Redwood and Ponytail, a Novel in Verse by K.A Holt

Thank you, Elizabeth Steinglass, for hosting Poetry Friday this week. On her blog you will find a delightful and well done video of Elizabeth reading poems from her picture book poetry collection, SOCCERVERSE. Don’t miss it.

I can’t believe that it is May 1st. April has been a great month for those who love poetry! So many interesting prompts and of course the progressive poem which has been great fun. I really loved every line. It was a wonderful collaboration and how often do writers get to collaborate? Thank you Michelle Kogan for your last line and also for putting this community effort to music.

I’d like to share a poetry novel I read this week. Redwood and Ponytail, by author K.A. Holt, is a serious book about identity, about a seventh grade girl discovering she is gay. It’s also a fun read and I hope it gets into the hands of kids who might see themselves in this story, about the friendship between a popular middle school cheerleader, Kate, and a school volleyball star, Tam.

Tam has already come out to her mother. But when Kate realizes that her feelings for Tam are more than friendship, she has to face her mother’s ardent denial and the disdain of her cheerleading squad, the foundations of her world. She is forced to question everything.

Holt’s free verse is full of great language appropriate for middle school students and detail. Below, Tam notices Kate on the first day of school.

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? 

And Kate notices Tam:

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

It takes more than these two snippets of verse to fully show it, but Holt manages the give the two girls clear and separate voices throughout the novel.

One thing I loved was Holt’s use of a clever and entertaining device in her story telling. I’ll call it a Greek chorus. It takes the form of three personas, Alex, Alyx and Alexx, who represent the kids in the hallways at school, always watching. They give their humorous commentary as Tam and Kate’s relationship develop, in the following format, periodically throughout the novel:

Holt does not hold back on how difficult coming out to family and friends can be, there are fiery feelings here, and something scary happens. Kate has been changed by meeting Tam, and the ending is hopeful. As they read this entertaining and moving story, teens who struggle with their identity and perhaps their parents, might be able to better understand difficult feelings and gain compassion towards others.

I will end with a short poem I wrote from a photo prompt offered by Margaret Simon on her blog Reflections from the Teche, and share it again here. Imagine a little boy drawing on a driveway with chalk.

Sidewalk Artist

Small feet grip
rough concrete.
Squatting like
a frog on a rock,
a boy draws.

© Janice Scully 2020

What is Poetry Friday? Learn more at Renee LaTulippe’s blog, No Water River.