What Is We Ride Upon Sticks Novel About?

2025-11-14 04:52:02
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3 Answers

Uma
Uma
Responder Analyst
'We Ride Upon Sticks' is a riotous ode to teenage rebellion and the lengths we go to fit in—or stand out. The Danvers Falcons aren’t just playing field hockey; they’re battling small-town monotony by channeling their inner witches, one illicitly obtained Claw Machine prize at a time. The book’s humor is its superpower, whether it’s the team debating the ethics of using 'dark forces' to sabotage opponents or their obsession with '80s pop culture as a quasi-religion. Barry’s writing crackles with energy, like a John Hughes script crossed with a punk-rock zine.

What stuck with me was how the girls’ witchcraft becomes a metaphor for the messy, magical process of growing up. Their spells are equal parts desperation and creativity, and the line between 'real' magic and placebo effect is deliciously blurry. By the end, you’re cheering for them—not just to win games, but to survive the chaos of adolescence with their weirdness intact.
2025-11-17 12:47:17
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Ben
Ben
Favorite read: Of Wolves and Magic
Sharp Observer Firefighter
Imagine if someone mashed up 'Heathers' with a sports movie and threw in a dash of Salem witch trials lore—that’s 'We Ride Upon Sticks.' it follows the 1989 Danvers Falcons, a ragtag field hockey team so desperate to break their losing streak that they turn to a handwritten 'dark power' pact (complete with signatures in blood-red Bic ink). The team’s antics range from hilariously petty (hexing rivals with bad hair days) to oddly profound, like grappling with racial identity and small-town claustrophobia. The book’s magic isn’t just in the witchcraft; it’s in how Barry captures the cringe and glory of being a teen.

I love how the story plays with history too—Danvers is the actual site of the Salem witch trials, and the girls lean into that legacy with a mix of irony and genuine desperation. The collective narration is genius, switching between individual perspectives and this chorus-like 'we' that feels like a team huddle. It’s chaotic, heartfelt, and full of moments that’ll make you go, 'Yep, being 17 was exactly that unhinged.'
2025-11-19 00:22:21
13
Yolanda
Yolanda
Favorite read: Will Bear the Moon
Sharp Observer Journalist
We Ride Upon Sticks' is this wild, nostalgic trip about a 1980s girls' field hockey team in Danvers, Massachusetts, who make a pact with dark forces (via a cursed notebook) to win their season. It’s like 'The Craft' meets 'Friday Night Lights,' but with way more hairspray and neon scrunchies. The team’s Desperation for victory leads them to dabble in pseudo-witchcraft, and the book balances hilarity with surprisingly deep moments about teamwork, identity, and the chaos of adolescence. The narrator is this collective 'we,' which gives it this quirky, communal vibe—like you’re eavesdropping on team gossip.

What really hooked me was how it blends supernatural silliness with heartfelt nostalgia. The author, Quan Barry, nails the over-the-top '80s aesthetic without reducing it to a parody. There’s a scene where they literally summon Emilio Estevez as a spiritual guide, and it’s both absurd and weirdly poetic. Underneath all the witchcraft shenanigans, though, it’s a story about outcasts finding power in each other. I finished it with this weird urge to dig out my old mixtapes and maybe, just maybe, sign up for a rec league.
2025-11-19 20:27:01
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How does We Ride Upon Sticks end?

3 Answers2025-11-14 23:23:53
The ending of 'We Ride Upon Sticks' is this wild, cathartic blend of nostalgia and magical realism that perfectly ties up the team’s journey. After all the chaos of their witchy pact—using a notebook with Emilio Estevez’s face to fuel their field hockey winning streak—the Danvers Falcons finally confront the consequences of their actions. The climax happens during the state championship, where their half-baked spells and desperation collide. What I love is how the book doesn’t just hand them a clean victory; instead, it’s messy and human. They win, but the magic fizzles out, leaving them with this bittersweet realization that they’ve outgrown their childish reliance on it. The final scenes are all about the team splitting up for college, carrying that weird summer as a shared secret. It’s less about the plot twist and more about the emotional payoff—the way their bond lingers even as the magic fades. What stuck with me is how the author, Quan Barry, balances humor with depth. The ending isn’t just a punchline; it’s a nod to how we all cling to irrational beliefs when we’re desperate for control. The notebook’s fate—left in a locker, forgotten—feels symbolic. Like, yeah, maybe they never needed Emilio Estevez’s face to begin with. It’s a coming-of-age story disguised as a supernatural romp, and the ending nails that mix of absurdity and heart.

Are there any book club questions for We Ride Upon Sticks?

3 Answers2025-11-14 22:43:47
Oh, 'We Ride Upon Sticks' is such a wild ride—literally! It's got this perfect blend of '80s nostalgia, teenage witchcraft, and field hockey chaos that makes for killer book club discussions. One angle I love is how the book plays with morality: these girls start off bending rules 'for the team,' but where’s the line between harmless mischief and something darker? You could ask, 'Do you think their pact with the notebook (aka the 'dark power') was just rebellious fun, or did it cross into something more sinister?' And hey, the '80s setting isn’t just backdrop—it’s a character. Discuss how hairspray, cassette tapes, and Salem’s witch history shape their choices. Another juicy topic is the collective narration. The 'we' voice makes you feel like you’re in the huddle with them. Does this style make you root for the team even when they’re kind of awful? And what about Abby’s leadership—is she a hero or a tyrant? Personally, I couldn’t stop laughing at how seriously they took their 'evil' personas while still worrying about curfews. It’s like 'The Craft' meets 'Friday Night Lights,' and that tension between absurdity and earnestness is gold for conversation.

Who are the main characters in We Ride Upon Sticks?

3 Answers2025-11-14 06:30:21
Reading 'We Ride Upon Sticks' felt like diving headfirst into a time capsule of the late 80s, where the Danvers Falcons field hockey team became my unlikely obsession. The book’s main characters are this ragtag group of girls, each with their own quirks and chaotic energy. There’s Abby Putnam, the de facto leader with a rebellious streak and a family legacy she’s both proud of and burdened by. Then you’ve got Jen Fiorenza, whose confidence masks deeper vulnerabilities, and Becca Bjelica, the goalie with a quiet intensity that makes her scenes unforgettable. The whole team bonds over a shared desperation to win, leading them to dabble in some… questionable supernatural tactics involving a notebook with Emilio Estevez’s face on it. The beauty of this book is how it balances humor with heart. Characters like Cory and Val bring this electric, almost manic energy, while others like Julie and AJ ground the story in moments of genuine tenderness. Even the 'villains' of their rival teams, like the Clippers, feel fleshed out. It’s less about individual heroes and more about the collective madness of being a teenager in a small town, where field hockey becomes a metaphor for rebellion and self-discovery. By the end, I was rooting for every single one of them, even when they were making gloriously terrible decisions.
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