Reading Group Center




We Ride Upon Sticks Character Guide

In the town of Danvers, Massachusetts, home of the original 1692 witch trials, the 1989 Danvers Falcons will do anything to make it to the field hockey state finals—even if it means tapping into some devilishly dark powers. Helmed by good-girl captain Abby Putnam (a descendant of the infamous Salem accuser Ann Putnam) and her cocaptain Jen Fiorenza (whose bleached blond “Claw” sees and knows all), the Falcons prove to be wily, original, and bold, flaunting society’s stale notions of femininity.

As they storm their way through an unforgettable season, Quan Barry expertly weaves together the individual and collective progress of this enchanted team. And to help you keep all their idiosyncrasies straight, the author has written this hilarious character guide, full of field hockey positions and bizarre quirks, that you’ll want to make sure you have on hand while you’re reading.

We hope you enjoy this comic tour de force of team sports and friendship, and especially this glorious cast of characters as they charge past every obstacle on the path to finding their true selves.

 

ABBY PUTNAM / RIGHT FORWARD

A bubbly go-getter, Abby is a direct descendent of a famous Salem witch accuser. The team’s conscience, she also has great potassium levels.

 

JEN FIORENZA / LEFT FORWARD

Peroxide queen of the jocks. Think Jordache, leg warmers, Blow Pops. Also, the human host of The Claw.

 

GIRL CORY / RIGHT WING

Stunning, rich, mysteriously distant It Girl. From all appearances, it would seem she has it all, but—dang it!—looks can be deceiving.

 

BOY CORY / LEFT WING

Who says we can’t write our own stories? Life is a highway, and Boy Cory is in the driver’s seat riding it all night long as the best is truly yet to come.

 

AJ JOHNSON / CENTER

One of only a handful of students of color at DHS, AJ knows the real score. And don’t tell her she looks like that dancer on Solid Gold!

 

BECCA BJELICA / RIGHT CENTERBACK

Why wear one sports bra when you could wear three? Becca is more than her cup size, though the world is adamant on not letting her forget it.

 

LITTLE SMITTY / LEFT CENTERBACK

Good things come in small packages, though in this case, the package has no inner filter and absolutely anything goes. Also, a rabbit lover, but shhh—don’t tell anyone.

 

HEATHER HOUSTON / RIGHT HALFBACK

The brainiac in the bunch, the one most likely to pop up with a random factoid about the sand in the Roman Coliseum.

 

JULIE MINH KALING / LEFT HALFBACK

An Asian adoptee raised in a religious family, Julie Minh knows the name of the game is reinvention. Purple reign forever!

 

SUE YOON / SWEEPER

Born in Korea, Sue contains multitudes and possibly a lifetime supply of Kool-Aid, which is a girl’s best friend when it comes to hair color.

 

MEL BOUCHER / GOALIE

The one who started it all. Being a French-Canadian tomboy does have its privileges, even if said privileges leave an unearthly mark on your neck.