Holly and Poppy O'Hair are twins, but it's always been easy to tell these sisters apart. Because she is destined to be the next Rapunzel, Holly has always had the longest locks at Ever After High, while Poppy, whose fairytale destiny is up in the air, wears her hair short to express her individuality. But when Poppy's hair begins growing longer and longer, while Holly's hair gets shorter and shorter, it seems as if the sisters might have to reveal the secret they've been keeping about their destinies. Can they turn this bad hair day around, or will their fairytale ending be a fairy-fail?
Suzanne Selfors lives on an island near Seattle where it rains all the time, which is why she tends to write about cloudy, moss-covered, green places. She's married, has two kids, and writes full time. Her favorite writers are Kurt Vonnegut, Charles Dickens, and most especially, Roald Dahl.
It's Ever After High, one of my all time favourite middle grade series, so of course this is getting 5 solid stars.
But I have to admit, I wasn't excited to read a story about Holly or Poppy. I didn't think (and still don't) they were supposed to be in the Dragon Games special episode, so I thought this book would be just as pointless.
I am now eating my own words! I LOVED this story. It was pure magic and a delight to read even if the start was a bit slow.
Both Poppy and Holly have their own distinct personalities and although both share completely different opinions as to how their destinies should go, they're very close and respect each others opinions.
I quite liked the ending too.
“Poppy!” Holly cried as she ran down the stairs. Poppy was standing in the museum. Holly grabbed her sister by the shoulders. “I don’t care if I have short hair for the rest of my life. I’m going to be the next Rapunzel because that’s what I want! End of story!”
Poppy smiled. “Now that’s the kind of ending I like."
Let's be honest— I am reading this because I'm a completionist, not because they're earthshakingly good. But with that taken as the starter, this was not bad. Holly and Poppy were cute, and their central issue (fate vs. free will and realizing they'd accidentally taken stances they didn't agree with) was well dealt with. The little nods to Holly's writing aspirations (and her favourite author, Shannon Tale) were adorable, though I want to shake her over the contract signing. ALWAYS READ THE CONTRACT BEFORE YOU SIGN, NO MATTER HOW MUCH YOU TRUST THE PERSON. I would have loved this series when I was small, and I think I still enjoy them as much as I do because I'm seeing things through 12-year-old me's lenses. (I was never a person who one would think would take an english degree, if one looked at what I was reading for more than two seconds. ALL THE FANTASY, NONE OF THE "lit".)
Re-reading childhood hyper fixations is my favourite form of therapy. This one honestly exceeded my expectations but I am completely and utterly biased when it comes to this franchise.
Al igual que los volúmenes anteriores, es una lectura amena. Pero creo que este es el segundo más flojo, pues nada le gana a la nauseabunda historia de A Semi Charming Kind of Life.
Tiene una introducción lenta, casi llegando a ser superflua. De verdad me dió la sensación de que estaba leyendo un libro de relleno. Lo interesante comienza cuando Holly le cuenta a Apple la historia del nacimiento de ella y su gemela. Lo que me lleva al siguiente punto. Holly es la protagonista principal, cuando debió serlo Poppy, pues ella me parece más interesante. A pesar de que el conflicto es claro, para mí gusto tarda mucho en comenzar. Algo que encuentro positivo es que retomó lo sucedido en el episodio "O'Hair Split Ends", en donde se revela que Nanny Nonna confunde los certificados de nacimiento. En la serie no me termino de quedar claro, por suerte aquí lo explicaron con más detalle y se entiende perfecto. Cabe recalcar que ocurre con ciertas diferencias, una vez más haciendo del cannon de los libros y la serie confusos, por tener tan evidentes diferencias.
A pesar que Holly no me terminó de gustar como protagonista, pienso que Suzanne, lo supo manejar bien. También fue interesante como parte de la premisa de abordar los elementos que conforman las historias dentro de la trama, a traves de la perspectiva de Holly siendo una escritora. Incluyó el tema del destino desde un punto de vista narrativo, pero que también es muy relevante para los personajes que heredan los legados de sus padres. Como si hubiera querido hacer una especie de meta relato de una manera ligera y efectiva. Fue muy original, sin duda este libro puede ser muy apreciado por una persona a la que le gusta la escritura.
I knew I liked this series, but I wasn't expecting this book to be so relatable! It's like it was written for me! A fairy tale princess with a blog who loves to write her own fairy tale adaptations and is sensitive to criticism? Gosh, I love these characters so much!
Truth or Hair Chapter 1: (Bookish in Book End)- Holly O Hair is happy to find out that her favorite writer (Shannon Tale) has come out with her long-awaited book-the last in the Princess Trilogy series-. She then gets a call from Edith Broomswood-literary agent to the stars- Holly submitted 12 stories called “Tower Tales” who says she wants her as a client. We learn that Holly was tower-schooled most of life. She created a blog called “Fairytail Fangil” where she made up alternate stories and got a lot of positive feedback. Ms. Broomswood shows her a contract sign (over the phone) and Holly signs it (without reading it). She tells her she’ll call her when she has a deal and to keep her phone on. Holly asks how long she thinks it’ll take. Ms. Broomswood tells her there’s no way of knowing and don’t get her hopes up. Holly looks at the book displays and fantasizes that hers will be in the window too one day.
Chapter 2: (A Sparrow on the Stairs)- Holly head to the “Tower Hair Salon” where her sister Poppy works as a stylist). Holly gives some thought to all the steps leading up to the salon and her prince (who will one day have to climb her hair). When Holly was younger, she and her sister (Poppy) asked their mother why the prince couldn’t find another way into the tower and basically she says that’s how it was written. We learn that Holly is a “Royal” and wants to follow the “traditional story”.
On the way up, she runs into Sparrow coming down and he almost falls. Luckily Holly saves him. There’s an awkward moment of her hair getting tangled in his leather cuffs and he tries to make a song out of it. Holly apologizes for Clipper (her lion cub) getting in his way. He invites Holly to hear his new song at his upcoming concert. But since he’s a “Rebel” Holly just says she’s gong to be late. (Even with his attempt to serenade her). As he leaves, she gives him a rhyming word and then wonders if he has a crush on-because of the way he says her name-. Even tho they’re both writers, he really isn’t her cup of tea. She finds his guitar pick tangled in her hair and decides its time for a trim.
Chapter 3: (Tower Hair Salon)- Holly and Poppy exchange good news. Holly tells Poppy about Ms. Broomwood’s call and Poppy tells her she’s going to be the stylist for Sparrow’s concert. They notice something odd. Holly’s hair isn’t as long as it usually is on a Monday. Holly brushes it off to the literary agents call stunting her hair growth (emotions). Apple comes in and they share their news (Holly does. She already knows about Poppy’s). Then Apple asks Poppy how she knew she was meant to be a stylist. Holly says she’ll tell her the story.
Chapter 4: (Sheer Terror)- Holly says she was born first. Her sister was unexpected. She was the calm and content twin. Her sister was the one always on the move. Rapunzel and her prince wonder why Poppy didn’t come first. Rapunzel says Holly was more suited to wait in towers than Poppy. They continued to be different but what they had in common was their mother’s long hair. It had to be done weekly. Holly learned to endure it. Poppy had no patience for it. Poppy wants to know why she can’t just cut her hair herself. Nanny Nona tells her it’s too dangerous. So, in turn, this makes Poppy keep trying to get the scissors. It became an obsession. The shears had to be placed in a special lock box. Poppy attempted to get into it but never could.
While the twins are out one day, their mother offers them a reward. They take their cub to the groomers and Poppy is fascinated and asks to stay. They help her help out and that as they say is that. The next morning, Poppy shows Holly a small pair of grooming sheers the groomer gave her. Poppy then convinces Holly to go to the barn where she gaves all the animals bad trims. Then she cuts off all her hair. When their parents find out, their father makes a proclamation that all shears will be removed from the castle and the village. Then destroyed. Holly tells her father this didn’t work for Sleeping Beauty and they enroll her in Stuart’s School of Beauty.
Chapter 5: (Zero Stars)- Apple finishes up. She points out to Holly that Duchess gave a story “The Mouse Princess” that was an alternate version of her story zero stars. She’s not amused and says Holly has no idea what its like to deal with a curse. Apple says Duchess is right about one thing they were promised happily ever afters (she said not everyone was). After she leaves Holly and Poppy are shown to have a secret that hints they’ve messed with destiny. Poppy says nothing bad happened. They’ve convinced everyone. There’s no reason to reveal their secret.
Chapter 6: (Growing Backwards)- The next day, there are no hexts or calls from Ms. Broomswood. Holly wakes up and finds that her waist-length hair (cut yesterday) is too her shoulders and Poppy’s is too her waist and auburn (there’s natural color). Usually she has it shoulder-length and dyed purple. They search what makes hair grow backwards and find out that it could be a curse. Holly goes to Faybelle to see if the villains had an assignment but she says no. Holly passes Duchess room and thinks about her comment on her blog and wonders if Duchess could have cursed her. Unfortunately, Duchess is at a dance recital. She asks Lizzie if she thinks she’s mad enough to do something to her. Lizzie says its possible. She might want to sleep with one eye open. Later, Holly worries to her twin that what if their hair is trying to tell them something. Or what if the fairytale magic is trying to tell them something. She then tells them what if the magic is trying to make them accept their birth order but Poppy says she doesn’t believe in fate. She’s not going to stop making her own decisions.
Chapter 7: (Birth Order)- Holly and Poppy find out that Nona switched them up at birth and Poppy is really the first born. The twins and their Nanny make a pack. They get rid of the incriminating photo.
Chapter 8: (The Royal Student Council)- At the Student Council meeting Holly tells the students that Poppy wanted a new model for her portfolio and they don’t question it further. Holly waits anxiously for Mrs. Broomwood’s call. Sparrow flirts with her during the meeting and says he’ll see her at the concert. In an earlier chapter, Apple and Holly ask Poppy if there’s anything going on between them and she says they’re just friends hanging out but she blushes. Holly hopes she doesn’t have to hurt her sister by telling her Sparrow might like her. After the meeting, Headmaster Grimm says he’d like to speak to Holly
Chapter 9: (Some Nimble Advice)- He tells her she doesn’t have to make the notes from the meeting so creative. He also mentions that she got a complaint on a story on her blog-that was offended-. He corrects the stories and lectures her on changing what’s already been written. She says its her creative license but he doesn’t get it and suggests she terminate her blog. If not stick to her own story. She wants to argue with him but doesn’t. Professor Nimble is listening and says he disagrees. What she’s doing is just being true to her nature. She’s just making the stories more exciting by embellishing. He tells to keep on doing what she’s doing.
Chapter 10 (Tall Tales): Holly notices her hair has lost another inch. Poppy says Sparrows aunt wants to do a photo shot for the band’s make-over for her fashion magazine. Poppy thinks this is a sign that they’re doing the right thing. In Tall Tales class, the writers have a debate about fate. Cupid speaks of the three fates in mythology that control the thread of life. Professor Nimble says that whether they believe in fate our not as writers they decide whether or not fate plays a role in their stories. He says that “fairytale magic” is the same concept. Holly asks if being born first is chance or fate. He says as writers its their decision to make. Holly gets a call from Ms. Broomswood that an editor from Camelot wants to meet with them tomorrow and she loves Holly’s stories.
Chapter 11: (Rapunzel’s Advice)- The twins tell their mother the good news. Holly tells Poppy and Rapunzel about what Headmaster Grimm said. Poppy says he can’t tell her how to write her stories. They belong to her. Rapunzel agrees and says while he can control what goes on at EAH he doesn’t have authority over her creativity and that she doesn’t like censorship. She and their father support both of their talents. Poppy tells Holly if she’s going to be a writer she has to get thicker skin. She can’t let critics change her. Rapunzel asks what’s going on with their hair and Poppy says she’s just trying out some new stuff. Rapunzel says that’s all well and good but find another model. Holly’s hair is her legacy.
Chapter 12: (Hairy Magic)- The next morning, Holly’s hair is at her jaw and its purple. Poppy’s hair has also grown down her legs and its heavy. Holly starts to scream and worries that it’ll keep getting shorter and she’ll be bald. It can only be bad magic and Holly thinks its Duchess. Poppy says she wouldn’t risk getting thrown out but she’ll see what she can find out at her hair appointment. Holly says it might be them fighting their destinies. Poppy says if she’s correct that will mean fate is more powerful than free will. Holly says she’s not sure what she believes. Polly starts to cut her hair but it immediately starts to grow back no matter how much she cuts. She says they can *still* tho be whatever it is they want to be. Then Ms. Broomswood shows up.
Chapter 13: (An Unhexpected Visitor)- Edith is early. Holly doesn’t want her to see her with short hair. So, Poppy says she’ll pretend to be her. Ms. Broomswood says before they meet the editor she has to make sure she’s the real deal (that she really was the author of her stories) and Holly says of course *she* (rather Poppy is). She then tells Poppy she needs to look the part and dress like a princess. So, Poppy says she’ll go to the meeting in Holly’s place. Holly says she’ll go with her in case there are questions. But then Sparrow’s aunt wants to do a conference call and Holly will have to go to Sparrow’s tree house. If not they’ll have to tell everyone the truth. The twins say they’ll get through the day and pretend until they can figure out what’s going on.
Chapter 14: (Sister Act)- Holly goes to the treehouse and finds out she’ right. Sparrow starts to sing a song that was inspired by her. She thinks he’s cute but she’ll have to tell him she’s not interested. Heather Hood asks about the new look. Holly and Poppy haven’t discussed Poppy’s vision. She asks Sparrow to describe his music and his answer is a blend of generes. This gives Holly no ideas. But she says it will be “unique” like his music (not fitting into one thing). So she takes her cue from “The Emperor’s New Clothes.” She gets inspired and wants to turn this into a story. She tells them the new look will be “retro” and “classic”. She Heather tells her to put some sketches together. Sparrow says they don’t want to look like their parents. She says she’ll make it work. She now sees why her sister likes hanging out with Sparrow. She then gets an alert that she has an appointment at the Tower Salon with Duchess. Sparrow asks if “Holly” would go out with him and she says “Sure”. Then realizes her mistake.
Chapter 15: (Swan Style)- Holly realizes soon enough that by Duchess letting her do her hair (knowing she’s Holly) she wasn’t the one over the curse. Holly finds out that while Duchess is mad, she’s too busy for revenge. She gives Duchess is a hack job, she finds out, and thinks she was asking about revenge because she wanted to get back to Duchess for the comment she made. She says that even tho she didn’t like Holly, she *did* think Poppy was cool. Then storms off.
Chapter 16: (Ruined Reputation)- Everyone has already heard about Duchess’s hair from Blondie’s podcast. Blondie sticks a mirror in Holly’s face and even tho she knows it was an accident tries to stir up some mess and accuses Holly or trying to get revenge (as Poppy for Holly). Barry (the stylist) calls and says people are canceling. Holly tries to make it up to Duchess and says she’ll redo her hair tomorrow but Duchess says forget it. In the middle of all this Sparrow asks for the sketches. Holly says she can’t do *this* and runs off.
Chapter 17: (Rapunzel’s Tower)-Holly finds Poppy in Rapunzel’s tower (which has been turned into a museum). She’s already promised Duchess a year of free cuts. She’ll tell the ones that cancelled the Cloud in a box (dryer) was faulty and she’ll never use it again. Poppy says that she was also planning the “classic” look for Sparrow’s band and reveals that she knows about his crush on Holly. Holly says she was selfish to take the glory of being first born from Poppy, but Poppy reminds her she never wanted the attention of glory. She never wanted to be Rapunzel. She says that the magic is won and they won’t fight it if she doesn’t want to (Holly).
She says if Holly wants to tell everyone she’s the first born, she’ll support her but she’s never gonna be their mother. And if she won’t be Rapunzel and Holly won’t there just won’t be one. Holly says she can’t without the hair. Poppy says do you really think mom’s legacy was just about her hair. Holly then realizes that Rapunzel’s quest was about freedom. She tells Poppy even with short hair she’s going to be the next Rapunzel,
Chapter 18: (A Mothers Twintuion)- On the way back to school, Poppy says Simon and Pieman will publish the Tower Tales collection next spring. She’ll go back in a few weeks to take a picture for the cover. Holly says they might be surprised by the new look but they’ll have to take it up with “fairy tale magic”. Rapunzel is in there room and she reveals she knew all along about the secret. And she’ll keep the secret-even from their father who believes in the tradional ways. But she believes they’re already who they’re meant to be. Rapunzel tells Holly that if she doesn’t want to sit in her tower waiting, they can turn it into a writing studio.
Chapter 19: (Fairytale Ending)- The next day, Holly’s hair has grown back and Poppy’s hair is able to be cut again without growing back. Holly says they’ve passed their hero’s (test). Holly agrees to go out with Sparrow to “collaborate” on a song to go with a story. Headmaster Grimm now seems ok with Holly’s stories. It’s good for the school to have a published offer. She’ll have to mention the school’s influence in her book.
My Thoughts: Possibly my favorite in all the Ever After High books because I could strongly relate with Holly’s dream of getting her books published. I also liked how supportive Rapunzel was on her daughters. She didn’t feel Grimm should censor Holly and encouraged her to keep writing her blog. She even offered at the end to turn her tower into a writing studio. That I just loved! She always went along with keeping the secret (from her husband) so the twins could live their own lives.
Rating: 7
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Holly and Poppy's lives are amazing. Poppy is styling hair, and Holly is going to be puplished. Then Holly's hair is getting shorter, and Poppy's hair is getting longer. Is the secret they've been keeping about to come out? As Poppy and Holly figure out their bad hair day mess they'll figure out what they want, and how to get it. During this adventure they'll also figure out the true meaning to their mother's story, and how they'll stop at nothing to get it.
I liked this book because it was funny and quick to read. I also liked it because it was exciting. My favorite part was when Nanny Nona called Poppy and told her she got their birth certificates mixed up. This part is important because Poppy was the firstborn child so she is supposed to be the next Rapunzel but she doesn't want to be. I was confused about why some of Holly's and Poppy's nannies were geese. I would recommend this book to another student because it was funny and exciting. I plan on reading the next book in the series called Fairy Tail Ending.
This book was so good! I hated having to put it down. I loved reading about Rapunzel's daughters. It was a great edition to this book series, and I never wanted it to end. The plot was very interesting and for the most part the story was well written. There were some parts though where the writing didn't make sense and it seemed like there needed to be some better editing done on the story. Also, I would have really liked to have had both Holly and Poppy's points of view instead of just Holly's. Overall though I really enjoyed this story and I would recommend this series to anyone that enjoys reading fairytale books with some twists to them. I can't wait to read the next and final book in this series!
Well, fairy tales isn't my thing. However, Rapuncel has been one of my favourites. The story is not about Rapuncel, but her two twin daughters. The first born, Holly will be the next Rapuncel. She is willing to face her already written destiny, while her energetic sister Poppy, still finding her own destiny as a stylist. But they are keeping a secret fron all. Will the fairy magic let them to create their own destiny?
Favourite quotes * " Fate will not write my story. I'm here to write it myself"
This is by far my favourite of the ever after high, school stories. I loved getting to know Holly and Poppy. In this story we get a better understanding of the magic and how it works. Is it all about fate/fairy magic or can the characters write their own story's with out causing the world to end? Holly and Poppy are fun characters to follow. The only down side I found was that it was only from Hollys prospective and I would have liked to see from Poppy's too. Still a fun read with great characters. Would love to see more from the twins.
The book was good. That's really all I can say about it because while the plot was interesting I was disappointed that the conflict was not really resolved at the end. Sure, they got the destinies they wanted but the whole point of the book was that the O'Hair twins were keeping a secret and now they're going to keep it for the rest of their lives? Not really what I wanted. But on the whole, it was good.
I bought a few books from this series for my daughter and ended up reading this one this weekend while she hung out by my side reading a different one. Cute Rapunzel themed story about being yourself. Neither as great as I hoped or as terrible as I feared, it was a solidly fun story I could easily recommend to young girls interested in Ever After High dolls or just fairy tales in general. It had almost a Sweet Valley High vibe I appreciated.
A bookish princess is the protagonist! What's not to like? I thought Holly was very endearing, and I liked the contrast of her sweet, romantic personality with that of her snarky and more practical sister, Poppy. The sibling relationship between the girls was a real standout in the novel, and it was nice to see how their differences helped them to support each other. While the plot didn't capture my interest as much as A Semi-Charming Kind of Life , it was an engaging read and managed to surprise me!
These aren't really part of the story, just random stories about other people in the school. Which is fine, but I find them less interesting since none of them intertwine or further the overall storyline. This one was maybe slightly more interesting than others, as it did have some revelations that could impact other characters, but still not super fantastic.
I thought it was a really great book, (the first ever after high school series I read) and it had a fun and interesting event in it! I will not spoil it, but one thing- Their lives are transformed upside down after finding something out! Please read this book if you are interested and make sure to get a copy of your own!
Doesn't give us much that the show didn't already give us, but the side-thing with Sparrow was kind of cute. It's nice to know there's people in the school who don't think he's an annoying pest (even though he really is, what the heck were the writers thinking?). Bland, but not as terrible as some of the other School Stories.
3 Stars: this was surprisingly really cute and good and not cheesy at all? And the puns in all the names were amazing? And I really want to read more of these now, not like when I tried to read Magic Tree House again?
I have an unhealthy obsession with the Ever After High school stories. Yes, they're middle-grade. Yes, they're not particularly heavy or thought-provoking material. Yes, the characters are descended from fairy tale princes and princesses. YES, I STILL LOVE IT. Author Suzanne Selfors truly has a way with words, and even in this book targeted toward younger audiences, her brilliant execution, exquisite description, and love for writing shine bright and beautiful in her story. I resonated with Holly in this book specifically, since she is an aspiring author who is half-afraid of putting herself out there and half-overjoyed that she's able to express herself through public stories. I loved the discussion about fate and destiny, and that there was a secret being kept between Holly and her sister Poppy, so the book covered Holly's personal journey and her sisterly journey as well. I wish more of these books were written!
What I mostly like about this story is that there are two sisters, and that they share a huge secret, a first for the Ever After High books, I think, at least on this scale. It made the story very fun, although I did get confused at times, too. Nevertheless, definitely not a bad book!
I think this book has my favorite lesson in the entire series. I was really nervous that the girls wouldn’t have gotten the ending they want but this was my favorite ending as well. On to the next book!