We Ride Upon Sticks
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We Ride Upon Sticks starts with a playful, inventive idea: a high-school field hockey team in Danvers, Massachusetts (originally Salem) uses witchcraft to help them win games. Also, there’s a bunch of teenage-level sex discussions. A triple-entendre on “sticks”; we love to see it.
Unfortunately it just repeats that idea over and over. They do some juicy witchcraft, win a game, do some juicy witchcraft, win a game, do some juicy witchcraft, win a game. You get it. A lot of suspense is built throughout, but the end results are anticlimactic.
I wanted to like this; it’s quirky and quaint (it’s set in the 80’s; sorry, older readers-- I consider that quaint). The characters try to balance on the precipice of innocence and rebellion, reminding me of my ~younger years~. It’s heart-warming to read about their sisterhood and bonding through sports. That being said-- wayyyyy too much detail about field hockey. If I played field hockey growing up, maybe this would be a good way to reminisce on my own experiences. If there was a similar book about drill team, I’d probably be into it. Also, a shit-ton of characters. Too much field hockey, too many characters, too little pay-off. Overall, it recipes 2 out 5 flames.
