we ride upon sticks by Quan Barry

Ninety-second book of 2020

Reading period: Oct 30th 2020 – Nov 07th 2020

Summary

In this tour de female force, the 1989 Danvers Falcons are on an unaccountable winning streak. In chapters dense with ’80s iconography–from Heathers to Big Hair–Quan Barry expertly weaves together the individual and collective journeys of this enchanted team as they storm their way to the state championship. Helmed by good-girl captain Abby Putnam (a descendant of the infamous Salem accuser Ann Putnam) and her co-captain Jen Fiorenza, whose bleached blond “Claw” sees and knows all, the DHS Falcons prove to be as wily and original as their North of Boston ancestors, flaunting society’s stale notions of femininity in order to find their glorious true selves through the crucible of team sport. 

Rating

Review

I am not sure about this book. I heard of this book twice before buying it.

The thing that I like the most about this book is the theme of sisterhood. I like how you see the evolution of these girls from a person to a group and from teenagehood to adulthood. The fact that the author uses witchcraft and creates like a coven amplify everything.

Nevertheless, I struggle a lot with the POV as it feels like the narrator is a part of the team, but at the same time, has a detachment from the group. Also, I had problems to differentiate the characters at the beginning, so I was lost between them while reading the book.

Even if it was an excellent description of the end of the 80s and the story was great, I found this book heavy and long.

I think this book was great, but the delivery wasn’t for me.

Liz.