Book Review: We Ride Upon Sticks by Quan Barry

Do you love the 80’s? John Hughes movies? Hilarious characters? Witchcraft, the high school experience, and field hockey?
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Emilio Estevez?
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Have I got the book for you!
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Set in 1989, We Ride Upon Sticks follow a high school field hockey team in a small town called Danvers, the original site of the Salem witches trials. They start documenting their dark deeds in an Emilio Estevez notebook and lo and behold, they start winning. But, to maintain their winning streak, they have to recharge Emilio with more dark deeds. The darker it is, the better results they get.
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The power doesn’t just work on field hockey. It works with their personal goals as well. Like getting cast in a play. Getting good grades. Winning prom queen.
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Oh, and who needs cell phones when they can just talk to each other telepathically?
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Quan Barry’s use of words packs a punch. You get to know each character so well using the fewest words as possible. A remarkable skill you often not see. Writing humour is one of her strengths. I found myself highlighting every single page for proses that tickled me. Like the Serbian grandma yelling obscenities in her own language at the judge instead of reciting the Oath of Allegiance during their Naturalization Ceremony because he couldn’t get his eyes off her granddaughter’s well-endowed chest. She was ten. So, so funny!
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If you want a book that will leave you happy, read this. You will be entertained. 4/5.