Who Are The Main Characters In We Ride Upon Sticks?

The Danvers Falcons in 'We Ride Upon Sticks' are a squad of gloriously flawed, hilarious girls who accidentally stumble into witchcraft. Abby’s the ringleader, all sharp edges and determination, while Jen’s charisma hides a deep insecurity. Becca, the goalie, is my personal favorite—her stoic demeanor cracks in the best ways. The team’s bond is the heart of the story, whether they’re plotting wins or accidentally summoning chaos. It’s a love letter to teenage ambition and the lengths we’ll go to feel powerful, even if it means trusting a notebook with a celebrity’s face on it.

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.

What I adore about 'We Ride Upon Sticks' is how it turns a sports team into a coven of misfits you can’t help but love. The core group—Abby, Jen, Becca, and the rest—aren’t just teammates; they’re a messy, hilarious family. Abby’s the kind of character who’d steal your lunch money but also drive you home at 2 a.m. no questions asked. Jen’s arc, especially her struggles with identity and desire, hit me harder than I expected. And Becca? She’s the silent powerhouse, the kind of girl who’d stare down a storm without flinching.

The book’s magic (literally and figuratively) comes from how these characters play off each other. Their dynamic shifts from cutthroat competitiveness to solidarity, especially once they start relying on their 'dark powers.' Even the side characters, like the lovably clueless Coach, add layers to the story. It’s a testament to Quan Barry’s writing that even the characters with less page time—like AJ or Cory—feel fully realized. I finished the book wishing I could join their chaotic, Emilio-worshipping cult.