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    Redwood and Ponytail
    Redwood and Ponytail
    Redwood and Ponytail
    Ebook554 pages2 hours

    Redwood and Ponytail

    By K.A. Holt

    4/5

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    About this ebook

    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. This novel in verse about two girls discovering their feelings for each other is a universal story of finding a way to be comfortable in your own skin.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherChronicle Books Digital
    Release dateOct 1, 2019
    ISBN9781452173108
    Redwood and Ponytail
    Author

    K.A. Holt

    K. A. Holt is the author of Rhyme Schemer, House Arrest, Knockout, and several other books for young people. She lives in Austin, Texas.

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    Reviews for Redwood and Ponytail

    4/5

    24 ratings4 reviews

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    • 4/5
      ******reviewed from uncorrected ARC*****
      children's diverse middlegrade novel in verse (two 7th grade girls fall into 'like' and come out to their families and schoolmates)
      sweet, very relatable story dealing with the awkward uncertainties of middle school and girls learning to speak up for what makes them happy. I think a lot of kids will benefit from this very readable, very accessible story.
    • 4/5
      Told in prose - this middle grade novel explores two girls growing feelings for each other. Kate is a prim and perfect cheerleader. She's popular and has her sights set on being cheer captain. Tam is a volleyball star - she has one best friend and but knows everyone. She doles out high fives like it's going out of style. When the two notice each other for the first time they wonder how it was possible they've never met before. A few casual conversations turns into lunch hangouts, texting, and then seeing each other play at games. The two become inseparable. And as they do their friendship starts to deepen into a little more. But is that what they both want? Emotional and wonderful - a great coming of age story about the complications of discovering your true identity.
    • 4/5
      A quick read written in verse about two girls, Kate and Tam who take notice of each other at the beginning of the school year. Their paths keep crossing, their connection grows, and each of the girls need to decide what that means for her. Tam's mom is supportive as are her neighbors, an married lesbian couple. Kate's mom wants perfection and has a specific idea of success. As the two girls navigate their relationship and feelings about each other the poetry includes conversation and reflections. Between chapters a trio of girls, almost like a Greek chorus, recap and foreshadow about what is happening with the story.
    • 3/5
      Kate and Tam are 7th graders starting the school year. Kate is a cheerleader, aspiring to be captain and follow in her (uptight) mother’s footsteps. She is pretty and her house is perfectly maintained. Tam (short for Tamara), is tall, lanky and a volleyball star, looser and informal. Her mother is a hippie. The girls are drawn to each other in an opposites-attract way. But while Tam seems comfortable in her skin, Kate finds herself conflicted about who she is, torn between the expectations of her mother and the cheer squad, and what she is discovering about herself. This confusion threatens to break their new relationship.

    Book preview

    Redwood and Ponytail - K.A. Holt

    NOW

    TAM

    What does it mean

    to be a friend?

    I ask this question

    to my ceiling

    quietly,

    a whisper

    with no answer.

    Kate

    In my pocket,

    a book.

    Not a regular book;

    a tiny book that tells my future.

    I take it,

    open it.

    Inside, lined up in two rows,

    faceless, armless

    matches. Fates.

    They know the way.

    TAM

    I miss her.

    Every part of me.

    Every molecule.

    But this is what she wants.

    So this is my gift to her.

    Leaving her alone.

    Going away.

    My present is

    zero presence.

    Exactly what she wants.

    Kate

    The match explodes,

    a burst of light

    and sulfur.

    I hold it to the poster

    pinned to my wall.

    The poster that started it all.

    I understand now

    why people say

    flames lick

    because I see the orange tongue

    slide up the side,

    slurping the paper,

    eating its glowing snack.

    Black

    smoke also licks,

    leaving a mark on the ceiling

    while I watch everything

    burn.

    Mom barges in.

    The smoke alarm

    bright in my ears:

    Beep-beep! Beep-beep! Beep-beep!

    Mom tries to push me

    out out out of the room

    but I don’t budge.

    She runs past me,

    shouts,

    And in my chest

    everything lurches,

    comes alive

    pounds

    beats

    a new pulse

    matching the alarm.

    The poster burns.

    I hold out my phone.

    I hit record.

    Flames lick, devour,

    reach golden arms to the ceiling.

    And my eyes

    close.

    I feel the heat.

    I breathe the ash.

    As a new chapter

    in the story of my future

    begins

    right

    now.

    BEFORE

    Kate

    Just right.

    I tell myself this

    as I straighten my bow,

    smooth my skirt,

    tie my shoes.

    You’re just right.

    Breathe in.

    Breathe out.

    Bow tight.

    Smile bright.

    Just right.

    TAM

    Like a breeze

    or a sneeze

    you blink

    and it’s over.

    How does that happen?

    I mean, really?

    Summer is here

    and then it’s gone.

    Snatched away

    and before you know it

    it’s registration day,

    new schedules,

    new classes,

    and I don’t hate the idea

    of school back in session,

    but really

    does anyone

    love it?

    Kate

    I love it!

    At least I think I do.

    I always have loved it,

    so surely this year will be the same.

    School itself is neither here nor there

    but all the kids and clubs and stuff?

    That’s the fun part.

    Right?

    It always has been.

    So I’m sure it will be that way

    this year, too.

    Born ready, Mom.

    Mom’s smile

    is a little bit sideways when we get to the car,

    a troublemaker grin I recognize

    from someone else’s face,

    a grin I haven’t seen in a long time.

    She hands me an envelope,

    and what?

    My birthday is so far away!

    I tilt my head, like a confused puppy.

    Mom laughs.

    I open the envelope

    and oh my gosh,

    so many tickets . . .

    Mom!

    She laughs again.

    MisDirection is playing?!

    ON MY BIRTHDAY?!

    The whole squad invited

    to a concert

    on my birthday?

    It’ll be amazing . . .

    Mom smiles, taps her temple.

    Right.

    I should be cheer captain by then

    and if I’m not,

    these will seal the deal.

    Kate

    I make my hand into a microphone,

    I sing,

    Oh, baby,

    Oh, baby,

    Mom puts the car in reverse,

    turns to look behind her,

    backs out of the driveway,

    eyes focused,

    smile tight now,

    tight as my bow.

    And this smile,

    the familiar one,

    not the lopsided one,

    the all-knowing,

    all-seeing

    Mom-smirk . . .

    it makes my stomach flip

    just a tiny smidge.

    I keep looking at Mom,

    I croon into my hand

    softer this time:

    Oh, baby,

    Don’t,

    Don’t,

    Don’t break my heart in two.

    Because yeah,

    I’m happy about the tickets

    but also?

    Does everything,

    even my birthday

    have to be a chess move?

    TAM

    Mom. Please don’t say stoked.

    Mom. No. Never say those words.

    We’re both laughing now

    as the car wheezes up to

    school

    and the radio kicks in

    with ridiculous bass

    and that stupid song

    Oh, Baby

    starts up

    and my ears,

    they bleed.

    Ahhh! No!! It’s too much!

    Between you and this,

    just . . .

    turn it off!

    Turn you off!

    Mom cackles her witch laugh,

    pulls to the curb at school:

    STOPPPPPPPP!

    I jump out,

    slam the car door,

    laughing even though it

    encourages her.

    I can still hear Mom singing

    as she drives off.

    Kate

    Becca’s scream is so loud,

    so long,

    so piercing,

    I’m afraid for a minute

    she’s going to turn herself

    inside out.

    Seriously, I think she might cry.

    And for some reason

    her enthusiasm,

    her made-for-TV freak-out,

    it just,

    I don’t know,

    oh, baby,

    oh, baby,

    how I wishhhhhhhh

    I’d kept the secret

    a little bit longer.

    Is that weird?

    I don’t know.

    TAM

    Juggernaut-less gym

    today.

    No whistles.

    No squeaks.

    No leaping and landing,

    digging and diving.

    Instead,

    pencils and schedules,

    sighs and lines.

    Registration day.

    Seventh grade.

    I look up at the caged bulbs,

    big round bright,

    they heave

    fluorescent sighs

    coughing out light on

    one table at a time.

    Find my line

    A through F

    whisper an apology

    to the lights:

    Tomorrow night,

    first practice.

    It’ll be more fun in here,

    I promise.

    Volleyballs

    whizzing by,

    no tables

    no signs

    no pencils

    in sight.

    Kate

    Fingers sticky from all the tape,

    I smooth my skirt,

    survey the gym.

    It looks fine.

    Better than fine.

    It looks fabulous.

    So why does everything feel . . .

    so much the same?

    My smile,

    can it be fake and sincere?

    Is that even a thing?

    Hmm?

    I say.

    Bunting? I’ll be right there, okay?

    Welcome back, sheep,

    don’t you all look so fluffy

    and pretty

    today.

    TAM

    Levi.

    My happy little flea

    boink boink boink

    bouncing

    around the gym

    saying hi to everyone.

    We’ve been friends since kinder

    and he’s always been the one

    who knows my sentences

    before I say them,

    who laughs at my jokes

    when they’re super dumb.

    My kid,

    my pal,

    my shortstack,

    my man about town.

    Levi, Levi.

    I can count on him

    cause he’s always around.

    Hey, nerd!

    How’s my man’s man,

    ladies’ man,

    man about town?

    Juuuuust fine.

    We high-five

    low-five

    fake-out five

    then someone waves,

    and he’s off.

    King of the school,

    strutting his stuff,

    my favorite goof,

    my shortstack bud.

    Kate

    Mom would love this.

    She really would.

    The girls surrounding me,

    singing,

    so thrilled for the concert.

    It’s like everyone is here today

    to see me

    to talk to me

    to hang out with me.

    Registration is . . . secondary.

    TAM

    Over there

    strutting,

    laughing,

    she thinks I don’t see

    but I do,

    I do,

    that little cheerleader

    looking at me.

    The red bow in her hair

    snapped military tight,

    right?

    Like she must’ve used a ruler

    and glue

    and maybe an iron, too,

    to get that perfect

    swoop

    on top of a perfect

    swinging

    ponytail

    like I’ve never seen,

    swish swish

    catching the light,

    blinding my eyes,

    that snappy red bow,

    those bright highlights

    like

    what

    excuse me

    what

    are you on purpose

    bringing every clichéd cheerleader

    to life?

    Kate

    This girl in the gym today,

    looking at me.

    Tall as a palm tree,

    shaped like one, too.

    Big hair on top,

    giraffe neck,

    legs like a stick figure

    stretching right off the page,

    her skin shimmering

    her head tossed back

    a loud laugh flying from her mouth

    while a boy

    small as she is tall

    bounces around her feet

    making her see

    nothing in the world but

    him.

    Kate

    And just like that

    we tear it all down.

    No more bunting.

    No more signs.

    Fold up the tables.

    The gym is now a

    gym again.

    Coach herds us to

    the locker room.

    Mom is right.

    The squad will love

    me as captain.

    I close my

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