We Ride Upon Sticks - A Novel (Alex Award Winner). Ausgezeichnet: ALA Alex Award, 2021

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 state finals even if it means tapping into some devilishly dark powers.

Against a background of irresistible 1980s iconography, Quan Barry expertly weaves together the individual and collective progress of this enchanted team as they storm their way through an unforgettable season.

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 Falcons prove to be wily, original, and bold, flaunting society s stale notions of femininity. Through the crucible of team sport and, more importantly, friendship, this comic tour de female force chronicles Barry s glorious cast of characters as they charge past every obstacle on the path to finding their glorious true selves.

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ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: NPR TIME BOOK RIOT LITHUB KIRKUS REVIEWS

Quirky, comic, and painstakingly detailed. . . . Barry writes with a sustained, manic energy. The New York Times Book Review

A fresh coming-of-age story. Time

Spellbinding, wickedly fun. . . . Each sentence fizzes like a just-opened bottle of New Coke. O, The Oprah Magazine

You may come for the sizzle of genre elements here, but you ll stay for the rich bond forged by friendships on the field, the memories of misguided youth and the power of belief. Variety

A delightful, hilarious ode to the 80s. Ms. Magazine

A perfect blend of aesthetic and narrative pleasure. . . . Very funny and a little angry and a lot of fun. Maris Kreizman

The prose style is neon and the laughs do not stop. I feel like the author wrote the entire book with an evil grin on her face. Molly Young, Vulture

A charming novel that combines the beats of a sports movie with the dramas of teenagers coming of age. . . . There s plenty of 80s nostalgia . . . but Barry also delivers an earnest look at the divisions and secrets that can bubble up in a close group in any era. The AV Club

Surprising and ultimately delightful. . . . The narration is playful, making the emotional crescendos even more satisfying. . . . Barry is a skilled storyteller and sentence artist who embraces irreverence where irreverence is due. Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Almost too much fun to be allowed. . . . Truly a delight in every way. Literary Hub

In a story filled with friendship, femininity and 80s iconography, Barry will keep you laughing with every turn of the page. TODAY

Charming. . . . But Barry is . . . careful not to let nostalgia paper over the real ways in which things were worse in the 1980s, particularly for queer people and people of color. NPR

Riotously entertaining. . . . A witty, unruly ode to fe male empowerment and camaraderie. The Capital Times

Quan Barry writes of [her characters] lovingly, tracing their coming-of-age with sardonic wit and generous indulgence. The Washington Times

As many '80s references as a Stranger Things fan could desire and a group of unforgettable female characters make this a delightful read. BookPage

Funny and inventive. Bookreporter

Touching, hilarious, and deeply satisfying. . . . Readers will cheer [the team] on because what they re really doing is learning to be fully and authentically themselves. Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

A playful, nostalgic run through 1980s suburbia. . . . Barry handles a large cast of characters nimbly and affectionately, allowing each to take a turn or two in the spotlight. Publishers Weekly