfectly right like this,
if the universe can hold us
in its hands like this,
then of course nothing’s weird
or wrong
or different.”
Full interview: https://bookpeopleteens.wordpress.com...
Ivy: What do you want kids or teens to get out of reading Redwood & Ponytail?
KA: I think mostly what I want… I want the twelve-year-old girls who read it to think “Oh, I’m not a weirdo” but I want everyone else to just read it like a story. The main points of the book are you’re growing up, you go to middle school and you have had all these friends and sometimes you drift apart, and you don’t really know why, and it’s not like you hate each other, you’re trying to figure it out, and it’s stressful, and everything’s changing, and you want to know where you fit in the world. And those kinds of things are universal. You don’t have to be a queer girl to feel that way, everybody feels that way. I want readers to understand that yes, it’s a book for queer girls, but it’s a book for everybody too.
July 22, 2019
This book needs to be on every classroom bookshelf. I LOVED it and each time I visit a school I booktalk it and EVERY SINGLE TIME there is a student (sometimes a girl and sometimes a boy) who yelps in excitement when I explain what it's about. And often they are coming up to me afterwards to verify that it really IS about two girls who "like" each other like that. They are waiting anxiously for this book. I'm so excited for as many kids to get to read this as possible!
March 17, 2024
I feel incoherent with emotion about this book. I mostly wish that I'd had a sibling as kind and loving as Kate's...the kind of sibling who would have your back when you try to tell your family who you are, but their answer is "No." The kind of sibling who would've told you they loved you no matter who you love, who would've said to be your true self no matter what anyone else says or thinks.
The author said she wrote this book for her 12-year-old self, and for anyone else who needs (or needed) this book for their own 12-year-old self. I know that young me definitely needed books like this, and I'm grateful "Redwood and Ponytail" exists for queer kids now and queer kids to come to know they're not alone, and that they're okay, right now, just as they are. Even if someone dares to tell them "No."
The author said she wrote this book for her 12-year-old self, and for anyone else who needs (or needed) this book for their own 12-year-old self. I know that young me definitely needed books like this, and I'm grateful "Redwood and Ponytail" exists for queer kids now and queer kids to come to know they're not alone, and that they're okay, right now, just as they are. Even if someone dares to tell them "No."
February 3, 2019
Amazing. Necessary. Adorable. I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of this book and it exceeded all my expectations! I can't wait for this book to be out in the world for young readers to get their hands on.
December 12, 2019
Redwood and Ponytail is such a beautiful story told in verse, Tam and Kate are so cute, a great F/F LGBTQ+ middle grade book. I liked the unique style of this book, thank you to the publishers for sending me a review copy. I did find parts of the book a little difficult to distinguish who was saying what and if the headers weren't there I would of been even more confused, at times i had to keep rereading and checking I was reading it correct in the correct person. The book goes through a journey of two girls starting off with a friendship and then them both trying to work out their feelings towards each other. This book is full of ups and downs but overall the book was a 4/5 ⭐ for me. Full review to come.
December 7, 2019
LOVE.
My heart.
Also, Tam's mom is #MomGoals.
My heart.
Also, Tam's mom is #MomGoals.
August 10, 2024
This is a beautiful, courageous, heart warming, heartbreaking book written in beautiful verse. Genuine, open, showing the soft underbelly of what it can mean to be young and queer and in love and afraid. I loved this book.
July 22, 2019
It's been a while since I read a book this long. But, being that this is a novel in verse, it reads fairly quickly.
Redwood and Ponytail is the story of two middle-school girls and their discovering of their sexuality. I enjoyed most of this story, but there are a couple of things that prevented me from really liking the book.
First, there's the issue of the audience not quite matching the writing. I can see how the author was in a tricky place here. This is supposed to be about two girls discovering they like girls. It's more likely for this to happen in middle school than in high school. However, the girls just don't read like 11- and 12-year-olds. Their internal thoughts are too adult, too poetic, and too wise. I kept having to remind myself that I was reading about young teenagers. One of the secondary characters, Becca, actually sounded more her age for most of the book (until the end when she started sounding overly mature, just like all the others). I'm not really sure if there's a way to fix this mismatch. Set the book in high school, and readers will wonder why Kate and Tam didn't realize they were gay earlier. Keep it in middle school, and readers will wonder why they speak like adult poets. It's a no-win situation.
Second, and probably far more problematic, is the fact that
Some stuff I do like about this book are the switching points of view (even though there are places where the author breaks her own established convention in the formatting, which was a bit confusing), as well as the inclusion of the "chorus". This almost seems Shakespearean, with classmates Alex, Alyx, and Alexx sharing their observations on the drama going down between Tam and Kate.
And there is plenty of drama, driven by the colourful cast of characters. There's Kate's mom, an utterly superficial woman who seems to care more about her kitchen renovation than her daughter's happiness. There's Tam's mom, who's pretty much the opposite, almost smothering in her well-meaning attempts to be cool and relatable. There are Kate's cheerleading squad and her estranged sister. There are Tam's quirky neighbours and her best friend, Levi. All of these secondary characters, as well as the leads, drive the narrative forward, sometimes in interesting ways. I do kind of wish the storyline with Jill, Kate's sister, had a little more to it; that was one thread that sort of fizzled out when I thought it might be going somewhere more interesting.
I think, perhaps, I'm not the audience for this. I'm not sure how the poetic language is going to play with the intended audience (middle-school girls), but if they can get something out of the story, that's great.
Thank you to NetGalley and Chronicle Books for providing a digital ARC.
Redwood and Ponytail is the story of two middle-school girls and their discovering of their sexuality. I enjoyed most of this story, but there are a couple of things that prevented me from really liking the book.
First, there's the issue of the audience not quite matching the writing. I can see how the author was in a tricky place here. This is supposed to be about two girls discovering they like girls. It's more likely for this to happen in middle school than in high school. However, the girls just don't read like 11- and 12-year-olds. Their internal thoughts are too adult, too poetic, and too wise. I kept having to remind myself that I was reading about young teenagers. One of the secondary characters, Becca, actually sounded more her age for most of the book (until the end when she started sounding overly mature, just like all the others). I'm not really sure if there's a way to fix this mismatch. Set the book in high school, and readers will wonder why Kate and Tam didn't realize they were gay earlier. Keep it in middle school, and readers will wonder why they speak like adult poets. It's a no-win situation.
Second, and probably far more problematic, is the fact that
Some stuff I do like about this book are the switching points of view (even though there are places where the author breaks her own established convention in the formatting, which was a bit confusing), as well as the inclusion of the "chorus". This almost seems Shakespearean, with classmates Alex, Alyx, and Alexx sharing their observations on the drama going down between Tam and Kate.
And there is plenty of drama, driven by the colourful cast of characters. There's Kate's mom, an utterly superficial woman who seems to care more about her kitchen renovation than her daughter's happiness. There's Tam's mom, who's pretty much the opposite, almost smothering in her well-meaning attempts to be cool and relatable. There are Kate's cheerleading squad and her estranged sister. There are Tam's quirky neighbours and her best friend, Levi. All of these secondary characters, as well as the leads, drive the narrative forward, sometimes in interesting ways. I do kind of wish the storyline with Jill, Kate's sister, had a little more to it; that was one thread that sort of fizzled out when I thought it might be going somewhere more interesting.
I think, perhaps, I'm not the audience for this. I'm not sure how the poetic language is going to play with the intended audience (middle-school girls), but if they can get something out of the story, that's great.
Thank you to NetGalley and Chronicle Books for providing a digital ARC.
March 6, 2019
Author K.A. Holt hits it out of the ballpark with this title. Middle grade readers who have enjoyed her earlier books won't be disappointed with this novel in verse featuring two seventh grade girls who might seem to have nothing in common but are nevertheless drawn to each other. Kate (Ponytail) is the leader of the pack, her crew of cheerleaders, and she seems to have it all together, from the permanent smile on her face to her perfectly-placed bow in her hair. Tam (Redwood) is tall and solid and a talented volleyball player. As they get to know each other, the girls realize that they have feelings for each other--call it a crush, call it love, call it like or something different from friendship--and that what others see isn't the whole picture. In some ways, Tam has the self-confidence that Kate longs for while Tam realizes that Kate is nothing like her outward facade. But how can Kate risk upsetting or disappointing her mother or confusing her friends as she starts moving away from them? Readers will root for these girls, especially Kate, to be true to themselves and their feelings and searching for someone who accepts them as they are and someplace where they can be themselves and love whomever they want. Since the story is told in alternating voices, readers are able to experience both girls' confusion and the blushes of a first love. I have to say I wanted to applaud when Tam went off on Kate's friends and their fondness for the band, MisDirection. I'm positive this one will fly off the shelf and be passed from hand to hand because of the realness of the emotions depicted here. Additionally, the book even features brief appearances from a couple of characters from House Arrest and Knock Out, which adds to its appeal. I was emotionally gutted by many of the passages in which Kate's mother made an appearance, unable or unwilling to listen to her daughter. Once again, I finished a book and thought about the price that is paid when choosing to be true to oneself or the opposite, to conform to the wishes of others.
November 27, 2018
Redwood and Ponytail is a beautiful book. Written in verse, this is a necessary tale of two girls falling in like and discovering themselves. It is a story about emotional connections, between the two girls, their families, and their friends. There are not enough books out there for this age covering this topic. K.A. Holt’s writing is just gorgeous, and this is a book that every middle school kid should read.
June 12, 2020
I read an eARC of this novel through Netgalley, in exchange for my honest review.
I generally adore verse novels, so when I came across a sapphic verse novel in a blogpost by Dahlia Adler, I immediately knew I wanted to read it. So I was very excited when I saw I was able to read the eARC already. And while I did mostly enjoy this novel, I have somewhat mixed feelings about it.
Let me start off by saying I think this middlegrade novel is amazing for the target audience: a verse novel for kids about two girls questioning their sexuality and falling in love? YES!
I really loved the writing style as well. It was fairly simplistic, so it won't be too difficult for middlegraders to follow, but it was beautifully written as well. I especially loved the addition of an actual choir, just like in ancient Greek poems!
It's the story in itself I'm a little conflicted about though, because while I liked the characters, I didn't feel like they were distinctive enough a lot of the time. And Kate seemed to be a lot more fleshed out as a character than Tam was, even though both of them are main characters. Because of this, the story didn't resonate with me as much as I hoped it would.
Rep: questioning/lesbian main characters, f/f romance, elderly lesbian couple.
CWs: (internalized) homophobia
I generally adore verse novels, so when I came across a sapphic verse novel in a blogpost by Dahlia Adler, I immediately knew I wanted to read it. So I was very excited when I saw I was able to read the eARC already. And while I did mostly enjoy this novel, I have somewhat mixed feelings about it.
Let me start off by saying I think this middlegrade novel is amazing for the target audience: a verse novel for kids about two girls questioning their sexuality and falling in love? YES!
I really loved the writing style as well. It was fairly simplistic, so it won't be too difficult for middlegraders to follow, but it was beautifully written as well. I especially loved the addition of an actual choir, just like in ancient Greek poems!
It's the story in itself I'm a little conflicted about though, because while I liked the characters, I didn't feel like they were distinctive enough a lot of the time. And Kate seemed to be a lot more fleshed out as a character than Tam was, even though both of them are main characters. Because of this, the story didn't resonate with me as much as I hoped it would.
Rep: questioning/lesbian main characters, f/f romance, elderly lesbian couple.
CWs: (internalized) homophobia
July 20, 2019
Thank you to Chronicle books for an ARC at ALA!
This sweet Middle grades book is about first crushes and figuring out who you are... I think it is going to be WILDLY popular with my students! Recommend for 4th/5th and up!! 🌈🌈🌟🌟📚📚
This sweet Middle grades book is about first crushes and figuring out who you are... I think it is going to be WILDLY popular with my students! Recommend for 4th/5th and up!! 🌈🌈🌟🌟📚📚
October 2, 2019
this made me smile and it also made me cry (a lot) and i really wish i had books like this when i was little.
i'm not giving it 5 stars because there is an outing scene which although doesn't have negative effects, it's still an outing and it is never questioned, so it makes me uncomfortable.
i'm not giving it 5 stars because there is an outing scene which although doesn't have negative effects, it's still an outing and it is never questioned, so it makes me uncomfortable.
January 28, 2020
It makes me think that
if something feels
so perfectly right like this,
if the universe can hold us
in its hands like this,
then of course nothing’s weird
or wrong
or different.
Throughout my reading of Redwood and Ponytail the main thought in my mind was.. I wish I had a book like this when I was younger. I'm not sure how I would've reacted to it since all I knew was that girls crushing on boys was okay and didn't even think you can crush on a girl ala Kate when she found out about Frankie and Roxy.
This was so ooey-gooey sweet, so eye-watering tender I truly just feel ALL the feels about these two girls and how fun they were to read. Tam was so dorky and confident, I really loved meeting her. I especially loved Kate, who was so happy to have fun and be messy as a mascot instead of cheer captain. She reminded me a little bit of a mini-Amy Santiago (from B99) because of her need to have a plan. I adored it and them.
I've seen a couple of people mention this and I need to mention it too. But other than that, I just.. am so soft and emotional over this book.
if something feels
so perfectly right like this,
if the universe can hold us
in its hands like this,
then of course nothing’s weird
or wrong
or different.
Throughout my reading of Redwood and Ponytail the main thought in my mind was.. I wish I had a book like this when I was younger. I'm not sure how I would've reacted to it since all I knew was that girls crushing on boys was okay and didn't even think you can crush on a girl ala Kate when she found out about Frankie and Roxy.
This was so ooey-gooey sweet, so eye-watering tender I truly just feel ALL the feels about these two girls and how fun they were to read. Tam was so dorky and confident, I really loved meeting her. I especially loved Kate, who was so happy to have fun and be messy as a mascot instead of cheer captain. She reminded me a little bit of a mini-Amy Santiago (from B99) because of her need to have a plan. I adored it and them.
I've seen a couple of people mention this and I need to mention it too. But other than that, I just.. am so soft and emotional over this book.
June 9, 2022
Though the heart of this story was the feeling these two young women developed for each other, there was a big picture focus on how it's ok to be different and the question of what's "normal". I didn't realize this was set in the House Arrest world, but I was giddy when there was mention of Levi and his brother. Honest and heartfelt, I enjoyed this book very much.
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January 5, 2020
All my reviews live at https://deedispeaking.com/reads/.
Big thanks to the team at Chronicle Books for sending me a finished copy of this beautiful little novel in exchange for an honest review!
Here is pretty much everything you need to know about this book in order to know how great it is: Redwood and Ponytail is a novel about two 12-year-old girls who “fall in like” with one another and then work their way through all the joys and difficulties that come with that — and it’s written entirely in poetry. That’s it, that’s the review.
No, just kidding. But if that doesn’t make you go “YES I NEED THAT,” then I’m not sure what else you’re looking for. This book will help so many young people (and doubtless many older people, too) and is so transparent and sweet. I read it in one sitting, and my little heart practically exploded.
Everyone knows Kate, and Tam knows everyone. Kate (who always wears a perfect ponytail) is on track to become captain of the cheerleading squad, just like her mother always wanted. Tam (who is tall, like a redwood) is the star of the volleyball team and high-fives all her classmates in the hallways. But the day 7th grade starts, they’re drawn to each other in a way they can’t explain — yet.
I really, really loved the way K.A. Holt used echoes, flip-flopping the same lines in two perspectives. That was really beautiful and effective at bringing the experiences Tam and Kate were simultaneously having to life. It showed how similar and different they were to one another, and it called forward the common experience of our shared humanity.
Big thanks to the team at Chronicle Books for sending me a finished copy of this beautiful little novel in exchange for an honest review!
Here is pretty much everything you need to know about this book in order to know how great it is: Redwood and Ponytail is a novel about two 12-year-old girls who “fall in like” with one another and then work their way through all the joys and difficulties that come with that — and it’s written entirely in poetry. That’s it, that’s the review.
No, just kidding. But if that doesn’t make you go “YES I NEED THAT,” then I’m not sure what else you’re looking for. This book will help so many young people (and doubtless many older people, too) and is so transparent and sweet. I read it in one sitting, and my little heart practically exploded.
Everyone knows Kate, and Tam knows everyone. Kate (who always wears a perfect ponytail) is on track to become captain of the cheerleading squad, just like her mother always wanted. Tam (who is tall, like a redwood) is the star of the volleyball team and high-fives all her classmates in the hallways. But the day 7th grade starts, they’re drawn to each other in a way they can’t explain — yet.
I really, really loved the way K.A. Holt used echoes, flip-flopping the same lines in two perspectives. That was really beautiful and effective at bringing the experiences Tam and Kate were simultaneously having to life. It showed how similar and different they were to one another, and it called forward the common experience of our shared humanity.
July 8, 2019
Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this novel.
Rating: 2.5 stars
Rep: questioning MCs...f/f relationship.
TW: a couple of instances of homophobia.
First off, I think this is a "me not you" situation, judging by all the 4 and 5 star reviews I read, I would 100% recommend checking out those beforehand!
In all honesty, I was going to DNF this book, but I really wanted to give it a chance and it definitely did pick up! The more I read the more invested I became, but it took around 150 pages to get to that point, for me personally. I love novels told in verse, but this one was a little confusing and I didn't seem to jell with the writing style.
I found that Kate and Tam (the main characters) didn't have very distinctive voices, if it wasn't for the name headers, I wouldn't have known who was speaking.
Tam borderline outs Kate in front of all her friends, which I was really not happy with. Kate was questioning her sexuality, Tam had no right to do what she did. This is just one of the cases where I found myself frustrated with the characters.
I know I am obviously not the target audience for this, it being a middle-grade novel, so maybe that's the problem.
To end on a positive note, I honestly believe that this is a very unique, important novel. I mean, a middle-grade book told in verse with LGBTQ+ characters? I really respect that, we need more of these for sure.
Rating: 2.5 stars
Rep: questioning MCs...f/f relationship.
TW: a couple of instances of homophobia.
First off, I think this is a "me not you" situation, judging by all the 4 and 5 star reviews I read, I would 100% recommend checking out those beforehand!
In all honesty, I was going to DNF this book, but I really wanted to give it a chance and it definitely did pick up! The more I read the more invested I became, but it took around 150 pages to get to that point, for me personally. I love novels told in verse, but this one was a little confusing and I didn't seem to jell with the writing style.
I found that Kate and Tam (the main characters) didn't have very distinctive voices, if it wasn't for the name headers, I wouldn't have known who was speaking.
Tam borderline outs Kate in front of all her friends, which I was really not happy with. Kate was questioning her sexuality, Tam had no right to do what she did. This is just one of the cases where I found myself frustrated with the characters.
I know I am obviously not the target audience for this, it being a middle-grade novel, so maybe that's the problem.
To end on a positive note, I honestly believe that this is a very unique, important novel. I mean, a middle-grade book told in verse with LGBTQ+ characters? I really respect that, we need more of these for sure.
September 6, 2019
This book was better than I'd expected. To be honest, my eyes had kind of skipped over the "written in verse" part of the description so my first thought was "Oh, no." I'd only ever read one other book in verse and was kind of disappointed by it. However, I was pleasantly surprised by this one. The verse style really worked for the story, especially the back and forth moments between the girls. So yeah, I cute and fun read.
December 17, 2022
Content warnings: fire, homophobia and internalised homophobia, vomit.
Rep: both Kate and Tam (both main characters) are lesbian and white. Other side lesbian characters.
Original review: This was so utterly wonderful.
This is 500% a book I could have used as a young gay girl.
I connected so well with both Kate and Tam – their friendship, and their mutual crushes on each other was so precious to read. I enjoyed their every single interaction. And I enjoyed reading them coming closer, their pinkies finding each other, and both of them slowly realising they had crushes on each other.
I loved Kate’s coming out, and her realisation that yes, she is a lesbian, and no matter how hard she stares at a poster of her favourite boy band on her wall, she isn’t suddenly going to develop feelings for them like the other girls in her squad. That her best friend, whom she thought wouldn’t understand, was actually quite encouraging in the whole “go get your girl” kind of way. It was really sweet to read, and so absolutely necessary that her best friend didn’t become all gross and homophobic.
Tam and Kate were so sweet together, and I was filled with warmth and love every single time they came together.
*
The way this book is written is so wonderful as well.
I absolutely love books written in verse. And this book was so sweet with the way some parts intermingled when Tam and Kate were together – showing their similar thought patterns and how they felt about each other.
This book is so touching, soft, gentle, and something I highly recommend to every gay girl, young or older, because it’s just so wonderful.
6/5 stars.
First read: 17-17/11/2019
Second read: 27-28/04/2022
I talk about books at these places: Instagram / Twitter / TikTok / Blog
Rep: both Kate and Tam (both main characters) are lesbian and white. Other side lesbian characters.
Original review: This was so utterly wonderful.
This is 500% a book I could have used as a young gay girl.
I connected so well with both Kate and Tam – their friendship, and their mutual crushes on each other was so precious to read. I enjoyed their every single interaction. And I enjoyed reading them coming closer, their pinkies finding each other, and both of them slowly realising they had crushes on each other.
I loved Kate’s coming out, and her realisation that yes, she is a lesbian, and no matter how hard she stares at a poster of her favourite boy band on her wall, she isn’t suddenly going to develop feelings for them like the other girls in her squad. That her best friend, whom she thought wouldn’t understand, was actually quite encouraging in the whole “go get your girl” kind of way. It was really sweet to read, and so absolutely necessary that her best friend didn’t become all gross and homophobic.
Tam and Kate were so sweet together, and I was filled with warmth and love every single time they came together.
*
The way this book is written is so wonderful as well.
I absolutely love books written in verse. And this book was so sweet with the way some parts intermingled when Tam and Kate were together – showing their similar thought patterns and how they felt about each other.
This book is so touching, soft, gentle, and something I highly recommend to every gay girl, young or older, because it’s just so wonderful.
6/5 stars.
First read: 17-17/11/2019
Second read: 27-28/04/2022
I talk about books at these places: Instagram / Twitter / TikTok / Blog
December 14, 2019
I'm so grateful for @chroniclekidsbooks today because they sent me a copy of K.A. Holt's newest middle grade verse novel, and it's a perfect sweetness at the end of this very intense week of school.
And *Redwood and Ponytail* IS sweet--but it is also necessary. There aren't many verse novels I connect with--and I don't read a lot of middle grade texts either--but this one shimmers with its emotional truth about awakening to one's sexual identity.
What begins as a cute love story budding between two seventh grade girls turns, in the second half, into a manifesto on self-acceptance and facing fear: "how we'll figure out / our words / one day / all on our own."
Being queer, for me, is about making space for (and peace with) our many, ever-shifting selves. Honestly, everybody has these layers, but queerness has been the road by which I see most freely what is possible within.
I've real several novels about the bravery and perils of coming out, but few that explore so tenderly and clearly for young people--a time when so many kids cut out the best parts of their selves--an awakening to one's queerness.
Lovely book.
And *Redwood and Ponytail* IS sweet--but it is also necessary. There aren't many verse novels I connect with--and I don't read a lot of middle grade texts either--but this one shimmers with its emotional truth about awakening to one's sexual identity.
What begins as a cute love story budding between two seventh grade girls turns, in the second half, into a manifesto on self-acceptance and facing fear: "how we'll figure out / our words / one day / all on our own."
Being queer, for me, is about making space for (and peace with) our many, ever-shifting selves. Honestly, everybody has these layers, but queerness has been the road by which I see most freely what is possible within.
I've real several novels about the bravery and perils of coming out, but few that explore so tenderly and clearly for young people--a time when so many kids cut out the best parts of their selves--an awakening to one's queerness.
Lovely book.
October 18, 2020
WOW. I loved this story!!
This book is essentially book 3 in the House Arrest “series,” if you would like to fully appreciate it in all of its glory. (You don’t HAVE to have read House Arrest or Knockout, though.)
Seventh grade.
Kate is the cheerleader on her way to being team captain. She’s beautiful, popular, smart, determined, and loved by all. Her mom has high, high expectations of her. Her mom knows Kate will follow on her footsteps & rule the school.
Tam is the volleyball player, happy with her life. She’s fun, funny, goofy, shameless, fearless, and loved by all. Her mom is a hippie that loves nothing more than her Tam.
Tam & Kate becomes fast friends that start to feel more for each other, but, as they journey to discover themselves & what they want, there is pain, anger, and LOTS of confusion.
This gorgeous novel-in-verse shines a light on the struggles of these two girls as family, friends, and self battle them on their mission to find out who they t r u l y are and what they t r u l y want.
Honestly, I cannot wait to get this book into the hands of my middles. 🖤
This book is essentially book 3 in the House Arrest “series,” if you would like to fully appreciate it in all of its glory. (You don’t HAVE to have read House Arrest or Knockout, though.)
Seventh grade.
Kate is the cheerleader on her way to being team captain. She’s beautiful, popular, smart, determined, and loved by all. Her mom has high, high expectations of her. Her mom knows Kate will follow on her footsteps & rule the school.
Tam is the volleyball player, happy with her life. She’s fun, funny, goofy, shameless, fearless, and loved by all. Her mom is a hippie that loves nothing more than her Tam.
Tam & Kate becomes fast friends that start to feel more for each other, but, as they journey to discover themselves & what they want, there is pain, anger, and LOTS of confusion.
This gorgeous novel-in-verse shines a light on the struggles of these two girls as family, friends, and self battle them on their mission to find out who they t r u l y are and what they t r u l y want.
Honestly, I cannot wait to get this book into the hands of my middles. 🖤
Read
January 13, 2021The first third of the book was torturous specifically because nowhere on the jacket does it say it’s a prose novel about seventh graders, so there’s that. I’m not rating because not enjoying reading this as an adult doesn’t mean I don’t think it isn’t an incredibly important book for kids to have access to.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 2, 2023
This was a great middle-grade novel in verse about finding out who you truly are. Both characters are relatable in many ways, and the feelings they show are strong and complicated. A book with great representation, written from two points of view (I love a book with multiple POVs), and an even better message.
June 7, 2020
3.5* rounded up to 4*.
January 19, 2024
god, i love this book. every aspect is perfect, and i love having a short read, since this novel is in verse.
February 26, 2024
Beautifully done.
Written in verse from two perspectives.
Self discovery.
LGBTQIA+ for middle school.
Written in verse from two perspectives.
Self discovery.
LGBTQIA+ for middle school.
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